Submitted by Android One represents Google’s attempt at reaching “the next billion users” – starting today, CyanogenMod 11 (KitKat) builds are available for the ‘sprout’ devices. As the devices are currently setup for CM11 only (work on CM12 is in progress) these builds will trickle once a week, every Sunday.
This release represents a few firsts for us. Not only are these the first Android One devices and first official release of CM for these devices, the Android One device is the first ever officially supported Mediatek device. Mediatek (MTK) devices have been notoriously difficult for the developer community to complete fully functional bring-ups, and this marks a milestone in that effort.
Hopefully this also means good news for other Mediatek devices.
On one hand we are lamenting Lollipop isn’t taking off, on the other this is KitKat. It will be interesting when CM12 is out.
Lollipop will be available until the end of January for some Android One devices. <offtopic> Ce coincidență să dau peste Nicu Buculei aici. </offtopic>
Lots of cheap phones getting official support from Google with proper source code and getting sopport from third party Anroid ROM makers like Cyanogenmod – that means democratising the smartphone ecosystem.