Cyanogen OS goes modular

Yu Yutopia smartphone with Cyanogen OS — Yu Yutopia with Cyanogen OS

Soon after naming a new CEO, Cyanogen Inc. announces that all interested device makers will be able to license just some features instead of a full OS.

Codrut Nistor, 10/11/2016

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Cyanogen Inc. made its debut with the goal to create a commercial operating system based on the popular CyanogenMod custom ROMs. The basic idea was to have stock Android looks, but with more customization options and additional features on top. Unfortunately, only a few minor handset makers launched Cyanogen OS-powered handsets so far, and now it looks like the company's strategy is going to change.

According to a blog post written by the new CEO of Cyanogen Inc., Lior Tal, the new Cyanogen Modular OS program "is designed to achieve the original objective of an open and smarter Android without the limitations of requiring the full Cyanogen OS stack and individual device bring-ups." Thanks to this approach, each smartphone maker can use different parts of Cyanogen OS via dynamic modules and MODs with both stock Android or custom ROM images.

Fortunately, the open source community does not lose anything due to this move by Cyanogen Inc. since CyanogenMod remains an independent product.