Samsung Galaxy S4 Won’t Be Supported By CynogenMod [Update]
If you’re a fan of CyanogenMod’s custom Android ROMs, then you may want to avoid the Samsung Galaxy S4 when it launches next month. CyanogenMod has confirmed that Team Hacksung, the group behind its Samsung ROMs, will not support the new flagship smartphone.
In a statement published on its website, CyanogenMod explains that Samsung devices are just too much of a pain to maintain. Furthermore, it says nobody in Team Hacksung plans to buy the new Galaxy S4:
Nobody at Team Hacksung (the team behind Galaxy S2, Note, S3, Note2, G Tabs… official CM ports) plans to buy it, neither develop for it. There are two variants which will be a pain to maintain, [and] the bugs we have on the S3 will probably be there on S4, too (camera), and we all know Samsung ability to release sources while staying in line with mainline. Yes Qualcomm releases sources, but Exynos sources we had were far from [working on] actual Galaxy products. I’m pretty sure the same will happen for this one.
That’s a uniform “no” from us.
That’s going to be a big disappointment to a large number of Android users who like the stock Android experience. While most are satisfied with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface and the features that brings, many prefer Android as Google developed it — without the modifications made by third-parties.
And that’s exactly what CyanogenMod brings — a barebones Android platform just like you’d find on devices like the Galaxy Nexus or the Nexus 4.
So unless you’re one of those users who’s satisfied with TouchWiz, it may be time to turn your back on Samsung when it’s time to upgrade. The hurdles mentioned in the statement above are likely to apply to future Samsung devices as well — such as the Galaxy Note III — so it’s unlikely they’ll see CyanogenMod ROMs, either.
So what are your options if you want the stock Android experience? Well, the easiest — and probably the cheapest — is to pick up a Nexus 4, which comes with stock Android right out of the box and ensures you get the latest Android releases as soon as they’re available.
But if you want cutting-edge hardware, like a 1080p display and LTE connectivity, then you’ll need to look elsewhere. Check out the CyanogenMod website for a list of supported Android devices.
UPDATE: The CyanogenMod team have since issued an official response to this news. You can read it here.
