Just yesterday, when we told you the developers behind CyanogenMod were thinking about releasing a root-only app store for Android, we mentioned that CyanogenMod has a unique user install base of around one million. Last night, that number became official.

Announced by Steve Kondik on Google+, this is a huge milestone for Android [...]]]>

Just yesterday, when we told you the developers behind CyanogenMod were thinking about releasing a root-only app store for Android, we mentioned that CyanogenMod has a unique user install base of around one million. Last night, that number became official.

Announced by Steve Kondik on Google+, this is a huge milestone for Android modding and the community behind it. CyanogenMod officially has over one million unique user installs. According to the CyanogenMod stats page, over 200,000 users have installed CyanogenMod 7.1 alone. The next closest is CM 7.1RC, with only 48,000. And as for the single most popular device? That would be the HTC Desire with nearly 81,000 installs.

Considering 700,000 Android devices are activated daily, and 200 million total devices have been activated so far, one million unique installs may not seem astronomical. But when you think of it in terms of 1 out of every 200 Android users on the planet uses CyanogenMod, that’s impressive to say the least. And those numbers don’t say anything about the passion, voice and devotion behind the Android modding community.

For more information on CyanogenMod, visit CyanogenMod.com.

If you’re on the hunt for root only apps, or looking for something that was taken down from the Android Market due to carrier or company complaints, you’re pretty much on your own. You could always check forums and other file sharing sites, but wouldn’t it be nice if there was some sort of go-to [...]]]>

If you’re on the hunt for root only apps, or looking for something that was taken down from the Android Market due to carrier or company complaints, you’re pretty much on your own. You could always check forums and other file sharing sites, but wouldn’t it be nice if there was some sort of go-to root only app store for modded Android devices? The folks behind CyanogenMod think so, and there might just be one on the way.

Koushik Dutta, CyanogenMod team member and the developer behind apps like ROM Manager, has taken to Google+ to ask if members of the Android community would be interested in a CyanogenMod App Store.

I've been bouncing this idea around for a while now, and it seems like an even better idea now, given my recent brush with this problem: we need an App Store for root apps. We also need an app store for apps that are getting shut down for no good reason, other than carrier, or some random corporation doesn't like it.Koushik DuttaCyanogenMod

Essentially, we’re looking at Cydia for Android. A standardized app store that specializes in root only and banned apps, that would be available to use in any ROM.

Dutta has already talked with Amazon about bundling it with their app store, but they aren’t interested in participating at this time. So CyanogenMod may tackle the task alone.

Personally, I’m all for this. Not only would it be much easier to find tweaks and mods for rooted Android devices, but it would help keep the Android community’s most active user base funded. A portion of the profits from app sales out of the CyanogenMod App Store would go to funding the development behind the ROM, as their unique user install base has grown past one million and become rather costly to maintain.

To voice your opinion, and help get the word out, check out the original post on Google+.

The default music player in Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, leaves much to be desired in the way of customization. There are options to change some of the settings for Google Music and playback, but that’s about as far as customizations go. The fine folks behind CyanogenMod are looking to change that, for rooted and [...]]]>

The default music player in Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, leaves much to be desired in the way of customization. There are options to change some of the settings for Google Music and playback, but that’s about as far as customizations go. The fine folks behind CyanogenMod are looking to change that, for rooted and non-rooted users alike.

Android Developer Andrew Neal recently sat down with The Verge and spilled some details on CyanogenMod 9’s upcoming music application. Among the normal options found throughout the default Android music app, CM9’s music app will feature fully customizable notification area playback options, shake controls, the ability to search the Android Market, options for setting music as ringtones and gesture recognition.

In keeping with the spirit of CyanogenMod ROMs, the music app will eventually come equipped with a full theme engine, allowing users to take total control of their music playback experience.

Fortunately for non-rooted users, the CyanogenMod 9 music app will be made available as a stand-alone download in the Android Market.

Progress on the rest of CyanogenMod 9 is coming along quite nicely. Every day, more and more devices land ports and early alphas of the ROM. The Droid X and Droid 2 Global are just two devices to see their own version of CM9 come out in the last week. Surely, we can expect to see many more devices gain compatibility soon.

While hackers and modders from all over the world are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for CyanogenMod 9 to make a mass release appearance, anyone lucky enough to own an Android 4.0.3 device can get a taste of the ROM now. Trebuchet Launcher, the launcher that will come preloaded in CyanogenMod 9, [...]]]>

While hackers and modders from all over the world are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for CyanogenMod 9 to make a mass release appearance, anyone lucky enough to own an Android 4.0.3 device can get a taste of the ROM now. Trebuchet Launcher, the launcher that will come preloaded in CyanogenMod 9, is available for download in early alpha form.

