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The Engineering SPL is a custom SPL installed in devices intended for Android development. It has existed since before the launch of the G1 and is now available to the general public as preinstalled on the Android Dev Phone 1, the official development device sold by Brightstar Corp. This SPL, in addition to flashing signed NBH files, can also flash nand dumps through the use of the fastboot protocol (as defined in the legacy bootloader documentation). This is a convenient way to flash the mtd partitions and can be greatly useful in the event that an undesirable build of Android is advertently or inadvertently installed.
HardSPL is a modification of the Engineering SPL by cmonex. In addition to the functionality of the Engineering SPL, HardSPL also allows NBH files to be used without matching the CID (carrier ID) check. At the current time the main benefit of this is to allow European G1s flash American NBH files and vice versa. All other features and attributes of the Engineering SPL (such as the ability to flash the mtds from nand backup images) are present. Using the Nandroid backup scripts to create nand backups for this purpose is recommended.
HardSPL is the recommended SPL.
This is the original SPL which is installed in a stock G1. It is easily distinguished by the “trademark” red-green-blue bootloader screen which appears in many HTC phones. This SPL does not support the fastboot protocol and thus will not allow the user to flash nand backup images. Use this SPL to restore your phone to stock firmware.
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About SPLs
This post contains information and downloads for SPLs for the HTC Dream (aka T-Mobile G1 and ADP1). What is a SPL? The SPL, or Second Program Loader, in conjunction with the IPL comprise a device’s bootloader. Aside from bootstrapping Android, the bootloader also fulfills various diagnostic functions. One of these functions is the manipulation of data in the device’s internal flash ram. Depending on the SPL installed, the user can apply a signed NBH file, flash nand images, and more. Note that the SPL is installed and operates independently of the Android build that runs atop it.
In order to install a theme, you first need to find a theme compatible with your ROM. For example, RC33 themes are not compatible with Cupcake themes. Hero themes are not compatible with Cupcake themes and so on. Usually, if you download a theme from here, we will indicate what ROM it is compatible with. Other places should indicate it in the thread title as well.
If you don’t like the theme, you can flash the ROM you are using to revert back to the default theme. Alternatively, you can flash another theme to use it as well. I recommend you flash back to the default theme before switching to a different theme.
Flashing the same ROM or flashing a theme usually does not wipe your phone unless it states so (or something goes wrong).
JesusFreke has found a way to register the G1 in the initial registration screen that comes up the first time you boot the phone (or after you wipe the phone). It will allow you to register if you don’t have a sim card at all, or if you have a sim card but no data plan.
Contrary to what almost every T-Mobile representative will tell you, you do not need the data plan for the G1 to function. I do not have a data plan and have a rooted G1 that I use everyday. The only downside is that MMS and IM will not work without a data plan. SMS will still work. IM will still work if you have Wifi. IM only works with a data plan because it needs an internet connection to sign on though the default IM app will count a message as a text.
Okay, for some reason you want to unroot your phone or bring it back to stock. This is useful if you no longer like custom ROM’s or need to send your phone in for warranty purposes.
This process will take you down to a stock firmware of RC29. If you just leave the phone on, you should receive OTA (over the air) updates automatically within a couple of days, so there are no other files you need to install to update your phone. You should be good to send the phone back in with RC29 if you are doing this for warranty purposes though.
This is the absolute beginning to modding your Android phone. You will need to gain root access (rooting your phone). You will first downgrade to RC29 in order to make other changes. Once downgraded, you will install the test keys. You can then update to a modified ROM (with root access). Finally, install a modified SPL bootloader. The last step is optional but recommended.
Getting root on your phone involves exploiting a security hole that existed in an early version of Android. The versions with the security holes are known as RC19, RC28, and RC29 (or RC7 or lower for UK phones). As of RC30 (RC8 on UK), Google patched the security hole so that your phone can not be rooted (don’t worry, we can still root it!).
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Android Q has officially been launched. We just installed a theme and several plugins to enhance the functionality of the site. We hope to get some nice articles up soon about Android 