New wine in old bottle: The good ol' HP TouchPad gets a working Android 9 Pie custom ROM

It wouldn't be a wrong assertion to state that the HP TouchPad is to tablets similar to how the HTC HD2 is to phones — both simply refuse to die. The HP TouchPad launched in 2011 for US$499 and came with webOS, one that was way too advanced for its time. Shortly after release, HP announced that the TouchPad would not be supported anymore but still went on to offer the webOS 3.0.5 update in early 2012. The tablet soon dropped to US$99 and enthusiasts lapped up whatever stocks were left.

Thanks to the efforts of custom ROM enthusiasts, the HP TouchPad received its first Android 2.3 Gingerbread update in October 2011 followed by the first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in 2012 and Android 4.4.2 KitKat in 2014. The TouchPad has since received most Android OS updates right up till Android 7 Nougat. Now, an AOSP-based Android 9 Pie custom ROM is available thanks to the efforts of XDA Senior Member elginsk8r who recently released the Evervolv ROM for the HP TouchPad.

The features of the open-source Evervolv ROM include an extended power menu, music control with the volume buttons, key rebinding, expanded desktop, and more. Bluetooth and Camera do not function at this point but the author notes that they are being worked upon. Also joining the party is the Dirty Unicorns Android 9 Pie custom ROM for the HP TouchPad that has also found a good number of takers.

If you have a HP TouchPad lying around collecting dust, now is the time to probably resurrect it. While OEMs may have to abandon certain products due to business reasons, the enthusiast community is to be lauded for putting in the efforts to give these products a new lease of life. Do you have a HP TouchPad that could use some revival voodoo? Let us know in the comments below.