Lineage

[Kathleenmlk]

How is Lineage available? How much does it cost? Is it easy to install? What are the requirements, such as free space?

 

[lunatic59]

LineageOS is free. You can look to see if your phone is supported by looking through this list. Requirements and how you install it will depend on your device.

 

[Kathleenmlk]

This list doesn't work, unfortunately. i did a little looking around and found something about Lineage on ROM. What does this mean? Would it take a computer?

 

[lunatic59]

If you could post a link to what you found it would be helpful.

A 'rom' is a firmware image that you install on your phone that has been coded SPECIFICALLY for your device. Sometimes you do it with a PC, sometimes you use a custom recovery. It depends on the phone and the rom. Refresh my memory, what kind of phone is this?

 

[Hadron]

The links luna posted work fine for me. Of course those are only official lineage builds. Some people also produce unofficial lineage builds for other devices not listed there. Are you still using the ZTE Fanfare 2 you mentioned in a post a few months ago? I don't know much about that device (it's not sold in my country), but it's generally harder to find ROMs for low-end phones because you need a knowledgeable enthusiast to build a ROM, and such people tend to go for more powerful devices.

 

[Kathleenmlk]

It's not available in your country? Thank your lucky stars, and I certainly don't blame the developers for not wasting their time. Yes, it's still a Fanfare 2, but I'm hoping. 'Tis the season, after all. I'm probably going to go with the Coolpad Canvas anyway. I don't want to reward them either, but I'm working with a very tight budget. I just hope I can get Lineage for it and save myself from the peril of Chinese spyware. I don't really want to buy something sight unseen anyway, and there's not much else I can do under the circumstances.

 

[lunatic59]

If I might make a suggestion, why not buy a used phone from a reputable source like Swappa? That way you've got a much more powerful device with current firmware that you can take to pretty much any carrier you want.

 

[Rgarner]

Does Lineage work with Coolpad Canvas? If it doesn't, which would be the next best choice? How does it work, anyway? Does it kick the original OS to the curb or just rum on top of it? How much expertise does it require to install and run?

 

[lunatic59]

If you can find the right rom, Lineage will replace the current firmware on your device with one that is pretty much AOSP Android without the Google apps. Those you have to download separately.

It can work better than the original firmware, but it can't work miracles. A low spec'ed device will always perform that way.

 

[Rgarner]

How do I find the right ROM

 

[lunatic59]

I looked at the Lineage site and there's no specific listing for Coolpad, but XDA forums do have roms for other Coolpads, just not the canvas (at least that I could find.)

You have to be very specific with models because the hardware has to be matched to the firmware. It's quite possible that a lineage rom for your device doesn't exist, but there may be a developer out there who does have one. Searching for it might be a project all its own.