Cyanogen announced on Monday, Oct, 10, that it is working to develop a new modular operating system.
Cyanogen Modular Mobile OS
According to PCMag, after laying off 20 percent of its workforce in July, Cyanogen focuses its efforts on a reboot of its mobile operation system that provides an alternative to Google's Android. The OS developer has chosen to collaborate with device manufacturers in order to help them customize their devices' features that are still relying on Android core OS, instead of creating a completely new OS. Lior Tal, Cyanogen's new CEO, explained in a blog post that smartphone manufacturers will benefit from the new partnership program by enjoying greater freedom.
Cyanogen's upcoming partnership with smartphone maker companies will give them an opportunity to introduce customizable, smart Android smartphones that are running various parts of the Cyanogen OS via MODs and dynamic modules. Cyanogen has struggled before to convince smartphone manufacturers that its mobile OS provides a viable alternative to Android. Google's Android OS still powers most of the mobile phones worldwide.
Cyanogen's Troubles
Tal has taken over the CEO position at Cyanogen at a troubling time for the company. Cyanogen's executive management will also get some restructuring, in addition to July's layoffs. Cyanogen's co-founder and CTO Steve Kondik gets a demotion to "chief science officer." Previous CEO and co-founder Kirt McMaster is being relegated to a board position.
After dropping CyanogenMod onto the OnePlus One, Cyanogen has seen some success. However, it hasn't been easy for the company to push its alternative Android experience. In the meantime, Google has increased its pressure on mobile device manufacturers to provide quicker support for OS updated and deeper Android integration.
Now, according to Digital Trends, Cyanogen has chosen to put a heavier emphasis on the MODs. It seems that the company favors taking a more modular approach to customizing the mobile devices, rather than aiming to become a big mobile presence. Smartphone manufacturers will have the possibility to use MODs whether they use the main Android OS version or other different variants installed on their devices.
