App Review: CyanDelta

After installing CM10 on my Galaxy SIII, I wanted to check out the newest app out there called CyanDelta. Basically this app is used to download CM10 updates for your phone, but unlike ClockWorkMod, or BBQTools this only downloads what is called a Delta file.

A Delta file is just the changed files in the ROM itself, and it averages about 10 megs, unlike the normal rom which is around 160 megs.  This cuts down on the bandwidth used, and the space used on the phone for updates.

From what I understand CyanDelta creates a file based off your last known good ROM, and from there daily it downloads a Delta file.  From there it recreates the ROM from the one last night adding the Delta file information.  Now that you have a new nightly ROM, you reboot into recovery and start in the install.

Now I have the unlimited plan on my phone so data usage is not such a big deal for me, but for others this is a great app to use.  It is very simple to install and was able to get it up and running in seconds with no problems.

The one question I have about the program is that it shows that you can add a second zip file to the program to install on reboot.  I tried to add the Google Apps but it would not let me.  I may have been doing it wrong as the GAPPS was in my download folder, maybe it needs to be in the CyanDelta folder, will try that next time.

CM10 Install on SGS 3: Part 3

After re-doing the ODIN for the stock ROM, I was ready to hit the ground running with installing CM10.  I installed ClockWorkMod, and then added the recovery for the SGS III on my phone.  

Next I downloaded the newest CM10 nightly 11/06 and the Google Apps which I think is 20121001 or something close to that. I was thinking of getting the 4.2 Google Apps, and I still might but for now I will stick with the 4.1.2 Google App.

After they all downloaded, I rebooted my phone into recovery, I did a factory reset.  Next I flashed the CM10 rom, and the Google Apps and the rebooted my phone.

The whole flash, reboot and setup process took about 5-10 minutes and from there I was up and running with CM10 on my phone.

I now have CM10 or a variant of it running on my Captivate, Kindle Fire, and Galaxy S3.  Overall I think they process to get CM10 has been made easier then when I first started using CM7.  

CM10 Part 2 - Read the instructions

Well I should have read the instruction all the way through before starting this, but really who does that?  I used ODIN updated to the injected root rom, but then I let the OTA install which removed root.

Back at square one, and this was last night at midnight, so I had to wait till I got home from work and re-run ODIN to install the injected root rom.  15 minutes later I am back and running, and this time I make sure not to install the OTA.

So lesson learned here, read the instructions before following through with an install.  Next up is taking it from here to CM10 with Google Apps.

Updating devices to CyanogenMod 10

I have a Captivate and Kindle Fire sitting around that I wanted to jump up to Jelly Bean for quite a while.  Tonight I decided to take that leap.  The Captivate was running CM9 previously so I just did was download CM10 and Google Apps for JB onto the phone, and then proceeded to do a Factory wipe and load CM10.

I don't use the Captivate anymore as a daily driver but I am pleased by the speed/smoothness that CM10 brought to the plate.  It is currently running 4.1.2, and with the new CM10 nightlies they added the ability to download and update your system right from the android settings.  I plan to use this as an IP phone with Groove IP, and will see how that works for the near future.

My second device was the Kindle Fire, this also was running some modded version of CM9 for a while.  Again wanting the newest and greatest I set out looking for CM10 or some variant for the Fire.  I found one dev by Hashcode who was doing the Kernel work on the fire, and have been following his release's for a little while.

The other day I upgraded to HashCode's CM10 variant for the fire, and it also shows a smoothness that was not present in the original Fire.  This rom is not able to be downloaded directly through the settings page as the Captivate, but its not hard either.  Just have to go to a different website and download the rom.  Once again you also need the Google Apps for Jelly Bean.   The install was pretty much identical to the Captivate, so no use restating.

My current daily driver is the Samsung Galaxy S III and I have kept it rom free for about a month now, but getting that itch to install CM10.  I keep saying to myself Jelly Bean will be out shortly for the S3, and then everything will be fine. More then likely even when JB comes out for the phone if I have not already updated it to CM10, it will be shortly there after.