[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Mistiq:
Hey, I have neither the phone or a Mac but since I'm prepping to upgrade my friend's backflip from 1.5(!) to whatever the most stable rom is, this caught my attention.

I don't have any direct experience to offer you, but I have thought of a workaround to at least get you on a similar page as everyone else.

Your issue is that you have a Mac combined with a very unpopular phone so you really can't find simple easy solution to rooting and Rom(ing) your phone so I'm thinking that if you can switch your platform to something with universal instructions you can then go to the basics of using ADB to root your phone as I'm sure that there are guides for that.

So I'm thinking that you would use Ubuntu or an Ubuntu deriviative (as there are a few guides about achieving root and ADB through Ubuntu) and then find instructions for rooting your phone through ADB. It's a little bit of a workaround, but it's not as complicated as it sounds.

Best thing about this method is that you don't have to change anything to your computer as you can use a live CD or a Live USB to run Ubuntu from and then when you're done remove the disc or USB and reboot your computer and you're right back to your normal Mac experience.

First thing you'll need is to find an Ubuntu version that you want to use. I'd recommend 10.10 as 11.04 has some bugs from what I hear and instead of using Vanilla Ubuntu, use one of the skinned versions that come with lots of the visual and effective tasks already implemented (Sort of like HTC Sense over stock Android 1.6)

I use Pinguy OS,

click here for the review or a really popular version is Linux Mint.

Once that's done, look up instructions for using a Live CD on a Mac. Here's a Set

(You only need to do Step 2 & 3 once you download Linux Mint or Pinguy OS)

Now once you finally have Ubuntu/Pinguy/Linux Mint running,

review this Thread here on getting ADB set up for Ubuntu.

After that, you should be able to find instructions for rooting the Backflip using ADB and then you can play with Rom's to your hearts content.

Okay, I know this looks complicated but it's really pretty simple, it's more reading than actual work.

Read and learn about Ubuntu/Pinguy OS/Linux Mint

Download Version of your choice to a USB or a DVD

Boot into a Live version

Follow ADB in Ubuntu instructions to install it

Find out how to root your phone

Root Phone

Download Rom to root of card and install, enjoy and have fun.

Just remember that do all of your reading before you start, don't get confused about the different versions of Ubuntu because Ubuntu is just the basic not quite as pretty while Pinguy OS and Linux Mint are Ubuntu with some nice gloss and etc...and finally remember that nothing gets saved on your Live USB or Live CD so once you restart the computer, it's all gone so make sure you are rooted and satisfied before you exit the Session.

Once you get all the reading done and comprehended, it's probably not more than 15 minutes of work, if I wasn't in the process of moving, I'd follow the directions as best as I could to see how it works, but I probably won't be stable until next weekend at the earliest.

Good luck.