The current state..

September 27th, 2009

The last few days have been difficult. What has become clear now is that the Android Open Source Project is a framework. It’s licensed in such a way so that anyone can take it, modify it to their needs, and redistribute it as they please. Android belongs to everyone. This also means that big companies likes Google, HTC, Motorola, and whomever else can add their own pieces to it and share these pieces under whatever license they choose.

I’ve made lots of changes myself to the AOSP code, and added in code from lots of others. Building a better Droid, right?

The issue that’s raised is the redistribution of Google’s proprietary applications like Maps, GTalk, Market, and YouTube. These are not part of the open source project and are only part of “Google Experience” devices. They are Google’s intellectual property and I intend to respect that. I will no longer be distributing these applications as part of CyanogenMod. But it’s OK. None of the go-fast stuff that I do involves any of this stuff anyway. We need these applications though, because we all rely so heavily on their functionality. I’d love for Google to hand over the keys to the kingdom and let us all have it for free, but that’s not going to happen. And who can blame them?

There are lots of things we can do as end-users and modders, though, without violating anyones rights. Most importantly, we are entitled to back up our software. Since I don’t work with any of these closed source applications directly, what I intend to do is simply ship the next version of CyanogenMod as a “bare bones” ROM. You’ll be able to make calls, MMS, take photos, etc. In order to get our beloved Google sync and applications back, you’ll need to make a backup first. I’m working on an application that will do this for you.

The idea is that you’ll be able to Google-ify your CyanogenMod installation, with the applications and files that shipped on YOUR device already. Or, you can just use the basic ROM if you want. It will be perfectly functional if you don’t use the Google parts. I will include an alternative app store (SlideMe, or AndAppStore, not decided yet) with the basic ROM so that you can get your applications in case you don’t have a Google Experience device.

I’ll have more updates soon as I get all the code hammered out.

Thanks for all the support thru all of this.

Ben

Cyanogen, thanks for not saying “screw you” to google and your fans and ending development at all this mayhem, you are by far the best modder i know of

On the subject of the google apps backup, you are freaking amazing.
Boogy

Thank you Cyanogen for making my phone awesome. Keep chuggin out those ROMs and I will follow you to the end.

Thanks!

Boogy
anon403724

Mad props to you cyanogen – my phone and my wifes are just plain better because of you. You’ve been the flame for a whole community.

Please continue your mod. The course you’ve described sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR AMAZING WORK
Promise

This is great news.. I for one was hurt by googles decisions., it seems as if they are more concerned with fattening their pockets than providing an awesome experience for the end user.. specially users that have purchaced devices that come with ‘google app’ pre installed.. I have a feeling Google is both embarresed and jealous. Cyanogen alone has out devoloped the google team.. Come on GOOGLE !! Cry a little & Get over it…. Give the man a freakin Job !!! You know he deserves it.. nuff said.. I will be patiently awaiting CYAN’S new build…
Tal

you got my support 100%.

Continue to do what you do man, you are a great inspiration to us little guys still in school =]
Dr. Tyrell

I can hardly wait for the day Google includes some Cyanocode without due copy rights notice, then THEY can be sued.

Custom roms add customers!

Way to go Cyanogen,
The Doctor
John C.

This is awesome news! I’m glad to hear it’s possible – there were some folks saying that it was not possible to build a ROM without the proprietary google bits. I’m really looking forward to the next generation of builds! Thanks for all of your hard work!

Let’s all continue to encourage Cyanogen – both in words and DONATIONS! This is very time consuming work that he is doing and we are all benefiting from. I contributed yesterday and plan to do so again with each stable rom release.
Dan

Cyan, thank you so much for all you have done. My opinions are the same as everyone elses replys. Please keep up the great work, myself, my droid and wife’s thank you. You mod is way better than any google mod released, which sounds to me it is the main reason they dont want you to continue on. Press on my friend, you are the best, way better rom than google and any others out there.
Spencer

I’m very glad that this is not the end of Cyanogen and modded roms. At the beginning of this ordeal I felt terrible because I had convinced a couple people to get Android phones to use modded roms and it seemed that they wouldn’t be able to use them. Thank you for your work! Android would be nothing without you!
Skip Adkins

