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I have toss my perfectly good Galaxy Nexus into the bin, and buy a new phone? How sweet! The upgrade treadmill is fully operational..

I'm not happy that Google doesn't update the Galaxy Nexus anymore, but you still have CyanogenMod if you want to keep getting security updates for your phone: http://download.cyanogenmod.co...

(This is an HTC device rather than Samsung) When I origionally stumbled on this thread I assumed yea yea cyanogen must be doing something wrong using a shit driver or not doing something quite right using a conspiracy theory as an excuse to blurt out a lazy response.

http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/75172-why-is-cyanogenmod-htc-one-so-slow-6250-on-quadrant-standard-instead-12500/

I suspect that A benchmark manipulation is not limited to Samsung. B there is still something screwy going on in cyanogen and C we're going to find out pretty quickly what the truth is.

A hypervisor is overkill for that: the UID application separation already allows for that. CyanogenMod now has built-in support for denying permissions to applications [see: Permission Management – CyanogenMod Settings].

Root it - you paid for it, why not own it, too? Then you can do your own upgrades... CM7, 9

Since it was hard-hacked earlier this year, several attempts to root have failed at the very last step for me, and I know I typed in the exact string shown in Android Forums. I will be trying again. And I've been using 3g all summer, fast enough. When I factory reset the phone recently (away from the house's wifi), Wifi came back on with no problem. That lasted about 3 days. My Android tablet's (v4.0.1) wifi worked for the first few days also with no problem. Now at this house it's somehow blocked, works fine at the public library where I am now.

You have an original OG Droid and you are still complaining about it now? The phone is ancient and should have been replaced a long time ago. That being said, it is also completely unlocked and one of the easiest phones to upgrade the OS on. Check out Cyanogen Mod or Project Elite for a whole new experience on the phone and repurpose it as a useful WiFi based media device.
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/project-elite/
http://rootzwiki.com/forum/205-projectelite/
http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices/motorola-droid

Root it - you paid for it, why not own it, too? Then you can do your own upgrades...

CM7, 9

Are you telling me that CM will let you install apps that need e.g. "phone state and identity" but will feed them false information?

Not quite, though mock/invalid data would be a nice feature.

Rather, CM 7.2 allows you to revoke permissions listed in the app. So, when the app goes to access whatever permission you have revoked, it finds that the OS will block the attempt. The effect yanks the rug out from under the app, because the net effect is essentially the same as the dev forgetting to add the security permission to the app's list. Some apps tolerate this well, others force close immediately.

For example, I installed Shazam and revoked the "Read Phone State and Identity" permission before launching the app for the first time. So, there was no way Shazam could read my phone state/identity, leaving my privacy intact. However, no dice: the app force closes immediately with that permission revoked, so I uninstalled it. Many apps are okay with this kind of thing, though, so YMMV.

PS. CyanogenMod is in somewhat of a metastable state: it seems they rebased to Google's Ice Cream Sandwich release for CM 9 and lost most of the cool custom features. Thus, app permission management is *only* available in the Gingerbread-derived CM 7.2 release. No worries: the GB release has a lot of nice polish. Screenshots of thr UI for the feature can currently be found here.

you say cyanogenmod is illegal?

It was until they removed the stock google apps, which you now back up from your device and restore when installing CyanogenMod.

http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices

The whole Galaxy Ace range is not supported. And i see a lot of them around here (including my on Ace1).

It shouldn't be an either/or... Why isn't "neither" an option?

There is just such an option: cyanogen mod. Do not install GAPPS (Google Apps) and you are good to go.

http://www.cyanogenmod.com/

That was not so hard now was it? ;)

You mean: contributing to CyanogenMod?

I use my Nook Color running CyanogenMod as an XBMC remote. Also my wife's & my current droid have the app on them. So when we crash on the couch to watch some shows or movies you cant beat the setup.

If you are one of those people who want to control their media, not the other way around.. then this is a great use for an old droid w/ wifi capabilities.

See if you can mod your device.

NAVI-X should be added to XMBC

Cyanogenmod 7 runs on the Nook Color, making it a full-fledged android tablet, now for 10% less money.

While technically the Nook Color still something of a content feeder spoon, since the tablet form factor lends itself more to consumption of content than creation, it's not strictly a pipeline for Barnes and Noble content, as your post implies.

