Your tech gear can do more than you think it can. Perhaps a device manufacturer has a particular user experience in mind. Or maybe you think you need a brand-new camera to get advanced shooting features. Don't worry--with a bit of time and care, you can get a lot mileage out of the goods you own.
Why hack? Well, why not? We spend our hard-earned money on these tools, so let's make the most of them. From performing tasks that the devices' manufacturers never intended them for to finding new ways to spruce up your older gear, hacking your stuff is a great way to unlock quite a bit of hidden potential.
These modifications are painless if you're careful, and they're simple to reverse if you change your mind. But more importantly, the results are fun. And even if you're satisfied with your gear, it never hurts to learn more about the powerful toys you tote around every day.
Do More With Android
Before we dive into the technical details, let's talk benefits. Perhaps you'd like to replace your stock UI with the attractive Sense UI used by the HTC Hero. Or maybe, like me, you are saddled with an Android 1.6 phone and locked out from attractive features like Live Wallpapers, Folders, additional Home screens, and the official Twitter app.
If you just want to get more out of your device--and don't want to wait and see if your device is due for an upgrade--a custom ROM might be the ticket.
First, you'll need unfettered access to your Android phone, which means that you have to "root" it. "Rooting" means enabling the phone's root account so that you have administrator privileges. As they do with a typical Windows desktop, administrators have access to a device's nether regions, where they can tinker with (or break) their devices as they see fit.
Fortunately, a dedicated community with a knack for lengthy documentation has boiled rooting down to a reasonably simple process (most of the time). But a misstep could still brick your phone, so be careful. If you follow the instructions and take your time, things should turn out just fine.
We'll start with a trip to AndroidSPIN, a repository for Android-related information and conversation. Of particular interest here is the site's comprehensive release list. You can search through the database by phone, custom ROM, or developer, and you can read installation instructions or check out the feature sets and screenshots of particular ROMs.
Choose your phone, and then select a custom ROM with features that suit you. You might base your decision on appearance (HTC Hero-based ROMs are popular) or on operating system--up to and including the as-yet-unreleased Android 2.2. Since my MyTouch 3G was hobbled by Android 1.6, I opted for the popular CyanogenMod, which runs on Android 2.1 (Eclair). CyanogenMod is available for the MyTouch 3G, the T-Mobile G1, the Google Nexus One, and the Motorola Droid. The CyanogenMod's wiki offers concise instructions, and will help you determine the route to take for the model you're using.
Rooting the MyTouch 3G involves downgrading from the stock Android 1.6 OS to Android 1.5, to take advantage of a security exploit. You'll also need the FlashRec app, which backs up a recovery image of your phone, and then loads a modified recovery image. Both files are available at the tutorial.
Your first step should be to back up any precious data that your phone contains. You can sync your contacts and your e-mail through Google's cloud; but reacquiring any music or applications you've downloaded is up to you. You'll also need to format your phone's microSD card and drop the Android 1.5 build that you downloaded onto to the card. I used a microSD-card-to-SD-card adapter to access the tiny card; altrnatively, you can plug your phone directly into your PC.
Note: While you're trying to copy files onto your microSD card, you may run into a write-protection error, regardless of whether your card is set to the "lock" position. I got around this problem by covering the notch opposite the lock switch with a small piece of Scotch tape--be careful not to cover the gold contacts.
If the file copying went well, holding the 'Volume Down' and 'Power' buttons will turn your phone back on in fastboot--an Android protocol that lets you overwrite the phone's file system. Follow the on-screen instructions, and once your phone has rebooted, you'll find your phone is now running Android 1.5.
Don't worry, we won't linger here for very long. Your next step is to use an application installer from the Android marketplace to install the FlashRec app that you downloaded earlier. Once the application is installed, run it and follow the onscreen instructions. Congratulations! You've just rooted your phone--and installed a custom ROM. After a final reboot, your MyTouch 3G should be running CyanogenMod. The entire process shouldn't take more than 30 minutes, but set aside a least an hour for the work. You don't want to have to cope with any interruptions while your phone is in a delicate state.