A few weeks ago we told you more about the next version of Cyanogen. Android-inspired operating systems seek their place in the market to become alternatives to the green robot itself, which, as we have recalled on other occasions, equips more than 90% of all tablets and smartphones in the world. Its weight, not only has left its two most powerful rivals, iOS and Windows, in a compromised situation, but it has also forced developers of other platforms such as the first, to rethink their strategy and reflect on the direction they will take. they should take if they want to position their interface in a more or less prominent place.
In consumer electronics, everything is susceptible to change and software is not far behind in this regard. If in August we gave you more clues about the strengths of the Cyanogen version 14, today we echo another piece of news that has caused interest and confusion at the same time among users, creators and manufacturers at the same time: The support withdrawal to this platform by its founders. Next, we will tell you more about this decision and try to see what its causes and possible repercussions are in the short term.
Making memory
As we reminded you before, Cyanogen is Android inspired and adds some of its own functions such as customization layers and the possibility that users can choose from a larger catalog of themes. The free software component also has an important weight, since, at first glance, it allows users to access through open source and add new functions.
Measure
As collected by specialized portals such as Android Police, Steve Kondik, co-founder of Cyanogen INC has decided unlink your company development and launch of the latest version of this platform. According to the manager, in the coming months, there will be less involvement of his company in the creation of this interface and in the launch of a suitable support so that it can be executed in the future on tablets and smartphones. However, Kondik affirms that he will collaborate in a timely and personal way in the development of cyanogen 14.
What are the causes?
Cyanogen has not given further explanations about this decision. However, behind it we could find several factors such as economic and the lack of viability of this project. An example can be found in the staff reduction carried out during the month of July, claiming once again the focus on more initiatives. However, this change of course contradicts the words of Kondik, who right after the staff restructuring, clarified that support for Cyanogen 14 would remain unconditional.
What can be the repercussions?
Here we must differentiate between the impact on the software and the consequences for manufacturers. In the case of the former, the pace of development of AOSP in Nougat, or what is the same, the project of open source of the green robot system and does not contain any modifications or additional functions. On the other hand, in the case of firms, the damage that this measure could have on terminals that would be prepared to run with Cyanogen and that would have to be readapted to be able to go on the market remains up in the air.
Users, the possible solution
As we said before, one of the strengths of this system is the fact that consumers can, in theory, access the source codes and participate in the creation of the platform. In this case, the public could be responsible for continuing its development alongside the work of small software development firms. And, the fact that Android has more than 1.300 million of users, has a positive effect, and is the existence of a great community that could have a greater role in the trajectory that both the green robot and its younger brothers can follow in the future.
As you have seen, the changes in the tablets and smartphones that we use on a daily basis do not only come from the launch of new devices with features that aim to break with all of the above, but also from the side of their operating systems, which are another of the pillars of the same. After learning more about the current situation of Cyanogen 14 and its possible future, do you think that Android, through versions such as Nougat or Marshmallow, will be the one that will dominate the market both in the short term and in the coming years? Can we be facing an opportunity for the blue platform that, if it ends up being developed by the public, could be the beginning of a new generation of interfaces? As usual, time will be a crucial factor in determining your trajectory.
Meanwhile, you have more related information available such as, for example, a list of the features that were already confirmed in summer on this interface so that you can give your own opinion about the benefits that you would add or remove.