HTC Magic with Android ION 1.6 Donut

Yesterday morning, I woke up to find my phone without reception. At first I thought it was a problem with Maxis but when I swapped over my sim card from the HTC Magic to my Nokia E71, full signal strength was available. Dammit, don't tell me I need a new phone?!
Strange... Maybe it's a software problem?



So, I thought why not try putting another ROM in since there are a many new ones out there already available. There were so many to choose from, especially those who wanted the HTC Hero 'Sense' UI. They look good but apparently not very fast and there are still many bugs to be sorted out. I could have downloaded and installed the official ROM Upgrade with HTC Sense for the HTC Magic available on the HTC website, but that would have meant I would loose the Google Applications (Google Talk, Google Maps, Android Market...) as phones from our region doesn't come with those installed (To find out more about that, check out my previous post, 'HTC Magic'.). Also, this official ROM Upgrade with HTC Sense is still based on the old 1.5 a.k.a Cupcake version.

The HTC Sense UI

So, I settled with Amon_RA's, RAv1.6.2 which is based on the Google Android version 1.6 a.k.a Donut. The author made it clear it was built to be smooth and speedy, not pretty and that's something I much prefer. This ROM was based on the ION Developer ROM and the JFv1.51 ROM but loaded with extra features. Loaded it up and what do you know, everything works again. Currently enjoying the new stuff.

It's not much different from my previous ROM, the Android Google version 1.5 a.k.a Cupcake (I know, what the fuck right? Cupcake, Donut and I heard the coming version 2.0 is called Eclair!) but lot's of improvements can be seen.

I've seen a the 2.0 a.k.a Eclair working on the Motorola Droid which looks very promising. Android is being developed so quickly and within the last couple of months, they've jumped from 1.5 to the coming 2.0/2.1. This is going to be very interesting as it's being improved so quickly and it's potential is massive, might even take the spotlight away from the Apple's Iphone.

What the 2.0 a.k.a Eclair looks like...

The Motorola Droid, the first phone to be powered by Android 2.0 a.k.a Eclair.