I rooted my android just before you took the ROM down, and I really thank you for all your hard work and wonderful coding.
You have shown a lot of style, class and grace through this whole affair. You really have my respect and admiration.
What would really be great is if big G would put up those proprietary programs as downloads so that we (as users) could install the ones that we want.
I look forward to the next installment of this soap opera.
Simon

Thanks for your hard work. ^^
I don’t blame them yet, but soon or later we should be able to buy this “google experience” pack from competitors market.
Otherwise i would be very disappointed from them.
In the meantime i’m probably going to take a closer look on new startup for my portfolio, just in case
dk20005

The community should just take it out of Google’s hands and make viable replacements for all the Google Apps. Then there would be no worry about having to reinstall all of the Google programs. Software such as GSYNC for windows mobile which uses Google’s APIs to have the same access to Contact and Calendar. Google has also released sync via active sync for Gmail, Calendar, and Contacts which we could take advantage of(I don’t know how the licensing would work for Microsoft).

Cyanogen thank you for all your hard work you are the greatest!
http://unkzdomain.com Unk

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=4618816#post4618816

I made a quick script for Windows that makes an update.zip that contains all the Google Apps files that are included in HTC’s build. It doesn’t work with 4.1.11.1 because the MarketUpdater.apk from the new Market causes some issues.
AthlonBoy

Awesome work, man. I knew there’d be a legal way to install Google Experience apps onto custom ROMs. If only more of us had your determination. When the re-legalised 4.2 comes out, I’mma buy you a beer.

I have a question. Let’s say I install Cyanogenmod 4.2, which is going to use this backup/restore process for Google apps. Great, now I have Maps, Gmail, Youtube, the browser, sync, and all the rest.

What happens when Google release updated versions of these apps, like the new market?

How are we going to get at these apps? Would we have to un-root, roll back to the stock firmware, pray for an OTA update, re-root, then apply Cyanogenmod? Will there be a way to accept partial OTA updates just to get at the new apps? If this is the case, we will be at the mercy of the cell carrier for our updates, and there’s a very good chance none of them will bother to push Eclair to the Dream. If they do, it will be many months after the fact. People who don’t live in the US will be even worse off.

So what about it? How will we update the Google apps to the latest versions?
Phamous

You, sir, are inspirational.
http://miano.us MianoSM

Thank you very much Steve:

“In order to get our beloved Google sync and applications back, you’ll need to make a backup first. I’m working on an application that will do this for you.”

Sounds great, and will be looking forward to the fruits of your labor. = )
Johan Bart

Thx for all your time and effort, and you’re amazing behaviour throughout this ordeal. I am very willing, to have a cyanogen only ROM on my android, and forgo all google services. If this doesn’t work out, please apply your talents to the Maemo community, and i will gladly shell out $650 for a n900
LongeFlucht

you just can’t keep a good man down…you’re an inspiration
justin

keep up the great work cyan we all almost came to tears when we thought you were done. we love what your doing! keep it up!
http://osembedded.com Vijay Jayaraman

Cyan,
Love your work and dedication to open source. I will definitely contribute to your work in the ways I can. (And most likely to your beer fund too)

Keep it up!
- Vijay
(Proudly sent from a cyanogenized phone!)
flasehope

Thanks again man, you rock!

Wonder if the community will produce Yahoo client…

What would be cool is if the enduser can select which search engine is used on the device. I know i would dump google for Bing in a hart beat.
Lou2serious

I’m glad that there is an alternative for you to release the fantastic mods that you cook up, I guess the opensource project was more for Google to profit from cellphone manufacturers but honestly without your mods I wouldn’t enjoy my G1 as much as I do. I am a t-mobile sales rep and there has been plenty of times when I expressed my excitement to co-workers and customers alike about the community and the amazing things you do with android. Just about all of my co-workers are currently running a cm modded rom and thank me for rooting their devices but the thanks goes to Cyanogen and xda community……so enough babble I want to say thank you for your work!!
http://tonybox.net Tony Biondo

Personally, I think it would be nice if google offered its apps in some form to people who could prove they had a google-experience phone.

