Android running on an old Dell Axim x51v

by James Tromans on March 5, 2009 8:24 am

An Android enthusiast with an old (and discontinued) Dell Axim x51v has recently found the nerve to create a working port of Android for the device. Furthermore, we can now follow his exploits on his purpose built blog. Running the Cupcake branch of Android, the custom Axim x51v has a 624 Mhz CPU which should allow it to run the OS without breaking a sweat. More information and video after the jump.

The author has mapped some keys to act as the Menu and Back buttons and although there are quite a few functions that the author admits are not fully working just yet, the touchscreen works, along with the keyboard. Once Wi-Fi and Bluetooth get involved in the mix we are more than half way there. This is another great of example of how a lightweight OS such as Android can bring new life into old, but perfectly respectable, devices.

AxDroid – Android on Dell Axim x51v from Ertan D. on Vimeo.

James Tromans

WRITER

Contributing editor of AndroidAuthority.com, based in the U.K.

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Dell Linux

James Tromans

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Comments

http://www.facebook.com/troglobit Joachim Nilsson

Will definitely try this on my GNex! Wonder how hard it would be to port/run iOS apps on it?
- MasterMuffin
  
  Impossibruu (probably hard)
http://twitter.com/TwoBodyProblem Aaron Potter

I like Ubuntu on the PC but I don’t understand why someone would want this. Are there things you can do with Ubuntu that you can’t do with Android?
- Larkhillv
  
  It’s a different UI… unless you root your Android device and make it so your device runs similarly, but to what end? At that point, you might as well just use a native Ubuntu device. As Ubuntu is based on Linux, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some mad customization happening on the platform a little while down the road.
  
  People always say Android is about options. Well, Ubuntu is another option. Canonical has said that Android devs will likely support Ubuntu phone as well, so why can’t Ubuntu be a separate option? Besides, have you seen everything you can do on Ubuntu phone yet? Obviously not since it hasn’t been released, so I would hold judgement until the public, devs, and such actually get their hands on it.
- David
  
  well, what can you do with Android that you can’t do with iOS? Why don’t we just have one phone OS with no choices. e.e
  - sanny
    
    I can have my SD card plugged in ;)
  - gx-x
    
    I can have live wallpaper, derp
Bene

Then where One can get the Apps…Without apps it is valueless
http://www.facebook.com/khizer.j.khawaja Khizer Jawaid Khawaja

this could work…picture a joint venture between meego and ubuntu…
http://www.facebook.com/georgealexiouvalentey George Av

well then fuck that.
Ubuntuman

UbuntuPhone FTW!