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Cyanogenmod still supports security updates for the Galaxy S, a model released in 2010.[0] Is it still worth using a six-year-old phone? Maybe not, but if your

by carkje9 10y ago

Cyanogenmod still supports security updates for the Galaxy S, a model released in 2010.[0] Is it still worth using a six-year-old phone? Maybe not, but if your device is lucky enough to have support it can last you a long time. [0]https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxysmtd https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxy...

e12e 10y ago
I recently lost my Note 3, subsequently bricked my HTC "Pico" explorer - bought as a dev phone and GPS device due to the notorious GPS issues on my first Android; a Galaxy S. So now I'm back (typing this in Firefox) on my ancient Galaxy S, running a recent cyanogen build [Ed: 11 nightly, based on Android 4.4.4 kitkat. I believe I tried 12 - but it failed to install]. It kinda works. Had to force a move from dalvik to art, and force HW rendering - there are quite a few stalls. I haven't tried encrypting the device; it's already slow enough. Ironically(?) Firefox works better than Chrome. Signal seems to work OK (only for sms so far due to missing network effect; I don't message anyone with signal installed). I'm considering just getting a new battery (replaceable battery, yay!) - as it is cheaper than getting an LG g3, nexus 5 (no memory card slot, bleh) or a Sony xperia z3 (waterproof). I wouldn't really say it's usable - but a g2 or 3 might be OK. [Ed:The low RAM on the early devices appear to me to be the worst issue. I wouldn't recommend buying a device with less than a gig of ram. the Galaxy S has ~384mb.]
gsnedders 10y ago
That's nightly builds, which CM discourage use of. The three most recent stable "snapshots" are from 2015-09-01 00:25:00, 2015-06-26 07:37:01, and 2014-11-12 08:14:51. Given Google has been pushing monthly security updates for a long time, I'd have massive doubts about about the status of security updates for it.
strcat 10y ago
CyanogenMod doesn't have all of the source code or the keys to sign low-level firmware, so it's not possible for them to provide full security updates after vendors drop support. They only provide security updates for the Android Open Source Project components. CopperheadOS is security-oriented so it's not going to keep devices alive when it becomes impossible to provide proper security updates.

by carkje9 10y ago

e12e 10y ago

I recently lost my Note 3, subsequently bricked my HTC "Pico" explorer - bought as a dev phone and GPS device due to the notorious GPS issues on my first Android; a Galaxy S. So now I'm back (typing this in Firefox) on my ancient Galaxy S, running a recent cyanogen build [Ed: 11 nightly, based on Android 4.4.4 kitkat. I believe I tried 12 - but it failed to install]. It kinda works. Had to force a move from dalvik to art, and force HW rendering - there are quite a few stalls. I haven't tried encrypting the device; it's already slow enough. Ironically(?) Firefox works better than Chrome. Signal seems to work OK (only for sms so far due to missing network effect; I don't message anyone with signal installed). I'm considering just getting a new battery (replaceable battery, yay!) - as it is cheaper than getting an LG g3, nexus 5 (no memory card slot, bleh) or a Sony xperia z3 (waterproof). I wouldn't really say it's usable - but a g2 or 3 might be OK. [Ed:The low RAM on the early devices appear to me to be the worst issue. I wouldn't recommend buying a device with less than a gig of ram. the Galaxy S has ~384mb.]

gsnedders 10y ago

That's nightly builds, which CM discourage use of. The three most recent stable "snapshots" are from 2015-09-01 00:25:00, 2015-06-26 07:37:01, and 2014-11-12 08:14:51. Given Google has been pushing monthly security updates for a long time, I'd have massive doubts about about the status of security updates for it.

strcat 10y ago

CyanogenMod doesn't have all of the source code or the keys to sign low-level firmware, so it's not possible for them to provide full security updates after vendors drop support. They only provide security updates for the Android Open Source Project components. CopperheadOS is security-oriented so it's not going to keep devices alive when it becomes impossible to provide proper security updates.