No Android market with Vodacom HTM Magic!!!

D

duncan1a

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:mad:

What the hell??? What good is this phone without the Android Market?

Instead, it comes with Leaf's OpenMarket which is crap. Half the apps (especially the Leaf apps) don't work, and none of the really cool Android apps are there. No Bar scanner, no Sky Map, no wikitude, no toddler lock, no, no, no.

What are you thinking Vodacom/Leaf?
 
Veroland said:
Can't you just download and install most of the apps?
Click to expand...

Some, if you really search. But many developers don't make the .apk
available because you can get them in the Android market. Except if you're a south african.

Like Sky map, toddler lock, and many others

This is sooo stupid
 
Last edited:
JohnnyQ said:
Try this.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=521842
Click to expand...

Was going to suggest the XDA Dev forum as well, point is though that when taking a phone like this in this country, one shouldn't have to resort to forums like XDA to get apps that are issued standard with phones like such as these, in other countries.

If one studies the posts on XDA and pick up on the APP'S that are provided as standard in other countries with these phones, you will see how that in comparison, the SA consumer is actually being ripped off with phones that are provided with inferior software and programs.
 
Same with MTN's Dream - also no Google Market. (In their case it is even worse since they will probably also not upgrade us OTA to 1.5 like they do in normal civilized countries.)
 
That XDA link looks interesting. It doesn't look like they've got the kinks worked out yet, but that will be great. One thing, I don't want to loose the HTC keyboard. It's fantastic.

Does anyone know how to go back to the default Vodacom ROM if the XDA upgrade goes wrong?

This at least looks promising
 
Another iTunes story ... but Vodacom surely is in a postion to get their Magic users sorted with Android Market ...

Why get this phone when the official app store is unavailable? Loading other ROM's on a new phone should not be necessary. Disappointing to say the least.
 
So, apparently Austrailia also had to wait a while after getting the G1 before getting the Android Market. Sooo, hopefully that means that we'll get it.

Can Vodacom give some info here?
 
Just heard back from Vodacom:

Installing another ROM will VOID THE GUARANTEE.

However, we will be getting the Android market in the next few months (frustrating wait, I know, but at least we're getting it). They will make the Vodacom ROM with the android market available for download.

In the mean time, try handango. It has a few of the cooler apps like shopsavvy
 
Took the plunge and ROM'ed my MTN Dream to 1.5. On-screen keyboard, auto-rotate, video capture, etc. Best of all - Android Market. After I've spend the last 2 days locating various apps, they are on my fingertips now.
 
JacoGR: have you tried wikitude and sky map yet? I got them from the developers - amazing apps huh?
 
JacoGr said:
Took the plunge and ROM'ed my MTN Dream to 1.5. On-screen keyboard, auto-rotate, video capture, etc. Best of all - Android Market. After I've spend the last 2 days locating various apps, they are on my fingertips now.
Click to expand...

Where did you get the rom? I will problably get my Magic in a week or 2
 
duncan1a said:
JacoGR: have you tried wikitude and sky map yet? I got them from the developers - amazing apps huh?
Click to expand...

Have not tried Wikitude, but love the Sky map. ShopSavvy is also amazing (need some local stores) and then there are so many toys, i.e. compas, metal detector, etc. Having load of fun.

Veroland said:
Where did you get the rom? I will problably get my Magic in a week or 2
Click to expand...

XDA forum - the link is is a previous post. For the Dream I used the JF UK ROM.

mlpotgieter said:
What instructions did you follow for the upgrade? I tried to upgrade mine with the following instructions
http://www.androidandme.com/2009/05...or-rooting-your-android-g1-to-install-cupcake
but it fails with "Model ID incorrect"
Click to expand...

I tried to unsuccessfully root the phone. If you just try the "update.zip" trick it fails with "verification failed". However... You can boot a "recovery.img" using fastboot. Once inside this recovery boot, you can upgrade the ROM. In my case I first upgraded the radio and then the JF 1.51 UK ROM.

(Well, that is the order you are supposed to do things in, I first updated the ROM and then the Radio - this fastboot thing caught me by surprise when it started working, I thought it would fail like all the other attempts.)

Prereq:

1. Fastboot executable (available for Win, Mac & Linux, I used the Mac version)
2. recovery.img
3. Updated Radio as required by ROM
4. Desired ROM

Short Steps: (Other HOWTOS will describe them in great detail, this is just the parts without "gaining root")

a. Copy radio to SD - named "update.zip"
b. Boot using "Power + Camera" button
c. Select fastboot
d. Connect USB and fastboot "fastboot boot recovery.img"
e. Alt+L & Alt+S & Reboot
f. Copy new ROM to SD - named update.zip
g. Repeat b to e above
h. Hope for the best - the first boot to the new modified android screen takes forever, I thought I killed the phone

If you brick the phone, you are on your own. :) And you will probably void your guarantee here...

PS: Before doing the upgrade, you should probably make a backup of the current firmware with nandroid. I didn't - as I mentioned, the thing started working unexpectedly, so I wasn't quite prepared

PPS: The above I did on my MTN HTC Dream, YYMV with the Magic. (Originally wanted a Magic, Vodaworld didn't have them in stock last Saturday, so I got a Dream from MTN on Sunday)

PPPS: Having the market and apps available really transforms the phone. Both MTN and Vodacom are screwing us here with their "default setup".
 
Last edited:
JacoGr said:
Prereq:
2. recovery.img
Click to expand...

Which recovery.img did you use? Or should anyone work?

JacoGr said:
PS: Before doing the upgrade, you should probably make a backup of the current firmware with nandroid. I didn't - as I mentioned, the thing started working unexpectedly, so I wasn't quite prepared
Click to expand...
I looked at nandroid and it requires root to run.. So I guess thats out?

Thanks for your help.
 
mlpotgieter said:
Which recovery.img did you use? Or should anyone work?

I looked at nandroid and it requires root to run.. So I guess thats out?

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

I really don't know where I go the recovery image :( I've been downloading ROM and other stuff like crazy - trying various combinations for a couple of days before I made a breakthrough. I know I basically followed the instructions at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=442480, so I'm assuming that is where I originally got it ;)

The recovery.img may enable root itself, so you may want to try nandroid after you have booted into that. It is worth a try...
 
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