Custom ROMs Updated for Android 4.4 KitKat

It's been months now since Android 4.4 KitKat was officially unveiled, yet users' craze is showing no signs of fading away. And craze is by no means and overstatement, as we've hardly ever seen as strong an interest in a new version of Android. So much so, that we actually suspect the sugary name of the latest version has played its role of promoting the new update quite well.

But it's not all branding. Android 4.4 KitKat brings more optimizations than ever, the brilliant new Dialer with smart caller ID, immersive mode, screen recording and a moderate visual update, and quite a few more. It's a version of Android that's truly worth having, and yet, at least for now, it remains the exclusive privilege of some Nexus devices (and since earlier today – the Moto X). This is where the custom Android ROM-building community comes in, often offering the newest update for devices that would otherwise have to wait for a long, long time to get one. If ever.

Now, KitKat is still fairly new, and unfortunately, the custom ROMs that have been updated with Android 4.4 are both considered to be in the 'nightlies' phase, but the list of supported devices has grown a whole lot these past two months.

Do keep in mind that these are considered 'unstable' and we haven't had the chance to test how stable each and everyone of them is. Suffices to say, however, that your device is pretty unlikely to melt down, and it's usually plenty easy to revert back to your stock firmware, should you end up not liking the less-refined nature of custom Android ROMs.

1. CyanogenMod, derived from Android 4.4 KitKat

As you may know, CyanogenMod Inc. is now a company, so it makes perfect sense that it's on the wave of tech with their CyanogenMod 11, derived from Android 4.4 KitKat. As with any other ROM in this list, it's considered unstable, yet kinks are getting fixed pretty much daily (or nightly). The list of supported devices is pretty respectable, as is to be expected now that the nascent company has taken to the stage. It includes devices from Samsung, LG, HTC, Google, Sony and Motorola.

2. OmniROM, derived from Android 4.4 KitKat

OmniROM is a great up-and-coming team of developers, and already, their list of supported devices for their latest, Android 4.4 KitKat-derived update, is impressive. That's not at all surprising, seeing as there are quite a few ex-CyanogenMod developers on the team. The OmniROM team has a pretty brave view: nightlies should offer the same kind of stability as a ROM that has been tagged for release. We'll keep an eye out for OmniROM, and so should you!

The list of supported devices includes ones from Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG, Asus, Oppo and Google.

3. SlimKat, derived from Android 4.4 KitKat

The folks behind SlimROMs have won themselves quite the following, and deservedly so. Their ROMs may not be the most feature-packed, but they offer a sometimes enviable performance, and are especially good for older devices. SlimKat, their ROM derived from the Android 4.4 KitKat source, is up for grabs on a number of devices already, and the team has switched away from nightlies towards a weekly update schedule. Phones from Samsung, LG, HTC and Google can be found on the support list, available here.

4. Carbon, derived from Android 4.4 KitKat

Carbon is another custom project that seeks to bring together various features from different custom ROMs, and it has done so to a great effect. Unlike some other, heavier projects, Carbon manages to strike an acceptable balance, and it isn't overburdened by endless features, but it's far from lacking such, either.

KitKat derived Carbon is available for a number of devices already, including Google's Nexus line.

5. Cataclysm ROM, derived from Android 4.4 KitKat

Cataclysm ROM is a relatively new ROM, one that we become aware just a few months ago. Its age, however, does its developers no justice, as this has proven to be a seductively polished piece of work, one that we've gone back to every now and then.

Like some other solutions currently available, the Android 4.4. KitKat-derived version of Cataclysm is currently only available for Nexus devices, but we can't wait for that to change. We know of no centralized host for all Cataclysm builds, so you may have to do a manual search for your particular Nexus device.

Source : phonearena