Ertan D. has managed to install and run Android on the Dell Axim X51v, and there’s a video demonstrating the working system, complete with a lovely sound track to keep one company. Android currently isn’t completely friendly with the handheld computer as it still lacks WiFi support and has some power management issues (to name a few), but it’s still a good beginning. Though the Axim was discontinued several years ago and is aging and getting more and more out of date when compared to today’s mobile devices, the X51v still packs a punch with its 624 MHz processor, 3.7-inch VGA screen, and 2700G graphics processor. Ertan hopes to develop the project further to a point when Android can be a viable replacement OS to Windows Mobile 5 on the X51v.
Android could be ported across the way to the Axim x5 as well, even though it is an earlier device (limited to WinMo 2003, first edition) and some of the other Windows Mobile and PocketPC devices still capable of being useful but limited by the lack of continuing software support.
As an owner of an Axim x5 it still bothers me that these devices were advertised as being upgradeable but seldom were. Not that Dell is the only one guilty of that sin, HP never upgraded the rom on any of the products I bought from them either. Still I had hoped Dell would be different in that regard.
–bornagainpenguin