[news] Good news for Android Owners

[LeightonJames]

This can only be a good thing. Cyanogen Mod are to become Cyanogen Inc based in Seattle and are to release a Universal Installer for Cyanogen which will make the installation process easier for all users:

 

Taking a longer view, Mr Kondik said the goal of the company was to outdo Google and create an operating system for a phone that was "actually designed by and for the people who use it".

 

I am pretty excited about this and look forward to the release. Hopefully they can port cyanogen to ALL android devices including those generic models.

 

Android alternative gets $7m funding boost

[Garacesh]

Woohoo!

Have used CM7 and CM9 across different phones and it's been wonderful. Can't fault it.

 

Looks like other companies have taken note, too.. My new XPERIA SP looks conveniently similar in both style and layout

[teky]

Not everyone is happy about this. A lot of contributors to the code are being left behind, and from what I have read CM is to be dual licensed, so hardware manufactures can make modifications to the code that won't be going back to the open source community

[Rogan]

I really wanted to get my hands on Ubuntu touch tbh. So many Android Mods are all the same, I see no real difference in cyan compare to insert coin etc other than the launcher which can be basically made to what you want anyway!

[Arthur]

I see no real difference in cyan

Other than the RemoteDisplayAdapter framework (which includes support for

, AirPlay/Chromecast/DLNA/Roku audio and video streaming, hardware-accelerated screen capture), SMS encryption, Privacy Guard, one-click installer apps for Windows and Android, the CyanogenMod Account (find/wipe/sync your Android devices) plus whatever features they haven't announced yet.

 

Not much at all then!

[Rogan]

Other than the RemoteDisplayAdapter framework (which includes support for

, AirPlay/Chromecast/DLNA/Roku audio and video streaming, hardware-accelerated screen capture), SMS encryption, Privacy Guard, one-click installer apps for Windows and Android, the CyanogenMod Account (find/wipe/sync your Android devices) plus whatever features they haven't announced yet.

 

Not much at all then!

Dammit fanboi *Shakes fist*

 

Yeah ok granted they do have nice features. But you can over saturate and end up in the galaxy s4 territory. Stuff like Chromecast and roku are very niche and if I’m brutally honest I'd be disappointed if I found a Chromecast. I'll keep my MK808 as a lovely little XBMC device thank you very much, double that with the Yatse remote and you've got almost all the features above in a single app. Encryption stuff is nice but it’s just another version of googles privacy and won’t last as it restrains ‘features’. Hardware screen capture... will we be streaming our angry bird games on twitch soon? As I'm sure you know hw decoding makes stuff HOT and if like me you have a HTC One which is made of a single bit of tin or w/e it gets REALLY HOT, this worries people not in the know of world of hardware and quickly makes them lock the phone, put it down and walk off. Unless you’re a ooo look at my stylish none stock anything launcher setup what is the point of it?

 

 

It’s just another version of android causing more fragmentation across the open source market.

 

 

But, I’m pleased they are doing it I really am, its about time someone did this tbh its just they’ll need something more than this to sell it, in fact to the normal phone user the look of the OS is fare more valued than the features as long as it texts, facebooks and whatsapps. My point is reinforced when I ask people "Why do you have an iPhone?" and their answer is usually "Because its an iPhone" ...

 

Viva la kit kat!

[Arthur]

Yeah ok granted they do have nice features. But you can over saturate and end up in the galaxy s4 territory.

Even with the additional features described above, I think CM has a very long way to go before it reaches Galaxy Note III levels of bloat.

 

Stuff like Chromecast and Roku are very niche

At the moment they are, but I could see Chromecast being really popular once Google get round to actually selling it outside of the US and the non-beta SDK is released.

 

It’s just another version of Android causing more fragmentation across the open source market.

CM is essentially stock Android, but with extra apps and features so I don't see it causing any more fragmentation than we currently have.

 

Personally I would rather use CyanogenMod than Samsung's TouchWiz'd version of Android or the monstrosity that LG have created. Some versions of Android are truly horrific!

