First custom ROM for ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 now available

ASUS-Transformer-Pad-300

It has only been a few days since ASUS released the bootloader unlock tool for the Transformer Pad TF300 and users of the somewhat budget-friendly tablet can already play with an experimental build of CyanogenMod 9, courtesy of XDA developer XpLoDWilD of Team HackSung.

Even though the Transformer Pad TF300 ships with Android 4.0, a lot of users would prefer a custom ROM such as CM9, which is based on Android 4.0.4, for its amazing extra features and for the well-known improvements in device performance. After all, there is a reason CyanogenMod is the most popular custom ROM available to Android users.

This is an experimental build and comes with its fair share of issues, such as:

Build #1 had issues with the camera and WiFi not working and MTP (file transfer) not functioning. Files from the computer could be transferred to the device, but not the other way around.
Build #2 fixed the issues with WiFi and the camera. MTP issues still persisted.
It is currently on Build #3 but there is no official indication yet as to whether the file transfer issues have been sorted out, but some user comments on the thread suggest that this might be the case.
Some flashers have had some trouble with getting their GPS to work.

If you would like to play around with the experimental build of CyanogenMod 9 on your ASUS Transformer Pad TF300, you can find download and installation instructions on the original thread. If you are interested in flashing CM9 to your Android device, you can find out more about CyanogenMod, as well as a list of supported devices, here.

Any flashing of custom ROMs, whether experimental or Final release, comes with a standard disclaimer. There is always a slight chance that something might go wrong, leaving you with a very expensive rock. Always remember to create a back up, and a little technical familiarity with the process is recommended. Rooting your device, which is a requirement to flash a custom ROM (if you didn’t know that, please don’t try this alone) also voids your warranty.

There is now another reason to pick up the mid-range ASUS Transformer Pad TF300, which boasts impressive specifications including a display with 1280×800 resolution and a 1.2Ghz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. You can pick up a WiFi-only version of the device from Amazon for $399.99.

What are your thoughts? Are you looking forward to using CyanogenMod 9 on your Transfomer Pad TF300? Is this, along with the reasonable price point, a good reason to pick up the tablet? Let us know in the comments section below.

NEXT: Is The Asus TF300 a Next-Gen Transformer?