Basically, I like how nokia handled a similar issue with its Internet Tablets. If you want to download the firmware to load onto your tablet, you have to enter your device’s mac address into a web page first. They even keep some ‘hacker edition’ firmwares on there.

http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/
http://i-shawn.com Shawn

Your work is amazing I think Google should use more of what you have done. As soon as I can find a job I’m gonna buy you more then a beer. I am gonna get you a big 24 pack. (That should last you a whole weekend) and keep up the awesome rom!
bob

Cyanogen for King!
joe

I’m sorry for your lots.
Mattman

I’ve been doing my reading on this quite a bit before I passed judgment on Google or Cyanogen. So from what I just read in this “press-release” above it sounds like a great compromise.

But…

What about Multi-Touch? I’ve noticed that the browser supports multi-touch in my Cyanogen Rom. Apple currently owns the multi-touch capability as intellectual property under copyright.

Is it only a matter of time before Apple sends you a cease and desist letter as well?
http://www.antonywilliams.com Antony Williams

I have an idea that I hope you will consider.
With apps2SD, are apps stored on the SD card (ext* filesystem).
So, if you were to release a new ROM without the google apps, and I upgraded with the google apps already on my SD card, wouldn’t that just work?
without the need for backups?

Perhaps you could just require people to have apps2sd, flash the regular official ROM, and then flash yours, thus keeping their original apps on the SD card?

am I making sense?
AhronZombi

If your going to toss out the Google apps it would be cool to have a whole new packaging system like apt or something like that. command line and graphical usage. just an idea
rokoko

Thank you for all your efforts, man! Keep up the good work! I hope Google will appreciate what people like are doing for the community and stop shooting themselves in the foot.
KraZe_EyE

So wouldn’t it be great if Google did allow us to buy their closed source apps as a package. Then we could have our cake and eat it too.

Then what if (large cell company) wanted to get in on the Android band wagon. They could buy this package and then run CM as their OS? It would blow google right out of the water!
They reall are f-ing themselves in the long run; people bought this phone FOR THE CUSTOMIZATION! If we can’t customize it like we want then wtf is the point of buying one.
I have been waiting for the Sprint Hero and when this all started I thought, “…well guess I’m not getting an Android”. Now that there is a work around though I may still decide to buy one. At $180 it still kills the iPhone.
Thanks for your time and sweat and patience. I will contribute to the beer fund when I finally get my phone and mod it.
http://www.colingodsey.com Colin Godsey

That’s a great idea. You should try and make it generic enough that people can use the same ‘merger’ program on custom builds on android. i love doing core development, but I hate using AOSP roms.
Jonathan

As with the other 30,000+ cyanogenmod users, I thank you.
David

Cyanogen, your the one guy who keeps us going with our Android, “Google Experience” (bleha;lklzjxv;lkjao;ifj) phone’s. We owe you so much, and I as well as I’m sure other of your hardcore users Thank You for sticking with us.

Your THE MAN!
several

You. Simply. Rule.

Thank you!
markit

I’ve bought HTC Dream because was M$-free and had a Linux kernel and Free Software framework. I’ve been very disappointed when I saw that the device was somewhat “locked” (it’s TIM rebranded) and need to be rooted. I’ve been also disappointed about all the “free in price but not in Freedom” apps surrounding Android World.
I will try your new ROM as soon as I will have time (and courage) to rood the device, but I thank you a lot because you are taking advantage of Free Software for all the community.
So I could care less about “proprietary stuff from Google”, keep the good work!
Btw, “intellectual property” does not exist, maybe you are referring about copyright or license. Don’t use their words, they are misleading.
james

three cheers to Cyanogen – a wicked programmer as well as a Statesman.
http://www.myspace.com/the_emporer varial

Could that mean that myfaves will be backed up, too?
http://www.thecraptaculars.com bryan in pdx

Cyanogen, trully, you are an inspiration. I think you’ve come across a grat idea… it would be great to be able to backup “all” yor apps, perform a clean wipe, upgrade the rom and the restore “all” your apps. That’s always been a little sticking point when having to wipe anyway. Another contributor mentioned OTA Google app updates… he asks a great question and we should all be brainstorming for solutions.
Looks like it’s time to contribute to your beer fund – again
Sincere thanks!
Ross Shah

Cyanogen, you really rock!!

