Hackers get Google's Android to run on hardware

The first handsets to use Google’s Linux-based Android platform are not expected until the second half of this year, but several enterprising hackers have already got the OS running on a handful of devices.

When the Software Development Kit (SDK) was released in November, it did not offer support for hardware platforms, but featured a software emulator based on Qemu instead.

However, a developer known as Cortez created an Android installer from the SDK by combining it with a Poky Linux kernel, allowing other to boot the platform on the Sharp Zaurus PDA.

As well as several different versions of the Zaurus, Android has also been booted on the Atmark-Techno Armadillo-500 CPU board, although in all instances the operating system is limited in its functionality. Full capabilities look like they will only come with the commercial release of Android.

Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron NeWeb has also revealed that it is preparing to debut possibly the first Android ready phone. The GW4 device boasts a touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard, as well as a 2 megapixel camera, wifi, Bluetooth and VoIP. The device presently runs MontaVista Linux but is set to run Android when it is released.