I use mine mainly to read comic book scans. Now, for a modest $149,. you can read every Batman ever.

I'm surprised Nexus 7 isn't supported. There are tables, but only the Advent Vega, Nook Color and HP Touchpad.

Okay, I want to buy a device for CyanogenMod. I don't want the hassle of jailbreaking and I want to know for sure that it will keep working even if I try an upgraded manufacturer's ROM. The official supported device list doesn't say anything. The install instructions all start with "now root your phone". How can I find out a list of recommended phones including information about how easy the install is?

I don't think there a lot of people activating phones by installing ROMS. Even Cyanogen, the most popular ROM has only 2.7 million total installs. That's what? 3 days worth of Android activations. A drop in the bucket. The average user has no knowledge in flashing ROMS and installing even factory images.

It will not, CM has a list of what is safe to remove.
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Barebones
I just used titanium backup, but you could use any app that allows you to delete apks from system.

It will break compatibility only with apps that need cameras and microphones, which the NC lacks anyway.

They really should. It's plain and simple laziness, since a GHz processor and 512Mb of RAM should handle ICS like a champ. Meanwhile, there's http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices/samsung-galaxy-s

Not hard at all to install and better in every way than any official update - more configurability, less bloat, better defaults, less reliant on hacky apps to correct shit that should work properly in the first place (WiFi keep alive, call slider etc.)..

It's great and all, but it would seem to just perpetuate the whole "dump it on the community to support" thing. Release a phone, provide token updates, let the community bring the rest of it along. It's a great business model since support costs money (and the community will do it for free), but there'll be a tipping point where the community just can't support another phone.

If you have a flagship, great, but the vast majority of Android phones are sold aren't flagships, but the cheap free phones (some with 2.2 on contract, even!). Especially since it seems every Samsung phone is a Galaxy S something or other.

They really should. It's plain and simple laziness, since a GHz processor and 512Mb of RAM should handle ICS like a champ. Meanwhile, there's http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices/samsung-galaxy-s

Not hard at all to install and better in every way than any official update - more configurability, less bloat, better defaults, less reliant on hacky apps to correct shit that should work properly in the first place (WiFi keep alive, call slider etc.)..

You might consider installing a custom rom such as ClockworkMod. The stock rom on the Evo is loaded with bloatware. Properly written apps should suspend themselves even when running in the background on Android. Carriers aren't always so careful. Don't blame Google for what carriers do to Android. If you want a real android experience, either flash CWM, or buy a nexus. My partner's nexus lasts easily a day and a half with moderate usage (~1hr browsing / day). My Galaxy S flashed with ICS has similar life. It's not quite as good as an iPhone, but it's pretty close.

Looks like Android could potentially become open in the more traditional way, not just "Look it runs Linux and you can customize the home screen"; but from TFA it unfortunately sounds more like non-disclosure for a certain few.

Android as an OS is open. Android as a consumer product is unfortunately usually restricted due to carriers and device manufacturers customising the OS and then dropping support for the device as soon as the next model comes along. This does suck, and as you say, hopefully this move by Google will help solve this issue.

Until that day...

Maybe it's time to fork Android into LibreAndroid.

You're free to do so but maybe it's just easier to install the massively popular CyanogenMod.

The GSM versions of the LG thunder board (Optimus One/P500, even the neutered AT&T Phoenix and Thrive I think) have quite a community around them and support has been merged into the Cyaogenmod tree. The CDMA versions (Optimus C/U/V/M/S) have , but the CM guys have been dragging their feet on integrating it.

Never touched the Slider tho.

(There are rumors that development is already underway to block apps from using certain permissions even if they do declare them, offering users a finer grained control.).

CyanogenMod has this.

Yup... nobody can run the open-sourced Android on their cell phone.

Well, maybe not nobody... But I can't. 'Cause nobody else bought my phone so they didn't make mods for it. Well, Ok, there is one mod for my phone. Ok, 2. But they aren't Cyanogen. So I can't really modify my device...

Android - at least all the code you get from Google - is under the Apache 2.0 License. That makes Android a fully open-source project, since the Apache License is an OSI-approved license (and quite a permissive one at that). So people can't (or shouldn't) complain about Android not being open-source; they should complain instead about carriers making proprietary extensions. Quick note: CyanogenMod - an open-source build of Android - comes bundled with its own open-source marketplace application.

