CyanogenMod 11:
The Nexus 5 was unveiled on October 31st of last year, and offered
for sale through Google’s Play Store the same day. In those several
months I’ve run the stock version of Android, though about half way
through I rooted it and run several apps that require those elevated
privileges.
That’s pretty significant. It’s the first personal phone that I
haven’t run a Custom ROM on since my very early days with Windows CE.
Even back then I ran “cooked” ROMs on my Pocket PCs. Since then, running
a Custom ROM has gotten significantly easier. Rooting toolkits are
available that take all the guesswork out of installing the right USB
drivers, unlocking, rooting, and flashing a custom recovery image. Once
you’re that far, you’ve got your choice of half-a-dozen or so ROMs that
you can run on your device.
That’s what makes Android 4.4 KitKat and the Nexus 5 so significant.
Whenever I get a new phone, I generally run “stock” for a few weeks,
so I can see what’s new first-hand, and so I can experience the device
the way the manufacturer intended. During that time I’m generally
hyper-aware of what I’m missing by not running CyanogenMod 11, Paranoid
Android, AOKP, or any number of other ROMs. Those few weeks without the
added features are usually more than enough for me, and I’m happy to
make the switch back all too quickly.
This time, however, stock Android has been enough. KitKat is finally
the version of Android that everyone has been waiting for. It’s quick.
It’s stable. It looks good. It’s intuitive. It really doesn’t need anything else — however, that’s not to say that you might not want to add to it.Then,
one night a few weeks ago I found myself with some spare time, no where
to go, and nothing to do. Instead of cracking open a new eBook or
watching an episode of Firefly for the umpteenth time, I
decided to download and flash the latest Cyanogen Mod 11 Nightly. Before
long I was up and running, and re-configuring all the apps on my phone.
I now have quiet hours again, along with profiles that I can trigger
via my per-existing NFC tags placed strategically around my environment.
I can download and install themes and make make changes to my Quick
Settings panel and Notification drawer.
I have blacklisting at my disposal to automatically reject calls
based on who’s calling, right on the phone itself, no third-party
needed. My personal information is kept more private thanks to Privacy
Guard, and I can talk securely over SMS thanks to WhisperPush — without
having to buy a $10/month subscription to Silent Circle.
Of course, the list goes on.
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