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Oppo N1 review: a cameraphone that puts selfies first
If our articles have been tagged properly, the first mention of Oppo on Engadget dates back to August 2005. No one would have thought that this then-fledgling DVD player manufacturer -- a spin-off from Vivo's parent company BBK -- would end up making some interesting smartphones. It's funny how both of these Chinese brands have been getting our attention lately with top specs, nice designs and reasonable prices. However, in terms of global reach, Oppo is well ahead with its presence in Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Vietnam and India. Vivo, on the other hand, is preparing to break out of China sometime this year. Following the Find 5, Oppo's latest flagship product is the N1, a 5.9-inch Android phone that's bringing back the once-common swivel camera. This device is clearly meant to meet the growing appetite for large phones and high-quality selfie cameras, especially in Asia. For those seeking a different kind of selling point, the N1 is also the first device to offer CyanogenMod ROM -- stock Android, but with neat enhancements -- and with Google's approval, no less. Thus, users get to choose between two officially supported ROMs. But what about the execution? And will these bonuses be enough to attract a global audience? Read on to find out.
CyanogenMod resurrects OTA updates for latest CM10 nightly builds
CyanogenMod ROMs give Android users the latest Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean treats to their otherwise-neglected smartphones, and it's mostly open-source except for one piece: the boarded-off ROM Manager. To remedy that, the modding organization is bringing its OTA updater back from the CM5 and 6 graves, letting users pull updates straight to their devices. Notice we say "pull," because pushing would require the Google Apps framework, which the CM updater won't have. However, as the screen above shows, you'll be able to set a timeframe to check and grab the latest versions directly from CyanogenMod's servers, and after flashing yesterday's CM10 ROM, we can confirm that the software is working on our Galaxy S. That'll bring a much-needed dose of simplicity to upgrading CM firmware and make all that modding slightly more mainstream.
CyanogenMod 10 now available in 'M-Series' monthly builds
If keeping up with those CyanogenMod 10 nightly builds was hard work, or just a little too bleeding-edge, then you might be interested to hear about the introduction of "M-Series" releases for CM10. Once a month, the team will release a more stable version for your downloading pleasure, though they are also keen to point out they will be available under the experimental tag. The list of handsets that will get the new builds includes variants of the Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S, Galaxy SIII, Nexus S, Nexus 7, Galaxy Note and Sony Xperia S. Support for more phones is promised, but for now, head over to the official site for the comprehensive list and a link to the downloads.
CyanogenMod tops up CM10 Jelly Bean jar with SMS pop-up, quick reply features
On top of bringing Android flavors to devices that would otherwise never get them, CyanogenMod has added SMS options to its latest CM10 Jelly Bean ROM -- features the stock version lacks. First, the team introduced QuickMessage, which displays a pop-up when you get an IM, allowing you to view or reply to it on the spot. Then, after hearing feedback from users, a "quick reply" option was appended as well, letting you disable the pop-up and reply from the notification bar instead. We took a quick whirl with the latest nightly and saw that it works as advertised, giving you the speedy options while appearing as a regular setting in the stock messaging app. So, if you're like most of us and drop everything when you get a text, check the source links for more details. [Image credit: CyanogenMod]
Jelly Bean hits original Motorola Droid for the same reason we climb Everest: because it's there (video)
The first-run Motorola Droid has developed a reputation as the Phone That Would Not Die -- while official upgrades stopped around Froyo, enthusiasts have been keeping the QWERTY slider alive ever since. Kfazz at the XDA-Developers forums has taken up the torch this time around with a port of Jelly Bean. Based on CyanogenMod 10, the build is surprisingly functional, if currently buggy. The only glaring holes are a sometimes-broken camera and the absence of Google Now. The main disincentives to waiting for a stable build are the slow performance and very limited remaining storage that result from trying to stuff a 2012 OS into a 2009-era smartphone: Kfazz can defy expectations, but he can't defy reality. It's thus more of a proof of concept, because-we-can port than a favor for holdouts keeping the Droid as their daily driver. If you want to keep a mobile ancestor feeling relevant for one more generation, however, the fountain of youth is waiting at the source link.
CM10 nightly builds now rolling out to select devices
Like Jelly Beans, custom Android ROMs tend to have different flavors -- and CyanogenMod happens to be a fan favorite. Good thing then, that the CM10 team is now serving nightly builds of its Jelly Bean-based custom ROM update. According to the CyanogenMod Google+ page, CM10 nightlies are now available for the US Samsung Galaxy S III variants, the original Galaxy S and the Galaxy S II (i9100g), the Galaxy Nexus, the Nexus S and Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (P3), Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (P5), Nexus 7, Transformer and Transformer Prime tablets. The list will fill out with more devices when they are ready, the team says, and will continue to have CM9 updates (now weekly, rather then nightly) at their disposal.
HTC G1 auditions CyanogenMod 10, runs Jelly Bean at a snail's pace (video)
Putting Google's latest candy-coated OS update on the very first Android phone? We've got a guy for that. Jcarrz1, the same wizard from XDA-Developers who ported Ice Cream Sandwich to the HTC G1, has managed to port a buggy build of CyanogenMod 10 to the handset -- which puts Jelly Bean on the oldest hardware possible. Sadly, the old handset isn't up to Project Butter's 60FPS interface, but brave tweakers can still use the device's touchscreen for apps, CM10 features and a partially functional Google Now. WiFi is also up and running, but cellular data is MIA. Check out the video above to see the pre-alpha build in action, or try it out for yourself at the source link below.
CyanogenMod 10 preview build now available for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus
We know it didn't take much time for the Tenth iteration of that CM greatness to reach Google's popular Nexus 7 and Samsung's most colossal Galaxy handset on the block, but one other Android big shot was still yet to join the "preview build" bash. The marvelous news is Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners can now also take part in the early adoption process, as CyanogenMod's Brint Kriebel has said via Mountain View's social network that CM10 for Big Red's GNex is out and up for grabs. That said, he's let it be known the goods aren't exactly fully baked, though he has been rockin' it as his "daily driver" for about two weeks -- which, needless to say, is quite a good sign. Those interested in going a step further can hit up bekit's Google+ page, where you'll find the rest of the underlying details.
CM10 preview builds out for Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note: official but experimental
Ready for the latest bout of XDA Recognized goodness? If you own a Nexus 7 or global Galaxy Note (oh yeah) then you'll find official preview builds of CyanogenMod 10 for each device at the source links below. They'll bring some added sparkle, like an almost-buttery version of Jelly Bean on the Note and USB storage on the Nexus 7, but neither build is ready for daily dependence -- so tread carefully or just consider them proof that the CM and Team Hacksung folks are almost there.
CyanogenMod developers slap Jelly Bean on an Optimus 4X HD, tease CM10 (video)
That didn't take long. The boys behind CyanogenMod promised a quick turnaround for its upcoming JellyBean-based update and are already teasing workable CM10 ROMs. CyanogenMod's Ricardo Cerqueira tossed a video of an early CM10 build on his YouTube page, declaring "it lives!" The early build is running on an LG Optimus 4X HD, and runs through unlocking the screen and recording and playing back a video. The build is still having some trouble with Google's revamped search integration, but considering Android 4.1's source code was released only days ago, the quick development is promising. Check out Cercuiera's quick demo for yourself after the break.