Read for yourself here.

I think the issue is that many of the CM devs care about their reputation in the phone industry. They don't want to tick off vendors, or Google.

I would be very interest to see the impact of jailbreaking in this analysis. Do apps crash more often on jailbroken devices? How does it compare between Android and iOS?

One of the main argument for closed down system, putting aside the money factor which no one gives as an official reason, is stability. I do not believe stability is considerably affected by jailbreaking or by the subsequent modification one could do to the OS, but it would be nice to have statistics and some analysis on this.

Depends. In the Apple world, "jailbreaking" is simply to allow users access to system services and data that they would otherwise be prevented from using. In the Android world, "rooting" is primarily to permit the installation of third-party firmware, something which Apple would never permit since iOS is closed-source anyway.

It's been my experience that some of the better alternate ROMs out there are substantially more stable, and have fewer runtime issues, than the stock firmware provided by Google or the carriers. I didn't see any reference to that in the Crittercism data. My personal favorite, for some years now, had been Cyanogenmod. Their current release is still Gingerbread, but they're working on a ICS release. I'm hoping it will be soon. The thing is, the "many eyes" principle works very well in open source projects like this, especially when the eyes are as talented and capable as Steve Kondik and his crew: Android is a much better, faster, more stable product because of them.

I want to use the device as a Nook, in addition to other stuff. If I do this bootable CM7 install, can I then install the Nook app for Android and use that? I don't want to be constantly popping out the MicroSD card and popping it back in again.

It looks like that shouldn't be a problem:

http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/30549-nook-color-app/

If I can install the Nook app, then I'm sold; I'll try this.

Is there any down-side to running off SD? Is it slower or anything like that? (I think my MicroSD card is Class 10, pretty fast.)

Thanks for the information!

P.S. Oh wow. The community has figured out how to get the Nook Tablet to boot custom software from the MicroSD! Won't be long before it's fully unlocked. I hope the Nook Tablet has Bluetooth hardware like the Nook Color has.

http://liliputing.com/2012/01/nook-tablet-can-now-run-cwm-recovery-boot-from-sd-cards.html

steveha

As soon as people will start playing with TV firmwares, just like they did with smartphones and routers, we'll get better TVs.
Which in turn is not what manufacturers and broadcasters want.

The original Barnes & Noble Nook Color is awesome. The Cyanogenmod turns it into the most versatile and inexpensive Android tablet you can get with a 170 DPI screen. The screen is so nice you'll stop using your iPad's awfully low-res 130 DPI screen. It's light and easy to carry unlike the iPad.

If you're reading this in December of 2011, search the internet for the Cyanogenmod 7.2.0-RC0 release candidate for the best experience. Link: Cyanogenmod 7.2.0-RC0

These devices can be obtained for between $100-$150 USD refurbished and $150 new.

I can't emphasize how great the screen is. It really is that good. The newer Nook Tablet has the same great screen and is much faster dual-core and more memory but it is not easily modified into an Android tablet.

I really recommend the Nook Color with Cyanogenmod for the very cheapest and most successful foray into Android tablets.

I just do not understand how companies like Samsung expect that any publicity from such a move would be positive? I mean, how?

What that would have done is to engage services of folks like these, who churn out credible software. These folks would do all the heavy lifting for a what is pocket change to Samsung.

Samsung, please be serious.

You can upgrade your smartphone OS on your own as well. You can buy the smartphone outside of a contract too, just like a PC. The only requirement to avoid these broken promises is a little foresight.

Screw their pledge, just let us root our phones easily. CyanogenMod has treated me better than any carrier or handset maker, and it will never ever come with Carrier IQ: http://www.cyanogenmod.com/blog/cyanogenmod-will-never-have-carrier-iq

They plan Ice Cream Sandwich via CM9 for almost any CM7 (current version of CM) compatible phone they already support, except for really old models like the G1.

Well, the thing about android is that you don't have to depend on the manufacturer for upgrades.

Would that be the Sprint epic 4g? If so, allow me to point you to this thread, it's been my daily driver for a few months now with the only **major** issue being resolved a few days ago (911 didn't work). If it's the vibrant, some models are supported

Erh.... Do you have sources?

All what I have heard Google to say is "Android is open source and free to get, our apps are free and we give your share from ads when device user does a search with google search bar."

