Lineage OS…
I tried this operating system I would want to share HOW to have this on your device, WHO should use it long term, and WHY even ditch Android instead of this? Let’s read on…
So what is it?
This is one of those operating systems which openly challenges Android, but is based on Android itself. Though, It’s a very good operating system. I love the UI, the animation, the satisfying responsive buttons and an interactive workflow. But the main problem I found with this is that… its main goal is to get rid of Google based services from the mobile phone and this is where I don’t understand the point.
Oh yeah btw, you could install play store and use any google products. It’s just gonna be optional rather than default, which is fine for me.
The draw back here is, whether you accept it, we live in a very dominant world and there is no way you could live without specific products in your life. We accept that Apple and Google have dominated the mobile market so much, that you cannot imagine a Phone with neither iOS nor Android. Considering Lineage OS would completely get rid of Google, you don’t have Play Store (by default), chrome, etc, not to mention the operating system itself is based on Android.
So… You kind of see the flaw in this right? You might wonder why did still use it then? Honestly, I don’t care about the company, if it’s Google, Apple, Microsoft, Escobar!? Anything's fine. All I care about is the software and the experience of using Lineage OS was fairly different from using vanilla android because of multiple reasons.
How To Install?
Step 1: Requirements
This is probably the most confusing and versatile step. This highly depends on your hardware, so if you are like me, you’ll probably fail at least once by trying the same steps from a tutorial or a documentation. Here are the main requirements: —
- TWRP for your Phone
- Download Google applications (GApps) from the website
- Root access to your Phone
- Lineage Os download
Step 2: Install and setting your Phone
Make sure, again, that recovery mode is on.
Use the twrp app from PlayStore to select the image and flash your phone. Once done, select the hamburger menu in the app and reboot (through recovery mode). As simple as that. Now, a menu will pop up, where could select your next process. You probably have to select wipe > Advance Wipe and then wipe off your system, Cache and data and swipe right... Well… swipe right in the UI of that phone I mean. Once wiped, go back several times and you end up in the same UI where you selected wipe. This time, select install instead and select the Lineage OS image and then select the option you would get accordingly and swipe right at the bottom. Finally, reboot.
Step 3: setting up lineage Os
This brings you to Lineage OS main boot screen, where similar to Android, you get an interface to connect to a Wi-Fi, login and some updates, until you finally get an OPTION to either choose playstore and other google apps, or not have them. As a favourable member of the society, you probably have to say yes and install them up. Once done, it loads up your final operating system… Lineage OS. That’s it!
Now Finally, Who should use this?
I think there are 2 groups of people who would use this — UI enthusiasts like me, who just want to enjoy the vanilla experience of Android, but not made by Google, and also people who passionately showcase they hate Google and society. I mean… There is no way anyone could live without basic apps which you use every day. Finally, this is also useful to those who want the least bloat in their operating system. For example, Samsung gives you 2 file managers, 2 note apps, 2 galleries, 2 payment apps… Each made by Google through android and Samsung through their customized version, where both are not gonna shut up.
With that said, hope you guys enjoyed this, I’ll be making more videos, articles and so on… You could always contact me through Twitter, Patreon or BuyMeACoffee. That being said, enough of self-ad, I’ll meet you in the next one.
You’re Awesome :)
FadinGeek
