HP provides source code Android kernel for the HP TouchPad free

HP has the source code of an Android kernel for its TouchPad tablet. The TouchPad was on the market with the webOS operating system, but HP has internally, apparently, also an Android port worked.

It comes to version 2.6.35 of the Linux kernel that can be used as the basis for Android 2.3.x, also known as Android Gingerbread. A user of the web site Rootzwiki has the source code online at Github so that other developers to access. The only thing missing is the wifi driver while this probably just put it under the gpl license. HP would be the possibilities for publication of that driver currently still investigate and possibly follow the release later.

The existence of the source code makes it clear that although the touch Pad to default with webOS was supplied, HP internal testing has been done with Googles Android operating system. The tablet was in February 2011, announced and came in July at the market. The last change to the Android source code is from march 2011, when HP has probably made the choice already are arrows on webOS.

That HP also have an Android version working does not come entirely as a surprise; a few months ago, I went into the messages that some TouchPads accidentally were shipped with Android Gingerbread instead of webOS. HP refused initially to respond but was later know that the Android version is not for release was intended and that an investigation would start into the matter.

Developers are already busy with porting other operating systems to the TouchPad. There are already versions available of Android Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich. The release of the source code would be for developers, however, easier to have some bugs to fix.