There are two requirements for running Trebuchet Launcher, you must be on Android 4.0.3, and you must be rooted. If you happen to own a device that fits that criteria, like a Galaxy Nexus or Nexus S, then you can download Trebuchet and see what the standard launcher for CM9 will come with. TreBuchet is modeled to look just like the stock Android 4 launcher, but comes with a slew of customization features not found in vanilla Android.

• Custom number of Homescreens
• Enable/Disable Persistent Search Bar
• Separated Apps/Widgets in Drawer
• Resize Any Widget
• Show and Fade Scrolling Indicator in Homescreen and Drawer
• Enable/Disable Auto-Rotate
• Drawer Apps Sorting (Title, Install Date)

Personally, I’m really looking forward to app drawer sorting and disabling the persistant Google search bar. Since I have a Nexus S, I still use the search button, making the persistant search bar pointless. And who couldn’t use a little more organization in their app drawer?

As time goes on, more and more features will find their way into Trebuchet Launcher. Infinite scrolling and screen transition animations are just two among many slated to make an appearance eventually.

For more information on Trebuchet Launcher, and to download the alpha, visit XDA now.

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There’s no doubt that many Android fans already have their Ice Cream Sandwich-filled Galaxy Nexus. Many of us (especially Americans) are still waiting for this device to hit our local stores, but we’re more than eager to play around with Android 4.0. What happens with those users who don’t feel like they [...]]]>

There’s no doubt that many Android fans already have their Ice Cream Sandwich-filled Galaxy Nexus. Many of us (especially Americans) are still waiting for this device to hit our local stores, but we’re more than eager to play around with Android 4.0. What happens with those users who don’t feel like they need new hardware to get the benefits of Ice Cream Sandwich, though?

When you know your phone is still good, and you want to stick with it for some more time, custom ROMs can be a great option. For some, it’s even better than waiting for the manufacturer update (which can take a long time). Two of the most famous custom ROMs out there are CyanogenMod and MIUI, and both offer very different interfaces.

While CyanogenMod is an AOSP ROM (hence very Android-esque), MIUI has taken things to another level and completely changed the way things look. Some consider the MIUI ROM to be too weird and flashy (looks much like iOS), while others believe it’s simply beautiful. As always, this is a matter of preference. The beauty of Android is that we all have the option to choose whatever we prefer.

Having said that, we would like to know what your preference is! MIUI has just released some images of what their Ice Cream Sandwich ROM will look like once it’s finished ^[1]. They have been working hard since the source code hit the streets and have made some great progress. We should at least be seeing some early builds soon. Check out the pictures below!

We do not have images of CyanogenMod 9 just yet, but as always, it should look pretty similar to stock Android 4.0. Many of us have been loving CyanogenMod for its stability and “stock” feel, among other reasons. If you’re a CyanogenMod fan waiting to get your hands on CM9, the CM team has just given us a quick update of their progress with the Android 4.0 ROM^[2].

To summarize, the Cyanogen team is still working hard on cooking this ROM up for their long list of supported devices. They do claim to have multiple devices with ICS already running, though and mention that the first devices to get this ROM will most likely be devices with OMAP4, MSM8660/7X30 and Exynos processiors. As well as some Tegra 2 devices, which they have already mentioned.

There’s some good news and some bad news about CyanogenMod 9, as well. Good news is that the CyanogenMod team has stated that Carrier IQ has not, is not, and will never be present in any CM ROMs^[3]. The bad news is that not every device in the supported list will be able to run CyanogenMod 9 with ICS. There’s one device that will be left off the list: the good ol’ Motorola Droid (OG).

So, which is your ROM of choice? Will you be going with CM9 or MIUI? We thought it would be a great idea to make a poll, just to see where our readers stand on this dilemma. Please participate, and let us know your reasons in the comments section!

Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs have been coming out of the woodwork for the past couple weeks now, but there are none as anticipated as CyanogenMod 9.

The amount of work that goes into a stable CyanogenMod release is astonishing. Not only does the build have to be fully functional, but bug free as well. [...]]]>

Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs have been coming out of the woodwork for the past couple weeks now, but there are none as anticipated as CyanogenMod 9.

The amount of work that goes into a stable CyanogenMod release is astonishing. Not only does the build have to be fully functional, but bug free as well. With every new release, be it alpha or nightly, more bugs are discovered. So as time goes on, it becomes more and more tedious to perfect a single ROM. It’s going to be awhile before any stable CyanogenMod ROMs go up for download, but alpha builds are already finding their way online.

If you are lucky enough to own a Nexus S, then you can download and try out CyanogenMod 9 now. In its current stage, CyanogenMod 9 alpha 11 for the Nexus S is missing very few essential functions. There some issues with video playback and MMS isn’t perfect, but there are a lot of people using the ROM as a daily driver. As time goes on more bugs will be found and ironed out, and customization features will be piled on until you can change and tweak nearly every aspect of the device. But for now, this is as good as it gets.

If you’re looking to get CyanogenMod 9 onto your Nexus S, you can find all the info in this XDA thread. Of course the standard only you are responsible for hacking your phone disclaimers apply.

