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Motorola isn't the best at updating its devices these days. Custom ROMs can often be helpful for devices without speedy official updates, but the lack of a recent kernel source code can make ROMs less stable/functional. Thankfully Motorola has released the kernel code for the original Moto Z Play's Android 7.1.1 update.
It's always nice to see companies respect the GPL, which requires OEMs to release the kernel source code for phones they create. HTC is usually pretty good about releasing source code for new devices in a timely manner, and to that end, the company has uploaded the U11's kernel code to its website.
If there's one thing Lenovorola (Motonovo?) has been consistently good at for its past few phones, it's releasing kernel source code quickly. The Moto G4 Play was made available for sale just last month, but its source code has already been published. This might be one of their quickest turnarounds yet.
Certain Android manufacturers do a good job of regularly supplying kernel source code, and Motorola is one of them. Nearly two months after the Moto Z Droid became available from Verizon, Motorola is now posting those files online.
Lenovo and Motorola announced the G4 and G4 Plus a few weeks ago, and today it appears Moto has published the kernel source for its latest high-end-of-the-low-end (or bottom of the mid-range?) handsets.
For consumers, there's no update quite like the one that delivers a new version of Android to their device. But for developers, that's just the beginning. App makers and custom ROM producers can't get their hands dirty until the source code behind that over-the-air update hits the web as well.
HTC wasted no time making its new One M8 flagship available, which inevitably means that the source code for its software kernel would need to follow. HTC has dutifully published the code for a range of new M8 phones on top of those published earlier this month, specifying carriers in the United States and Europe and one model in Asia. Here's the list of new source code files now available from HTCDev.com:
Sony may not have the best track record when it comes to making its phones available across a wide number of carriers in the US, but it has no problem sharing its open source kernel files on a timely basis. The company officially announced the Xperia Z2 a month ago at Mobile World Congress, and now much of the handset's internal code is available for download on the web.
Sony has a solid track record when it comes to quickly making open source kernel files available to the public. The company released them for the T-Mobile exclusive Xperia Z1s last week on the same day that the handset launched in stores. Now Sony is following through with the Xperia Z1 Compact just after launching the phone in Europe.
Sony announced the Xperia Z1s at CES earlier this month, and it quickly showed up on T-Mobile's website. So Americans looking to just own the handset have had a week to order one online from the carrier, while those wanting a deeper relationship with the device - to love it for what's on the inside, rather than the outside - have had to wait a little longer. But now their opportunity has come as well. Sony has published the kernel source code for the Xperia Z1s on the same day as the phone's debut in T-Mobile's retail stores.
Do you ever wonder if Samsung gets tired of releasing devices? While most manufacturers have vowed to release fewer superfluous phone and tablets, ol' Sammy is still going strong, offering up new Galaxy devices almost weekly. Maybe some people like the choice. Or maybe not. Either way, I don't see any signs of them slowing any time soon.