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The best part about new smartphones coming out is the slew of new features and capabilities of the hardware and software. But, since there are many that buy an Android device to customize it, the best part is finding out that the most used custom version of Android, CyanogenMod, has been brought to that new device in their pocket or purse. And that’s what has happened over the weekend to the new third generation Motorola Moto G. Moto G, meet CM 12.1.
Over the weekend, we saw the newest budget beast from Chicago’s own get both a custom recovery, TWRP (pronounced like ‘twerp’) to be specific, as well as its first root access with SuperSU flashed through said custom recovery. Now, we also hear of the first build of an unofficial version of the Android world’s most popular custom variant, CyanogenMod, being offered to osprey (the newest Moto G’s development codename) owners.
The first build of CyanogenMod 12.1, which is based on Android 5.1.1, was put up by XDA Developers’ member squid2, who also credits users Alberto97 and scritch007. The worst part about a new custom variant of Android coming to a new device is usually the parts of the Os that are completely broken or malfunctioning. But, according to comments on the thread, the ported version is working on both 1 gigabyte and 2 gigabyte RAM variants, and has worked across multiple national versions, with squid2 himself running the Canadian variant with it working just fine.
So, if you happened to catch and install squid2’s TWRP for the new Moto G you’ve been hankering to modify or at least get CM onto, you now have your chance. Everything seems to be working, and one change in specific is expected soon. The August 8 build (the only one at time of writing) is utilizing an older kernel source, since the new osprey kernel source code hasn’t been released yet. Squid2 notes that the kernel is of his own design, called Squid Kernel, which he built for surina, the 2015 Moto E, whose kernel source code is two months older, and forces a max processor clock frequency of 1.2 Ghz instead of the G’s 1.4 Ghz. Other than that, the build is CM through and through, so get to flashing if you’ve been wanting to.