Tips and installing CyanogenMod 7.1

The CyanogenMod needs no introduction. He is the closest of a "universal" for different devices with Android we have in the market, offering official support for 68 devices, which can gain new life with the installation of the system, gaining access to updated versions of Android and the extra features included in the mod, independently of the updates from the manufacturers. This explains why the CyanogenMod is popular even among users of Nexus and Nexus S, which receive official updates from Google.

In view of this, it is no wonder that new versions of CyanogenMod arouse much interest, since they affect a large number of users.

The 7.1 is based on the Android Android 2.3.7, and is the first to include support for Bluetooth mice, adding support for Bluetooth keyboards (the models that support USB host mode also support USB keyboards) which lets you use devices that have output HDMI as a replacement for a PC to browse and run applications using a TV or monitor.

Another novelty is the possibility to withdraw application permissions, which is an important boost in security by providing the means to control the anarchy of applications doing what they want on your phone. If you do not like a certain application can access your location, for example, just disable the permission. The application will continue functioning normally, but will no longer be able to access the function disabled. To use this function, you must enable the option Settings> Security. CyanogenMod> Application> Enable Management.

There are many Android devices that are based on SoCs that have FM radio, a function that is not generally offered by manufacturers. The 7.1 is able to activate the transmitter when available, adding more than one function. The antenna is for the headphone cable, similar to what we have in Nokia handsets.

An interesting feature is the ability to manually focus the camera at a certain point in a scene simply by touching the screen over the desired area. This feature allows you to resolve situations where AF insists on focusing on objects that are close when you want to capture what is at the bottom or vice versa. Another feature that will appeal to many is the ability to disable the noise of the camera to take pictures, which is available in Settings> Security.CyanogenMod> Sound> Mute Camera. You can see the complete change-log here .

You can download the 7.1 http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices , simply select the model and copy the update-cm-7.1.0-NS-signed.zip to the root directory of the memory card.

If you are already using Cyanogen, the simplest way to update is to use the ROM Manager, which comes pre-installed in the image. The option to check for updates is available only to paying users, but you can use the option "Install ROM from SD card" to install the image manually copied to the card:

On the confirmation screen, keep selected the option "Wipe Dalvik Cache" (which clears the cache of the Java virtual machine). It is interesting to keep the option to backup the current ROM, so you can return to it in case of problems (the file is saved in the folder / ClockworkMod / backup).

By specifying the file and confirm the update, the system will be recovered in recovery mode where hard work is done. However, unlike the upgrade manually, the entire process is automatic, you just need to make sure that the battery is fully charged (otherwise you will get the battery out of calibration, ) and wait a few minutes.

When upgrading, all settings are retained, the system will remain exactly the same way, with all data intact. However, some settings and hacks made directly to system files can be lost. If you change the DPI of the screen by modifying the file / system / build.prop, for example, you will need to redo your editing of the file.

In the previous tip, learning how to do this using the Root Explorer, which allows you to mount the / system as read-write and edit the file directly. The main problem is that the Root Explorer is a paid application if you do not want to put your hand in your pocket, you can also do this manually via the terminal, we just need you to have root access.

If you want to do on the device, you can use Terminal Emulator, that comes pre-installed on Cyanogen or other terminal you prefer. Just open, use the command "su" to become root and use the following command to mount the folder / system mode of reading and writing:

# Mount-o remount rw / system

You can confirm the execution by running the command "mount", which lists the partitions. The / system will now appear with rw (rw, relatime, barrier = 1, data = ordered).

With written permission, is missing just edit the file using the nano editor or other files available on the terminal. Another option is to use the Droid SSH (SFTP and SSH server available on the free market) to copy the file to a PC and make the change through.

I personally prefer to use the screen with 200 DPI, which considerably increases the usable space, while the elements of the screen too small: