Android CM

CM is the abbreviation of CyanogenMod, which is a customized, aftermarket firmware for gadgets (smart phones, pads etc). CM is based on the open-source (means every developer can play with the source code following Generla Public License, many open source codes are even better than the commercial ones, famous ones are like Linux, Android, ZIP, FireFox,Eclipse, PHP,MySQL, Apache,...so many excellent ones).  You can understand CM as a firmware which can be used as a tool to root your devices allowing gain access to Google Android App Market.
      Current released version (relatively stable ones) are CM7 Alpha 3/3.5. The official CM website is http://www.cyanogenmod.com and the developer team is very active in xda developer forum http://forum.xda-developers.com/ and CM is actually a team work by CM developers and developers on XDA-Developers.
      CM7 is based on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and currently they are working toward to the next version CM9 which should be based on Android 4.x Ice Cream Sandwich.

Root, JailBreak and Legality

You may encounter many such jargons used by many who are in favor of up-to-date technology about "Gadget" (A gadget is a small technological object such as a device or an appliance that has a particular function typical examples are smart phone, tablet). 

Root: 

    Rooting enables users to use the superuser, or root, permissions of the Linux-based operating system (OS)(Android is based on Linux system) thus have more control over it,thus overcome limitations carriers or manufacturers put on your devices. One example is Amazon Kindle Fire, the Android on the Fire is extensively customized to allow users more easily buy stuffs from them, and has many limitations. Another example is the fire-saled HP TouchPad (TP), the WebOS does not have as many apps as on Android, thus a totally new Android has to be installed on the TP.

    Advantages of rooting are: more freedom to control your gadgets, fun to explore

    Disadvantages are: risk of "bricking" (Firmware cannot start and run on your device) your gadgets and loss your data; void your phone’s factory and/or service provider warranty  

JailBreak:         

   This is often applied to only Apple's system IOS. Hacking the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad allows users to

How to install non-Amazon Kindle Fire apps on your Kindle Fire without rooting

Think again before rooting your Fire since you will lose the privilege of streaming video from Amazon. But you do not have to root in order to install third-party non Amazon Kindle Fire apps.

It is very similar to those steps to install non-Market android apps on HP TouchPad. First you need to change the settings (allow installation of third-party apps) on your kindle fire to "ON" , then install a free document viewing app such as   ES File Explorer.

Step 1:  Go to the settings of your Kindle Fire by tapping the top part of the screen. Click “More…” then
              select “Device.” Where it says “Allow Installation of Application,” change your Kindle Fire settings
              from “Off” to “On.”


Step 2:  Download and install the Amazon Kindle fire free app such as "  ES File Explorer or File Expert ".


Step 3:  Use  "ES File Explorer" to get access to the app file (*.apk) you'v already copied to your Kindle
              Fire（such as the directory "download"--- look for directory "sdcard/Download" by the file manager
              such as ES File Explorer or File Expert and install the app.

Step 4: You are done.

How to install Android Market on your CM7 Alpha 3 TP

Step 1: Install CM7 as instructed, be sure to include the moboot zip and the ClockworkMod zip;

Step 2: Boot into Android and connect the TouchPad via USB as an External Storage device;

Step 3: Download the Google Apps zip for CyanogenMod 7 from here, copy the zipped file to

             TouchPad;

Step 4: Reboot the TouchPad & use moboot to choose "ClockworkMod";

    This is the step I was initially confused about. What the heck is " moboot "? It is nothing but    

    Mobile Open Bootloader for the HP Touchpad.

    How to enter moboot?

    a. Reboot your Android (hold power button for a while and choose "Reboot"

    b. Select reboot option " Recory" then ok to reboot, then you will see options like this:

         CWM-based Recovery V5.0.2.6

         -reboot system now

         -apply update from sdcard

         -wipe data/factory reset

         -install zip from sdcard

         -backup and restore

         -mounts and storage

         -advanced

         -power off

         -+++++Go Back+++++

        
         Use the volume up and down button to highlight the options and choose the option by press the center
         button (the one close to the microusb port) on your TP.

Step 5:  choose "install zip from sdcard", then choose "choose zip from sdcard";

Step 6:  find and select the "gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip" file you placed on the Touchpad;

Step 7:  Google Market & apps will install;

Step 8:  Reboot into CM7 and find the " Market" to find lots of free apps you might be

               interested!

How to install Android CM7 on HP TouchPad

First of all, do not be scared to do it! It is simply a 10 minutes or at most 20 minutes journey. Android rocks! You will not lose your WebOS, it is still there, what you have will be a touchpad with dural boot system:  Android+WebOS, you can swithch between easily.

Installation of Android CM7  Cyanogen Mod

Step 1: Backup all the important files on your TouchPad!!!

Step 2: Download CM7 Alpha 3, unzip it to your C drive root and put it in directory Android 
             C:\Android


Step 3: Connect your touchpad to your PC as an External Storage device, create a folder
              "cminstall" in the root of your TouchPad.

Step 4: Disconnect your TouchPad, reboot your TouchPad and hold the Volume up (not down
             side) until you see a USB icon on the screen.

Step 4: Open the CMD window on your PC ( start=>run=>cmd), then after the command
              prompt, type the following commands, eg. if you have the command prompt under the
              directory of C:\Users\Your-user-name>:

              C:\Users\Your-user-name>:  cd C:\Android
              C:\Android>:  novacom boot mem://<ACMEInstaller

Step 5: The installation will start and leave it alone until it finishes.

Step 6: Enjoy your Android but you still need one more action: install Android Market which I
             will show in the next post.

You may find more useful info. from:

CM7 Original thread: http://rootzwiki.com/topic/10121-releasealpha3cyanogenmod-touchpad/

A good source to refer to:  http://reviewhorizon.com/2011/10/how-to-install-cyanogenmod-on-hp-touchpad/