Suppose the OEM loses interest in my device; can I still install the stock distro updates when issued by Google? Are there issues with device drivers if I go this route?
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1Root, install Unofficial Android ROM, Done. They don't lose "interest" they just don't want to spend time and resources on older devices, which they can and will use on newer ones.– Uri HerreraCommented Oct 30, 2011 at 17:58
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@Uri so no issues with drivers? I would have thought that since all devices are different, they might require OEM-supplied drivers.– RomanStCommented Oct 30, 2011 at 18:05
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What kind of phone you have?– PittoCommented Oct 30, 2011 at 18:19
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@Pitto none yet, thinking of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.– RomanStCommented Oct 30, 2011 at 18:22
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1If on your device you find written somewhere "Samsung" I think you should stop worrying :) Cyanogenmod guys care about you. U_U– PittoCommented Nov 1, 2011 at 19:46
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3 Answers
Once a manufacturer abandons supporting the device, your only choice is rooting it, unlocking its bootloader (if possible) and installing custom ROMs.
Google only releases the Android source code into AOSP (Android Open Source Project,) and has no say whether or not the manufacturer or carrier will update a given device. The only exception is the Nexus line of phones that are supported by Google directly. As it stands, AOSP cannot be built for any non-Google device without major work. Even though manufacturers and carriers are required to provide the source code, it is true only for the part of the OS. They don't have to (and rarely do) provide sources for the proprietary drivers, which are necessary to build a completely working Android version for a given device. The community developers usually use the drivers from older OS versions, which greatly limits the upgrade potential. The drivers sometimes are reverse-engineered which gives a greater flexibility to developers.
There also is an issue of locked down bootloaders on most new Android phones and tablets, which limits the extent of the changes a custom ROM can bring. Most manufacturers and carriers lock bootloaders to prevent people from "bricking" their devices. There are ways to unlock/bypass such locks for many devices though.
Bottom line is that if you are looking for a device that will be supported the longest - your best choice is a Nexus line. Otherwise, I suggest looking at various online forums (xda-developers or rootzwiki, for example) to see if there is enough interest in your device from community developers to produce custom ROMs for it.
As Uri Herrera commented, you'll need to root your phone to be able to install custom firmware, and then install a community aftermarket firmware, like CyanogenMod. Most likely the open source community will keep updating the firmware (ROM) even after OEM has lost interest.
How to root: You can refer to a nice guide by LifeHacker - most likely it can be easily done by connecting the device with USB, and using a Windows program called SuperOneClick.
How to install custom firmware: The easiest way is most likely to use the Android program called Rom Manager. It's available from Android Market. The premium version will even notify when your custom ROM gets updates, so it's easy to keep up to date.
answered Oct 30, 2011 at 18:28
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Thank you, this was useful. Sorry I can only accept one answer, both are good.– RomanStCommented Oct 30, 2011 at 19:32
+1 to installing a custom ROM. Got my desire hd in January, was fed up with the bloatware so rooted and installed cyanogenmod around may time. While the manufacturer skins like sense are nice and all, custom roms allow a lot more customisation, andI guarantee I'll be on ics before HTC release an update (if they even do)
