Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) source code now available

Source code for Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) has been released. We’re sure many of you will be downloading the new Android 4.1.1_r1 files simply to poke around, but CyanogenMod and countless other Android development groups around the globe will be spending countless hours pouring over every last line of code to see what changes [...]]]>

XBMC for Android is coming soon, source code available for building and testing

XMBC, the very popular open-source media center software, has been successfully ported to Android. The folks at XMBC tell us this on their blog -

Today we announce XBMC for Android. Not a remote, not a thin client; the real deal. No root or jailbreak required. XBMC can be launched as an application on your set-top-box, tablet, phone, or wherever else Android may be found.

If you don't understand just what this is, think of having Windows Media Center running on your Android device, fully customizable, open-source, and with full Python plug-in support. Now think of it on Google TV boxes, Android-on-a-stick style devices, or the Nexus Q. Music, video, internet apps like Pandora, all running on Android device. XMBC does all this, and more. Have a look at Wikipedia if you're not familiar with the media center concept.

For now, no public builds are available. There's still some things to iron out, and the folks at XMBC only want folks who can actively help fix the bugs using it. They've released the source code to make this happen, and you can find it (and more info) at the link below.

Source: XMBC

Samsung Galaxy S III kernel source released

As required under the GPL, Samsung has released its kernel source code for the (international) Galaxy S III -- the Linux core upon which Android is based. The code's available right now from the Samsung open source repository, and while it won't be of much use to regular users, custom ROM makers will undoubtedly be pouring over the code in the days and weeks ahead. 

The emergence of kernel source for a newly-released device isn't surprising, but it is great to see code appearing online just a day or so after the official street date. Community developers now have plenty of time to get to grips with Samsung's kernel, which will hopefully result in better custom ROMs for Galaxy S III owners.

To grab the kernel source for yourself, hit the link below.

Source: Samsung Open Source

HTC One V kernel source released

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

HTC has released the kernel source for the Asian and European version of the One V, (see Alex's great review here) meeting their obligations under the GPL and teasing potential Android hackers all with one stroke. As it is every time we see source code get released, this won't mean much for the average Joe or Jane, but the good things that come from it certainly may. The kernel is the window to the hardware, and lots of cool things can happen when the right people tinker with it. 

We can't wait for these phones, and this code, to get in the right hands. You can grab the code here.

via @HTCdev

CM9 source code now available for the HTC Sensation

If you're rocking the HTC Sensation (a.k.a. the Pyramid for you geekier types), here's a bit of news that should interest you -- the CyanogenMod team has made the "official" CM9 repos for both the Pyramid and the MSM8660 chipset common files available and open to the public. There's no official release candidate for the Sensation just yet, as there are a few kernel bugs the team wants to iron out before releasing an official CM build, but this means that your favorite ROM developer now has access to what many feel is the cream-of-the-crop in third party Android development -- CM sources. 

We've seen ICS builds leak for the the Pyramid, and these no doubt helped push along the development. But if you've been waiting for a Sense-free build of Android 4.0 for your Sensation, the end is in sight. Keep an eye on your favorite developer, and get ready to start flashing.

Source: +Keyan Mobli. More:  Github (1), (2)