CyanogenMod, the aftermarket open-source firmware based on the Android operating system, is expanding its reach and will now cover Android Marshmallow. Dubbed CyanogenMod 13, the Marshmallow-based operating system is now compatible with a handful of Android devices.
According to PC Mag, CyanogenMod 13 is now compatible with Google Nexus 7, OnePlus One and LG G4. Other supported devices include the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, LG GPad 7.0, LG G3 from Verizon and Moto X 2014.
The current version of CyanogenMod 13 is still considered a "nightly" which is a snapshot build that gives user preview of what features will be incorporated once a more stable version hits the market.
Preview versions of CyanogenMod are called "nightlies" since they are released every night. Tech analysts said that the stable version of CyanogenMod 13 will probably be available early in 2016.
According to the official CyanogenMod blog, users who want to upgrade to the new version from the older but more stable CyanogenMod 12.1 will notice a decrease in overall quality and performance. This is because nightlies are essentially experimental versions of the operating system. The group added that updating to CyanogenMod 13 will require users to update their smartphone's Google apps through services like OpenGapps and Xposed.
The team behind CyanogenMod 13 promised that they will continue to develop the firmware until a more stable version is finalized. The team also promised that more devices will be supported by the "nightly" version within the coming weeks.
The CyanogenMod firmware has created a cult following especially for Android hobbyists who do not want the standard Android experience. CyanogenMod users claim that the firmware is more powerful and appealing compared to the standard Android operating system.