The most popular custom Android ROM makers CyanogenMod had recently raised $7M to incorporate Cyanogen Inc., which not only establishes the credibility of the successful ROM makers but also brings in light the potential rise and need of custom Android firmware in world of Open Source mobile OS.
Cyanogen Inc., was and is incorporated with the sole motto of finding a direct way to connect to the consumer to get their custom firmware installed on millions of devices. There is a huge market of frustrated Android users who are either bored or annoyed of their standard Android, whether it be the stock version or one of the most popular TouchWiz UI which comes on all Samsung devices. The custom ROMs not only give the devices a new look but also comes with additional security and personalization features which drastically improve the device’s speed and overall performance.
With more than 8 million devices now using Cyanogen Mod, they are out of the ‘beta’ status and now provide a CyanogenMod Installer for everyone to use. This app is available in Google Play Store which is a compliment to the desktop client which will be the primary tool to help your unlock the boot loader, root your device and flash CyanogenMod to your device. Using both the tools effortlessly will help you replace your phone’s operating system with Cyanogen Inc.’s customised version of Android which is trusted by many users all over the globe.
Why is this a big deal?
Rooting your device and flashing a custom operating system to a smartphone was never an easy process. It’s fairly complicated and with no proprietary tools to help you do everything together step-by-step it is perceived as a tedious and skill-full task. But now with CyanogenMod Installer App, all you need to do is download the App, install the complimentary desktop software, connect your device and follow the on-screen instructions. Everything from start to finish is laid down in simple steps with minimal instructions and minimal efforts.
Should You Do it?
Not every smartphone user wants or understands the needs of a custom ROM if you not one of those then you are aware of the risks involved and you should proceed with caution.
If you are not one of those, then first thing you need to do is head over the CyanogenMod Installer Wiki page and read about it. Then move to the list of supported/compatible devices which can run CyanogenMod on this wiki page. If you device is listed and stable versions are available, then you potentially could install CyanogenMod for a much more different and customised Android experience.
Warning : Rooting your device will most likely void your warranty. So make sure you understand the risks involved and read things carefully before you move forward.
Several reviews on the App are negative as those reviewers like to remind everyone, that this could potentially brick your device and void Google’s warranty, and many are angry on the Cyanogen for not providing enough information and necessary warning in the App description for everyone to understand and realize what this App does and what they are getting into.
Cyanogen Inc.’s Best Move?
After the huge $7M funding they received most skeptics questioned the world of custom ROMs and how this could fail. People never envisioned the concept of OpenSource project funded which looks like doing borderline illegal activity. ( Rooting your device is technically not legal in many ways ). Some had the question would this make the custom ROM world a new marketplace for developers to develop and sell their custom ROM? How would Cyanogen justify their investors with some return when they themselves were developing for the community for free over the past so many years? This new installer definitely answers most of it for a while, the first quest for Cyanogen Inc., was to get users on board not just a few million but a lot more. With Android capturing 40% of the smartphone market share and 85% of the overall mobile market worldwide, 8 million users sounds like a small number of users using CyanogenMod. The installer will now potentially reach most of the Android users who never knew about the world of custom ROMs and cyanogenmod. Nobody still knows how they are going to make money out of this but that question is not needed to be answered right now.
CyanogenMod Installer App not only helps users install a custom ROM to their devices but this opens a new door to the ever lasting number of devices which the manufacturers stop providing updates to. Custom ROMs usually supports ‘old’ devices and this will help them get the necessary security updates, patches, features and customisation to their devices just got simple, quick and reliable.
Important Links :
CyanogenMod Install App in Google Play Store
CyanogenMod Desktop App
CyanogenMod Installer Wiki
CyanogenMod Supported Devices List Wiki
CyanogenMod Downloads