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Ahead of Google's formal release of Android 2.1 Eclair (apart from on the Nexus One) there are a small number of new custom ROMs coming on-line for Android handsets from HTC and, to a lesser degree other manufacturers.
Right now I have xROM Eclair 1.1 (Android 2.1) running on my ageing T-Mobile G1 (unlocked of course). It is interesting to compare against the same version of Android running on the Nexus One. Slower, of course, but quite capably well.
xROM Eclair 1.1 can be found here --> http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f...-stable-31488/
Hot on the heels comes a worth initiative by a cooperative of developers called Open Eclair currently available in Stable and Beta releases. The latter is quite exciting in that it is a very close fit to 2.1 on the Nexus One. Open Eclair can be found here --> http://www.androidspin.com/forum/vie...hp?f=264&t=412
I have yet to try Open Eclair - that is my project for this weekend. From the writings it may well turn out to be a better supported release than xROM mostly through having more hands on the "project". They are also developing an Updater app along the same lines as Cyanogen's which made keeping up to date with ROM updates a breeze.
The new Android 2.1 is worlds apart from from 1.6 Donut which was a point update from 1.5 Cupcake. It brings Android up into the league of other more mature smartphone OS. And it is great that independent developers are able to create such liquidity in the OS across the various devices.
It is getting easier to perform the updates - there is a ton of help available too. So if you are bored with Cupcake or Donut why not take a peek at 2.1 if it is available for your particular brand of handset.