Manufacturers and operators are those who get money from Google, and google does as well. Everyone enjoys...

Details are not known to only those who are licensees but Google apps (GMail, Maps, Market etc.) are closed source and distributing them is not possible without a license (yes, they can be downloaded for free but for manufacturer to bundle them they have to make a deal with Google - I don't have the details about the cost of this deal and how money flows and in which direction...).

I've been looking around and don't see much about it. I thought I'd read after the initial firesale, there was a lot of headway made to root and install it on these HP tablets, but not much is coming up with searches now...

I found this: alpha release announcement, but is there anything more out there?

All of those issues have been fixed - http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/33227-alpha-cyanogenmod-7-for-the-hp-touchpad-v710-alpha-3-22-nov-2011-dont-link-directly-to-files/ Been running on this release for 10 days now. Not a single issue with Wifi, no "sleep of death," better battery life, etc. I was happy with the original release, but this latest one really hit a home run. And they future releases should only get better.

For obvious reasons:

- The TP is rooted, sort of, so the OS is no longer an issue. If Cyanogen is working on it, do not bet against them. You will lose. And there is another team working on this.

- For the money, even stock, it's cool.

- Even a 90-day warranty should give you time to find out if it's a lemon.

- There will be a support community out there.

Now HP is right to toss these refurbs out for several reasons:

- Most of these came back from people too lazy or stupid to follow instructions and resolve their issue.

- If HP can't repair defective units, by whatever means, then all you TP owners have tablets that are just as dead as Elvis, it's only a matter of time. I'm trusting these were either repaired or reloaded.

- No point in keeping backstock of refurbs beyond the warranty needs.

- HP could be deciding that the end of the TP debacle is the day they have NO TPs available. Period. And the sooner the better.

So stop yer whinin' and get in line.

Oh, and all you crybabies out there with your sad tales of trying to buy one back when - I've heard all the complaints. All par for the course. Bad things happen during these closeouts, and resellers are often either morons or thieves. Caveat Emptor. Same as it ever was.

Other method

Doesn't unlocking the Nexus S bootloader wipe the phone though?

Here's what I'm using on my android phone.

1) I installed Cyanogenmod, of course.
2) I use F-Droid instead of the android market. I don't even have the android market installed.
3) I use K9mail for email.
4) I'm using Zirco as my web browser. It has adblocking. If I had a fancier phone (with >= 512mb ram), I'd be running Firefox Mobile (that link sends you to the android market; I'd get it from F-Droid instead)
4) I use OSMAnd, so I don't even have to hit google for maps. Instead, I use my locally-stored OpenStreetMaps.

To sync contacts, calendar, and SMS, I'm planning to set up a Funambol server and use the Funambol sync client. But I'm only on Day 3 of phone ownership, so I haven't gotten that server set up yet. But at least the contacts can be exported into .vcf files, to copy out manually.

One thing I'm concerned about is that the Calendar app won't let me even start up the app until I've put in a server. So I don't have the option of using local-only calendar and exporting the ical files by hand. I'm hoping to fork the Calendar app to make one that compiles with only the Android SDK, and lets you use it in local-only mode. Apparently, k9mail started as a fork of the standard mail app for android.

That's actually 745,668 *installs* which is very different, especially with the prevalence of nightly installs. Source: http://stats.cyanogenmod.com/

CynaogenMod? Seriously?

Here's sample instructions on deploying: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/HTC_Aria:_Full_Update_Guide

And that's just deploying a supplied image, not building. Cf. building & deploying a GNU desktop/server app, or even the Linux kernel...

It might be flakey, but there's a CyanogenMod build for the Incredible 2. http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices/htc-incredible-2

AVG shows "Pheonix Exploit" Perhaps the site has been compromised? http://www.cyanogenmod.com/

The only thing I don't like about the Nook color is:

• * Custom UI not meant for general use (meant for e-Book reading and *very* light web use)

Some people might recommend that you root your Nook Color and CM it.

If you don't mind getting rid of the HTC Sense system, you can definitely make use of this:
Cyanogen

http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/30543-changing-dpi-and-market-access/

Can HTC/google do something about it?

No, but you certainly can.

Root your HTC and install Cyanogenmod as a replacement O/S for HTC Sense and your battery life will probably double. Mine did. I can now go all day long on a single recharge.