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LineageOS ROM releases first builds based on Android 10 (Update: Builds are back)
LineageOS 17.1 is here
LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM in existence, and the project prides itself on bringing newer versions of Android to unsupported devices. However, Lineage has been a bit slow to roll out a version based on Android 10 — the Pie-based ROM was already available by this time last year. Thankfully, the next major version of LineageOS seems to be just around the corner.
The LineageOS project is busy as always, adding support for more devices and implementing new features. The last time we covered the popular custom ROM, official builds for the OnePlus 6T and 7 Pro arrived, and there have been plenty of additions (or re-additions, in some cases) since then.
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After months of anticipation, the popular LineageOS custom ROM finally released a version based on Android 9 Pie last month. The project has already updated 30 devices to Pie, but now a few more have been added. Also, two phones now have official Oreo builds.
LineageOS is one of the most popular custom ROMs available, with somewhere around two million active installations. It typically takes a while for the project to update to newer versions of Android, since development is largely done by maintainers in their spare time. Six months after the public release of Android 9 Pie, it looks like LineageOS is about ready to make the jump — but not before dropping older devices.
The LineageOS custom ROM used to support just about every phone imaginable, but lately the project has been going for quality over quantity. Oreo (15.1) builds have to fulfill stricter requirements to receive official status, and now Lineage is dropping support for 30 unmaintained phones and tablets.
The LG G3 was a pretty good phone when it was released in 2014. It had a Snapdragon 801 processor, a 5.5" 1440p display, 3GB of RAM, and a 3,000mAh removable battery. I expect the number of people still using the G3 in 2017 is pretty small, but if you're still hanging in there (and you're on T-Mobile), you have an update waiting for you.
Since our last LineageOS post, the project has continued to add new features and support new devices. In addition to new Quick Settings tiles and changes to included apps, the ROM now supports 16 additional devices.
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- The OnePlus 3T is also seeing LineageOS 14.1. The build for the 3T has been merged with the OnePlus 3, so both phones now use the same .zip file, which is good - have a look on the wiki entry for both devices for more information. The download link is above.
LineageOS is still a relative newcomer to the Android world, but since it's descended from the legendary CyanogenMod, builds for various devices are coming thick and fast.
It's no secret why CyanogenMod is the most popular custom ROM out there; not only does it support a metric crapload of Android devices, but it also keeps them going far past their primes. The latest devices to get support for CM14.1 (Android 7.1 Nougat) nightlies include two variants of the Galaxy S III, the second-generation Moto X, a few Oppo devices, two versions of the HTC One Max, two Xiaomi phones, and more.
Cyanogen Inc. may be dying as a company, but the voluntarily-maintained CyanogenMod ROMs are still alive and kicking. Case in point: seven more devices are joining CyanogenMod 14.1, which is based on Android 7.1 Nougat. Six of these Android-powered machines have builds already up, but one doesn't yet.
There was a time some years ago that CyanogenMod was the surest way to get the latest build of Android on your phone. It's a little slower these days, but development continues to chug along. The CM team hopes to roll out the first nightly builds of CM14.1 later tonight, but not all devices will be supported right away.
Not interested in those new flagships from Samsung, LG, or HTC? Or maybe you just want a cheap smartphone for your teenage kid, your parents, your tech-challenged spouse, or as a secondary device for yourself? Here are a couple of Woot deals for you.
A Marshmallow update for the T-Mobile LG G3 started popping up about a week ago, but only in the LG PC Suite. Now, T-Mobile has made the Marshmallow OTA official. The rollout started yesterday, and should be done in the coming days. Not bad for a phone that's nearly two years old.
We love it when "old" devices get updated to new versions of Android, especially when said old devices are really great smartphones that were popular in their day and still serve their job even in today's landscape. My LG G3, for example, is now in my mother's hands and she has zero complaints about it since it does more than she could ever need. I'm still waiting for Marshmallow to hit her phone though, because as much as she doesn't care what Android version runs below the surface, I do want her to have Doze to improve the aging battery's life and to get a newer Android Security Patch Level (which is sure to come with a full system update).
The benefit of replaceable batteries is that you can replace them. This effectively doubles your device's battery life. I know. Mind blown.Batteries can be pricey. Like other forms of phone accessories, you may want to wait for a sale before picking one up.Oh look, what have we here? It looks like a sale is going on right this moment. LG is offering significant discounts off batteries and cradles. You can get batteries for 60% off. Some cradles are going for 50% off. Adding a battery and a cradle to your cart can net you a 70% discount.What this means is that you can get batteries and cradles for the V10, G4, and G3 for $15. And if you add one of each to your cart, the price drops down to $10 apiece.
Both Christmas and Valentine's are over, but Verizon doesn't seem to be aware of that. It has decided to wrap up its OTA updates with a bow and deliver them straight to your phone so you can enjoy some Marshmallow flavor before the end of winter.
The G4 is LG's latest flagship phone, but the G3 is still a slick piece of hardware. At this point we're approaching the end of its software support cycle, but the hardware is more than adequate to keep most folks satisfied for another year or two. And if you consider the existence of CyanogenMod nightlies, there's a solid chance owners will get to run a few more major versions of Android on this thing.
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LG would probably like to sell you a G4 right now, but the G3 is still a perfectly nice phone. Today you can pick one up on eBay for the downright reasonable price of $279.99. This is a new unlocked phone that should work on any GSM/LTE network in North America.
Great news, owners of the LG G3 on Verizon! Well, good news. Maybe provisionally upbeat news? OK, it's an item of information that happened this morning, so I can unequivocally say that this is... news. You're getting an over the air update to your phones starting today. It includes a Bluetooth button, some options for LG's notification system, and some new HD Voice settings in the menu. That's all. I'm sorry.