5 reasons to flash your Android (and as much not to do so)

Android is an open source system, so that developers can freely him modify, add new features and create your own operating system images for phones and tablets. Some of these firmware gain immense popularity and even become the basis for successful commercial projects. We introduced you to some of them in this general review, and here and here. And now we want to discuss with you the reasons that may convince you to take a chance and install to your Android third-party firmware.

Getting the latest version of Android

It is no secret that many manufacturers even expensive devices are not too bother to support their products. Once they sell you their product, they immediately forget about the need to release new versions of firmware for them. The result is that you do not have the option to upgrade to a new version of Android, even if it allows the free iron smartphone.

In this case, the best and sometimes the only solution is to use a well-known The CyanogenMod, which, although it has many of its own "chips", but it sounds like to much stock Android. With this development the owners of even a fairly old devices can use recent versions of the system.

Refusal of "branded" skins

Many popular manufacturers (let's not point fingers) are very fond of phones equipped with its proprietary shell, which, however, is not like all users. Not only do many of them frankly ugly and inconvenient - it is known to be a matter of taste, but they also manage to significantly slow down the system. Naked Android against this background that shows the speed records and impressive responsiveness.

Yes, of course, you can put your launcher and poubirat these widgets, but there is no way to abandon all doubtful settings, which the manufacturer has made the operating system. So in order to have a truly "clean» Android, you will need to install a custom ROM.

Removing the pre-installed software

I received my brand new phone and played enough with the programs installed on it gradually comes to understand that it would be better they were not there at all. Most often, component manufacturers a soft-set device, focusing not on the appropriateness and quality, but purely commercial motives. In addition, these programs are considered to be systemic and easy to remove them will not work. The result is a machine full of frank trash, which prevents us from living.

Radical solution to this problem is to just rewrite unit to a custom assembly that contains no pre-installed software.

Obtaining additional functions and system settings

Many firmware are so different from the original Android look and feature set that you can already safely say independent operating systems. First of all we are talking about such popular Chinese projects like MIUI, Lewa, Oppo, which develop a gigantic pace. It is likely that once you try this oriental cocktail, you will look for fresh meal Android c undisguised regret.

Other firmware, AOKP for example, although based on the katabatic Android, but provide a space in settings such customization, who never dreamed of holders of ordinary smartphones.

Security

This may sound strange, but by the firmware can sometimes free community to be safer than a Google product. In them you if you want to be able to completely get rid of the all-seeing eye of the company, completely replacing all of their services and applications to third-party development. It turns out, therefore, «Android without Google», as strange as it may sound.

In addition, many custom ROMs contain a built-in anti-virus and so the detailed permission settings for each application that you will be able to thoroughly specify who gets what for what purpose can move your device.

Reasons not to use third-party firmware

But, as you know, all is not so rosy, and there are quite substantial problems that you may encounter in their experiments with firmware.

1. bricks. The process of reinsertion though thoroughly designed and fairly easy, yet with a certain degree of bad luck and the curvature of the hands can turn your device into a dead brusochek of plastic and chips.
2. Battery Problems. User ROM can not be sufficiently optimized for the particular device and to discharge the battery faster than official firmware.
3. hardware issues. Your new firmware can not fully support all the hardware in the phone so that you may encounter errors, individual non-performing modules and other issues. For example, the device camera can not shoot as good as before, and your GPS will suddenly slow to search for satellites.
4. errors. Manufacturers your device well test software before release to the market, which, of course, can not be said about independent developers firmware. Therefore, you may encounter the annoying bugs that later though will be corrected, but the blood you can not spoil a little.
5. Warranty. In the case of third-party firmware you lose your warranty. If this is important to you, then think about this.

And now I would like to know your opinion about the need for flashing Android. We ask you to participate in the survey and express their views in the comments.