While we’re on the subject of CyanogenMod 9, what feature are you dying to try out? Personally, I’d love to see how themes work. The theme engine is CyanogenMod 7 was great, especially once you were sick to death of the orange highlights and black notification bar. The blue highlights in Ice Cream Sandwich will be a welcome change, but for how long? I’ll take my Ice Cream Sandwich in purple or gray please.

It certainly did not take long for the CyanogenMod team to get working on Android 4.0. Soon after the Ice Cream Sandwich source code was released, Cyanogen’s official Twitter account informed us that work had begun. We never thought results could show up so early, though.

Steve Kondik (aka Cyanogen) [...]]]>

It certainly did not take long for the CyanogenMod team to get working on Android 4.0. Soon after the Ice Cream Sandwich source code was released, Cyanogen’s official Twitter account informed us that work had begun. We never thought results could show up so early, though.

Steve Kondik (aka Cyanogen) posted something very exciting on his Google+ account last night. It reads as follows:

ICS on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is pretty great. Coming soon to a CM mirror near you :)Steve KondikCyanogenMod

This pretty much means that the port to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is at least close to being ready. Steve does state that the experience “is great,” so he is definitely getting a taste of some Ice Cream Sandwich right now. Expect the port to be available soon. As he states, they will be offering the files through their mirrors, so you might be running ICS on your tab very soon.

Try not to crack your knuckles or pull your hair too much. Let’s just wait and see when the CyanogenMod team can get us some ICS fun. We sure hope more devices get it soon, too. Who will be flashing ICS to their Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1?

Custom ROM fans had a blast last Monday, when Google released the source code for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). This means that developers can now download the source code, and get to work on those awesome ROMs.

One of the most popular custom ROM developers in the Android world is the

Custom ROM fans had a blast last Monday, when Google released the source code for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). This means that developers can now download the source code, and get to work on those awesome ROMs.

One of the most popular custom ROM developers in the Android world is the CyanogenMod team. These guys work strictly from source, and have been waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich to be set free, so they can start working on CyanogenMod 9. As expected, it did not take long before these guys started to make things happen. Yesterday, Steve “Cyanogen” Kondik himself let us know that they have started their long hours of coding, and to wait at least 2 months before checking up on CyanogenMod 9 (Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a stable release in January?).

If you like being adventurous and jumping into the game earlier, Beta and Alpha versions should be coming out eventually. Nightlies, anyone?

Stay tuned for more news on this. We are sure the Cyanogen team will be letting us know how things go. Will you guys be flashing CyanogenMod 9, or would you rather purchase a Samsung Galaxy Nexus (or any device with ICS)?

Modders, hackers, developers and lovers of all things root, your time has come. It has just been announced over on the Android Building Google Groups page that the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0, is available now.

Now that the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich is available, it should only be [...]]]>

Modders, hackers, developers and lovers of all things root, your time has come. It has just been announced over on the Android Building Google Groups page that the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0, is available now.

Now that the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich is available, it should only be a matter of time before custom Android 4 ROMs, like CyanogenMod, start making their way online. Not only that, but it means that the official update for the Nexus S should be available soon.

The exact version of Android that hit the Android Open Source Project today is Android 4.0.1. According to Google developer Jean-Baptiste M. “JBQ” Queru, it’s the build that will ship with the Galaxy Nexus.

According to a poll we ran here at Android and Me just a couple weeks back, a lot of you out there like to root and are all about the custom ROMs. So what do you think, who will be the first dev to publish a legitimate ICS ROM from source? And what kind of goodies are tucked inside the code? There will definitely be some surprises to come out of the release, so be sure to stay tuned for any updates.

For some TouchPad owners, this day couldn’t come soon enough. Finally, at long last, CyanogenMod 7 is available to download on the HP TouchPad.

Fitted with the subtitle “Lower Your Expectations Edition,” CyanogenMod 7 alpha 1 is the most complete TouchPad port of Android to hit the web yet. There are some app compatibility, camera, [...]]]>

For some TouchPad owners, this day couldn’t come soon enough. Finally, at long last, CyanogenMod 7 is available to download on the HP TouchPad.

Fitted with the subtitle “Lower Your Expectations Edition,” CyanogenMod 7 alpha 1 is the most complete TouchPad port of Android to hit the web yet. There are some app compatibility, camera, WiFi and power management issues, but the list of features that are near completion is impressive to say the least. The folks from CyanogenMod even have Netflix working–something not all Android manufacturers can say.

There’s still a lot of work to be done before the project is considered complete, but the status of the alpha and public availability is a great sign of just how fast things are moving along. For a walkthrough of the latest features, be sure to check out the video below. For download information and to stay caught up with the progress of CyanogenMod for TouchPad, keep checking back with the original thread on RootzWiki. If you muster up the courage to take the plunge, let us know how it works for you in the comments below.