For those who shun the native Android experience supplied by their phone’s OEM, development programs like CyanogenMod aim to step in, take the reigns and revamp your device with a OS built by Android enthusiasts for Android enthusiasts. We mentioned the other day that work was well underway in bringing their version of Ice Cream Sandwich to the new Samsung Galaxy S3, but now 37 other devices now able to partake in a slice of alternative ICS?
The team entrusted with the ICS version, called CyanogenMod 9, have just produced an extensive list of download links, pointing owners of some of the latest Android devices, to their respect builds of the latest mod. According to DroidLife, the first release candidate (aka RC1) is currently available across 37 devices, even though we only count 36, but as such makes for one of the larger simultaneous releases in the project’s history.
10 devices compatible with CM9 RC1:
- Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime
- Google Nexus S
- HTC Sensation
- Motorola Xoom
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus
- Samsung Galaxy Note
- Samsung Galaxy S2
- Samsung Galaxy Tab
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
- Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
Considering the time since Android Ice Cream Sandwich’s official release by Google, CyanogenMod 9 has taken a little more time than some may have anticipated, but the team’s reasoning is explained on the CyanogenMod website:
“It wasn’t quick or easy, but we are extremely proud of this release and what it represents for us as a group. The jump from 2.3.7 to 4.0.4 in many ways was a fresh start for this project, and as much as the code changed, the structure and organisation of CM as a whole changed as well…..With the ‘core’ OS stabilised, our device maintainers will continue to work on their device trees to bring up more devices, this includes some of the newer releases as well as some from the older generations; but we’ll save that for another day. ”
CyanogenMod 7 was the last smartphone release and had three variations, most recently RC3 and as such, we expect the same treatment for CM9 in its lifetime. For those eager to see if their devices qualify, the current list includes both international and US-specific handsets, find it here. Keep your eyes on download links as more devices are sure to reach RC stage in the coming weeks.
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