14 DAY TRIAL // Computer maker Dell launched during the ongoing year its first tablet PC powered by Google's Android operating system, the 5-inch Dell Streak, packing it with Android 1.6 right from the start and failing to deliver a software update for all of its users.
While the unlocked Streak units already started to receive an update to the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system flavor, carrier-locked devices, such as the Streak launched in the US via wireless operator AT&T, will have to wait a little longer for the new software update to arrive.
In case there are users who would like to install a newer OS version on their Dell Streak units before the official update is made available for them, they can now download a CyanogenMod 6.1 Alpha ROM specifically designed for their devices.
The software solution is not in a final state at the moment, and many features on the tablet PC might not work, though things already look promising.
Some of the main functionalities on the Dell Streak are reportedly working, including WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, and hardware acceleration, though there are other aspects that still need development.
According to this post on MoDaCo forums, auto rotate for the display does not work properly, and those who would like to install the ROM should turn it off as soon as the installation is completed.
For the time being, the CyanogenMod 6.1 ROM would work on Dell Streak only in landscape mode. Moreover, it seems that “the boot animation is the wrong way,” but that won't affect the functionality of the device.
After the installation of the new ROM, Dell Streak owners should factory reset the device at the first boot, so as to prevent the tablet from crashing.
Since this is not an official solution, its installation would void warranty, not to mention that it might render the tablet PC unusable in case something goes wrong during the process. Additional info on this ROM is available on the said MoDaCo forum post.