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Legitimizing Android ROMs with Over the Air Updates

Posted by lordpenguin on · 6 comments
The Powerbase; By Tom Nardi 		Mail this story
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Community developed Android ROMs have come a very long way in a short amount of time. Many people now base their hardware purchase on whether or not they will be stuck running the factory ROM on it; alternatives like CyanogenMod and AOKP are simply better than what the manufacturer shipped the hardware with.

Community developed Android ROMs have come a very long way in a short amount of time. Many people now base their hardware purchase on whether or not they will be stuck running the factory ROM on it; alternatives like CyanogenMod and AOKP are simply better than what the manufacturer shipped the hardware with.

But for all of their improvements, custom Android ROMs fall short compared to their factory counterparts in a few areas: most notably, updates. Updating the factory ROM on your device (assuming your manufacturer is kind enough to update your device…) is so simple that even the most clueless of users will always be running the latest and greatest. The official Over The Air (OTA) update process is designed for the mass market, and it works.

But with custom Android ROMs, there is very little organization on how updates are distributed or even announced. Unless you keep a close eye on forums or the ROM’s site, there is a good chance you won’t even know an update has been released. Once you do, you have to go through the usual process of finding the download, hoping the mirror hasn’t crashed, and installing the updated ROM. All of which, incidentally, you probably did on your computer rather than on the device itself.

Surely, there must be a more professional way of handling things.

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Comments (6)

tracyanne ·
would be the ability to be able to choose not to use Google services.

The fact that I would be forced to use Gmail and other Google services is one of the major reasons I won't purchase another smart phone.

Does any use a modded smartphone?
gus3 ·
I have two, one with CyanogenMod 7.2 and one with stock Android 2.2 (Froyo, I think). Neither phone is in active service ATM, for monetary reasons. (I also have a tablet, but let's not go there.)

Nobody is "forced" to use Gmail. The only required Google sign-on is for software updates. Background sync can be disabled for all services, including Gmail. You can use Yahoo email if you want, and totally ignore Gmail. Individual apps, usually free (gratis) apps, may require that you be signed in with Google, for their ad support.

If you want to skip Google store, you can, but bear in mind you probably should get security updates.
tracyanne ·
can you remove the GMail app?
gus3 ·
Remove, I don't think so. But you can block the auto-sync so it never really does anything.

I'm typing this on CM7.2 and it doesn't have Gmail.
JaseP ·
Quoting: Q: can you remove the GMail app?

A: Remove, I don't think so. But you can block the auto-sync so it never really does anything.


Not correct. If you root the phone, and make the system area read/write enabled, you can remove the Gmail app. I don't know if that'll break other things, though.
gus3 ·
Well, yes, anything goes on a rooted phone, but if you break it, you get to keep both pieces...

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