The workaround with the symlink works, did this to check if the missing firmware was the problem.

Camera never works out of the box, you'll have to do the gstreamer part in the HADK, But first fix all the errors relating to kernel and such.

It would be easier if you get a little bit into git. It is much easier to make changes and revert them. Even other people can look into your code and see what you have done. It even makes maintaining easier and without git, there'll be no over the air updates.

Take a look here for your RIL problem:
https://github.com/RealJohnGalt/droi...aa17652b1d8ec5