 

Perhaps now that CyanogenMod is a proper company, we will see smaller manufacturers (i.e. everyone who isn't Samsung) sell devices with CM installed - Oppo is definitely a good start.

 

But, I'm pleased they are doing it I really am, it's about time someone did this tbh its just they’ll need something more than this to sell it

The main selling point would be that your Android device gets updated in a timely manner.

 

My point is reinforced when I ask people "Why do you have an iPhone?" and their answer is usually "Because it's an iPhone" ...

Yeah. It's a shame that a lot of iPhone users buy them as fashion accessories, but I suppose it isn't any different than the people who buy Beats headphones.

[SYNACK]

Cyanogen Mod is good, have recommended it to a few people who have been stuck with aging bloated unsupported android phones and it makes them way better in most things, including battery life on a stack of them. And it beats being stuck with a vulnerable bunch of software on an abandoned rom.

[LeightonJames]

My first experience with CM was with my old Galaxy S 1 and it's miserable battery life due to a bug Samsung had introduced into the Android System portion of the code. CM had managed to remove this bug LOONNNGGG before Samsung had released an update to the OS and from there I have used numerous custom Roms on my Android devices.

[gtg93]

This is great news!

 

Re-installed Cyanogen last week on my SGS2 after having a ROM that randomly restarted every few hrs and had various other bugs (was still in alpha stages so I should've known) and the battery life has improved drastically! I also forgot how much faster the phone ran with it on.

 

If people start using it more, then you never know, manafacturers may realise it's a winner and stop cramming so much bloatware on their devices... unlikely, but still...

[MordyT]

I'm actually sad to hear this going through.

 

This will lead to problems.. Look at the focal app drama.

[DMcCoy]

I suspect it will mean better builds for those that partner with Cyanogen Inc, but unusable ones for non affiliated manufacturers.

 

If you thought Samsung were difficult with source releases before, imagine how it will be now they are a commercial competitor!

[edutech4schools]

Re-installed Cyanogen last week on my SGS2

 

PM me some info how I get Cyanogen on my stock S2. Looks very good but getting a bit lost.

[LeightonJames]

I don't understand why people are seeing this as a Negative....

 

CM are hardly going to start being difficult to deal with and risk losing what makes them a better alternative to the OS most people use. CM are renowned for adding great features and making the whole user experience much more user friendly and powerful. You will be hard pushed to find an android phone that doesn't run a version of CM (be it a port or built from the ground up). Why would they suddenly decide that one device is not worthy of a specific update? The beauty of CM is that they are Open Source and happy for other devs to use their work as a base on which to build Mods.

 

Samsung won't let you use their launcher on another phone, LG don't want you to use their environment on any other phone. Want to update your Phone to the latest version of Jelly Bean on your trusty Galaxy S?? You can't because Samsung don't think it's powerful enough to run ICS even with their clunky laggy Touchwiz interface. CM gives YOU the OWNER the power to choose which launcher and which version of Android you want to use.

 

I know some people will see this as a "preaching to the choir" post but I'm honestly baffled as to why people think this is not good news.

[sparkeh]

I am surprised to see people moaning about fragmentation.

Isn't this kinda thing the whole point about Open Source and should be encouraged?!

[edutech4schools]

Focal camera app removed from CyanogenMod, launched as standalone beta

[d0pefish]

What exactly in TouchWiz do people have such an issue with?

Had an S2 which I had CM and various other roms on. Now have an S4 and it still has TouchWiz on it. Launcher changed from TWLauncher to something else and that's it. If it's purely the launcher that bothers people, install a new one!

 

People complain about it being bloated, but again you have the option to disable apps. Don't get me wrong, CM10 was nice to use on the S2, but I've not felt any urge to flash anything on the S4 after changing the Launcher.

[LeightonJames]

I've always avoided it since my S1 as back then it was unresponsive at times, laggy as hell and full of so much crapware that it killed the battery life mere hours instead of days.

 

Flashing a custom rom removes all these niggles and allows me to customise the phone in a way that suits me. An example of this is the Paranoid Android roms which give you customisation of app layouts and resolution.

