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Re:CyanogenMod 12 nightlies available by 4ad on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @09:52AM (#8844549)
I really wish there was a project that provided AOSP builds with no modifications apart from enabling root (which is just a configuration setting), without Play and all the other proprietary stuff, and with the option of providing OTA updates.

Basically I can compile AOSP myself, but I don't want to. I want OTA updates, I don't care about any "enhancements" Cyanogen added, and I'm happy with OSS apps in F-Droid instead of Play.

Am I alone in this?

Re:CyanogenMod 12 nightlies available by ptx on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @10:35AM (#8844783)
Replicant, perhaps? http://www.replicant.us/

But without the proprietary drivers, not much of the hardware will be functioning. No GPS, no 3D acceleration and no hardware video codecs.

Re:CyanogenMod 12 nightlies available by 4ad on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @10:59AM (#8844910)
I don't mind the proprietary drivers and firmwares. (Actually, I do, but I'm realistic and know that the completely open source phone won't happen ever, so I just accepted it.) What I'm after is stock AOSP (with binary blobs, if no other options exists), with root access, and without the proprietary Google apps (not because of their proprietary nature, but because they are of absolutely no use to me, I'm happy with the open source equivalents). Replicant tries to clone the proprietary bits, but that's not what I'm after.

I'm only after convenience. As I said, I can compile AOSP, but I don't want to invest in this maintenance work at all. I just want a plain Android that can update itself. Basically the only thing I'm after is OTA updates to stock AOSP. I don't care about modifications, new features, or more free drivers. If such a project ever appears, I'll be the first to donate. I would even pay for a subscription to such a service.

Re:CyanogenMod 12 nightlies available by 01Michael10 on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @12:47PM (#8845762)
That is what CyanogenMod is... AOSP (+drivers) with a few tweaks/addons (that can be disabled), root, no Gapps, and gets OTA updates.

There are some ROMs out there that are closer to AOSP but normally have limited phone support and no OTA updates.

I doubt anyone would go to the trouble of creating a Android ROM for different phones and not tweak anything on it.

Re:CyanogenMod 12 nightlies available by 01Michael10 on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @10:57AM (#8844903)
AOSP doesn't include drivers so you meant to say stock Android builds.
Re:CyanogenMod 12 nightlies available by 4ad on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @11:01AM (#8844923)
I mean AOSP plus drivers, but without the proprietary apps like Google Chrome, Play, Maps, etc. The stock Android builds do include these apps (please correct me if I am wrong).

But what I really am after is not some build of Android, but the service that enables OTA updates to this build of Android. I'd even pay for such a service.

Re:CyanogenMod 12 nightlies available by 01Michael10 on Tuesday January 06, 2015 @12:54PM (#8845821)
You are right, I misspoke... "Stock Android" includes the Gapps.