This positive attitude is awesome, and I have a feeling that the recent events will actually be a blessing to our open Android community.

By the way, I am not an Android user, but I am a big fan, and I look into buying one soon. And to be honest, the support that you provide to our community is the main reason for my decision to switch to Android in the near future, since I want my phone to be really MY phone.

Thanks again
breon

I’m glad you were able to find a happy medium.

I would hope that they would think about this more. I would like to see the Market as open source. If that were to happen, I’d want to see the other Google services added to the market.

I understand their business model. However, I would think that if they were to make these apps available to everyone, it can only help their business.

They can’t make these ‘exclusives’ forever.
Droid

@ commenters: some of you are looking at it all wrong. Just because something is FREE doesn’t mean you can ignore the EULA.

Google is just protecting themselves from other mass producing mobile companies who take software and use it for profit.

Google knows the casual modder isn’t out to distribute their mods to mobile manf, but Google still wants to keep control of their software.

Android is not FREE. Mobile Companies have to pay for it. Companies in China have already found this out and put up a fuss. Just like those mobile companies who try to use iPhone OS.

Google has a EULA, and if you agree to it, then you agree to it. Google isn’t trying to be an ass over their software, they’re protecting their interests.

Some Google api’s are not public, because they are trying to protect users from bad apps, trojan apps, etc.
StephenSaurusRex

Wow.

Well, after getting updated on this whirlwind controversy, I have say that you’ve responded with great maturity. And your plan for moving forward is quite brilliant. I don’t have an android phone yet, but when I finally get one, i look forward to showing you my support. Thanks for the hard work and contribution to this community.
Zgred

Fucking google… CM rulez!
bluesdevil

cheers for the EXTREMELY positive response on this.

As much as my android device was an impressive product ‘out of the box’ there is no question that it was improved beyond all recognition by your rom ( i’m currently running 4.1.11.1 ).

I did for a while consider an iphone before, because of the scope offered, choosing the HTC Magic. Thank you for continuing this experience as without your input, the android experience would have been seriously devalued, for me at least!
urbanseamonkey

thanks for the great news.
you are an inspiration for the whole android world.
thanks for the effort.

BEER ! ! ! MORE BEER !
CW

First I would like to say a big thank you for making these roms (a donation will be forthcoming)

2nd, I would like to also say a big thank you for sticking with it. While initial reports seemed like doom and gloom, and by all accounts it looked very discouraging for the future the ROM developers. However I believe that you did the right thing, stepped back, worked with Google (at least it appears that you did so) and came up with a viable solution that appears to be a win/win/win situation. Google gets to control their IP in the fashion that suits them. ROM developers now have a solution for themselves to make sure that they are abiding by the licenses that Google (and others) have placed on their IP. And the end users get the options to pick the solutions that best fit their needs. Everyone “wins”.

From the get-go when I first read about the C&D, I suspected that the issue was with redistribution of certain apps, and not an out-right “thou shalt not do this ROM thing”. Neither side was “bad” or “wrong”, just needing an understanding of what was legit. I am glad that Google was/is willing to work with the development community on this.

And finally a comment to Google, I switched phone networks (even paying an early termination fee) to make a statement about supporting an open platform for my phone (and yes I let my old carrier know the reason). Since then I have tried to pick Google services when there has been a choice, for example, when I was looking for a public photo-album web site, I chose picasa over other sites. I’ve done this because Google is supporting an open environment. I have no qualms the addition of certain apps that are proprietary that are built upon the open environment. Google’s continued support of the open environment is appreciated.

So again a BIG thank you.
elihh

I like so much your fighting and rationality mix, thx for all you are doing.
Tony S.

Cyanogen, you know we LOVE YOU

Hope everyone will send more BEER to you!
Martin Hruška

Shame on you Google. You are now more totalitarian then Apple is! CyanogenMod is what should have been on the phone when I bought it. Without it, the G1 is slow, unusable and crappy device which can hold twenty applications at maximum.

Google is not supporting Android first users, so we are not going to support you either. My next phone will be iPhone. This is totalitarian too, but with style!