Test-driving the Android free software alternative Replicant
Conclusions
Replicant is a system for people who doggedly embrace the open source spirit. Unfortunately, the reality doesn't quite live up to the lofty vision – starting with the hardware, which includes several proprietary components. Even though it is old and only partly usable, Freerunner, by OpenMoko, actually does a better job of supporting the hardware with minimal proprietary components. The Galaxy Nexus is only half the fun with Replicant as it is with Android 4.2, or even a custom ROM based on Android KitKat or Lollipop. I will certainly revert my Nexus back to CyanogenMod or some other custom ROM in the near future.
Infos
- Replicant homepage: http://www.replicant.us
- List of supported devices: http://www.replicant.us/supported-devices.php
- Installation guide for the Galaxy Nexus: http://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyNexusI9250Installation
- Article on CyanogenMod 12: http://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2015/176/CyanogenMod-on-an-Android-Phone
- Android SDK: https://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/index.html
- Heimdall Flashing Suite: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=755265
- Replicant images: http://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/ReplicantImages#Replicant-42-0003-images
- Hardware table for the Galaxy Nexus: http://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyNexusI9250
- F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/
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