 

The best and most simplistic launcher (read basic) i have found is Trebuchet. Comes with most Custom Rom's and is easy enough to use for even the most uneducated of users.

[d0pefish]

I've always avoided it since my S1 as back then it was unresponsive at times, laggy as hell and full of so much crapware that it killed the battery life mere hours instead of days.

 

Flashing a custom rom removes all these niggles and allows me to customise the phone in a way that suits me. An example of this is the Paranoid Android roms which give you customisation of app layouts and resolution.

 

The best and most simplistic launcher (read basic) i have found is Trebuchet. Comes with most Custom Rom's and is easy enough to use for even the most uneducated of users.

 

This is my point. TouchWiz goes beyond the launcher. TouchWiz changes so many things, and if people's gripe is primarily with the launcher (I too found it laggy, and prefer the stock layout) then just install a different one.

Flashing a custom ROM can sometimes remove these things, but then add in the fact that it can sometimes make things worse in other areas.

 

Genuine question (despite it sounding sarcastic!) but what customisation would CM give you over TouchWiz outside of the launcher? I've used both but perhaps I've just never gone to the level of configuration as others have to notice the things it changes

[LeightonJames]

Take a look at PAC-man roms.

 

It combines the best elements of:

 

Paranoid Android

Cyanogen Mod

and AOKP

 

PAC ROM

 

The 3 elements together give you so many options in terms of customisation. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what these roms can do but I have been able to increase the resolution (or dpi) of even the S1 so that I can then make use of the tablet style layout for things like GMail and the Settings screen. I can colour certain Gapps in a way that I like. It has even enabled me to install the tablet/HD options of some apps such as the XDA App or Tapatalk. All these features are unavailable to you if you stick with Touchwiz and in my opinion, you are missing out.

 

At the end of the day it is all down to personal preference and I know some people who are more than happy to keep their device as stock.

[Arthur]

The first CyanogenMod phone looks pretty cool...

 

http://i.imgur.com/3elWlCT.png

 

More info...

 

• androidpolice.com/2013/09/23/oppo-reveals-the-n1-rotating-13mp-camera-5-9-screen-cyanogenmod-edition-will-launch-with-cm-pre-installed/
  
• briefmobile.com/its-official-oppo-n1-to-come-with-color-os-rotating-camera-and-cyanogenmod
  

[gtg93]

PM me some info how I get Cyanogen on my stock S2. Looks very good but getting a bit lost.

 

PM Sent - If any of the info doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll point you in the right direction.

 

Flashing a custom rom removes all these niggles and allows me to customise the phone in a way that suits me. An example of this is the Paranoid Android roms which give you customisation of app layouts and resolution.

 

The paranoid android ROM looks good, but I found it to be very buggy, crashes a lot and restarts the phone randomly. I also foud that after a few week of using it - the notifications stopped working on my phone so I weren't aware of text messages or emails coming through... Although I was using a very early release of it - it may have improved since then.

 

 

Take a look at PAC-man roms.

 

All I got when I flashed this on was a boot-loop. I followed the instructions to the dot and boot-loop. I also tried flashing it using different methods but faced the same problem eveytime. Might have to give it another go. Did look like a good solid ROM though from what the guys at XDA-Dev were saying.

 

The first CyanogenMod phone looks pretty cool...

 

Looks alright - good spec too! Shame they've not tried to be a bit more competitive on the price.

Edited September 25, 2013 by gtg93

[edutech4schools]

PM Sent - If any of the info doesn't make sense, let me know and I'll point you in the right direction.

 

cool, thanks.

[Arthur]

Hands-On With CyanogenMod Installer « Android Police

 

[DMcCoy]

But does it actually work? I've tried cyanogen a few times, but it was always too broken to live with it as a day to day rom for my S2/S3.

It may be fine on other phones, but it's still not much use on the S3, the lack of relevant sources from Samsung make it hard work for the i9300 maintainers.

 

I tried really hard to like it, as I hate all the samsung crap that is all over their phones, but I had a non broken phone with better battery life by just rooting and removing the crap.