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Samsung Exynos-based Phones Are Slowly Losing Developer Support!”

Jeremy Llewellyn   /  October 6, 2012
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I get home from a long horrible day at work, and checking out all my favorite forums to find out all the awesome news and updates of my favorite ROMs. Then I read this very disappointing article posted by one of my favorite writers Jeff McIntire  over at RootzWiki, that leads me to one of my favorite developers Codeworkx blog.

Apparently the Galaxy Note 2 that I was extremely excited to get and other Exynos-based phones will not have the same developer support that the newest Snapdragon, TI OMAP, and Tegra 3-based devices get.

Codeworkx (a developer for CyanogenMod/Team Hacksung and many others) have withdrawn support for many Exynos-based devices including the international versions of the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II , Galaxy Note, and all new versions of the Galaxy Note 2. It’s all because a lack of developer support from Samsung for its signature chipset.

In a conversation that Jeff had with Codeworkx, he pointed out that AOSP ROMs running on new and recent Exynos-based devices face a variety of bugs because of failure based on Samsung’s part to release the source code that’s needed for its Exynos chipsets. So for example, bugs in the International Galaxy S III (i9300) include certain camera features, broken Bluetooth and WiFi tethering, and unsupported TV Out.

In the international Galaxy S II, the issues include incomplete Jelly Bean support from Hardware Composer (referring to the Mali GPU included in the Exynos chipset), broken camera recording, slow transfer of data over USB in Mass Storage mode, and TV Out (as in the i9300). The international Galaxy S III hasn’t completely lost CyanogenMod support though, as developer Xplodwild is still supporting the device at the moment.

 

-CyanogenMod/Team Hacksung developer Codeworkx Stated…

“I’ll stay away from all exynos powered phones as long as there is no proper support from samsung in form of documentation and sourcecode (especially userspace) to get aosp properly working on it.”
If Qualcomm, nVidia, and Texas Instruments all provide some measure of support for their (SOC) processors why can’t you Samsung?  The Snapdragon series and the Tegra series come with more support than the Exynos series. That is so ridiculous to me!  I’m sorry it is!   I mean I know non of the manufacturers are under any obligation to release documentation or source code and that it is regarded a trade secret. But I mean if the other manufacturers can share a few trade secrets why can’t my favorite manufacturer Samsung do it as well?
Stated by Codeworkx… “It’s also important to note that proprietary code is not covered by the General Public License requirements and is entirely different from device manufacturers (such as HTC, Motorola, and Samsung) releasing kernel source for their Android-based handsets and tablets. Instruments provides the most extensive support of all for its OMAP chipsets.”
This is just really disappointing news!  I don’t even know what to say except, It’s just another example of device manufacturers not being team players, not supporting the little guys that count on them and support them by spending our hard earned money on their devices.
I love Samsung and own many of their products including TV’s and Appliances. Nothing makes me smile more in this world than looking at my phone and feeling like a have a mini Samsung TV right in the palm of my hand. I was going to upgrade my 40″ Galaxy S II  to a 55″  Samsung Note II mini TV (Haha!) but with all this disappointing news I don’t know if I will now?
Probably just go straight Nexus devices and never look back!  Way more support anyway haha!
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By Jeremy Llewellyn
Jeremy AkaTheMacDaddy is an Ex Apple Genius Turned Android Crack Flasher!" He is a Gadgets and Gizmos Guy. If it's small, portable and has more power and memory than his desktop he loves it!" Yes he owned a G1 but not til after tossing his iPhones off of a bridge and hitting up the nearest T-Mobile store. (Yes He Really Did Do That!) Before working at Apple he was a General Manager over seeing 4 Radio Shack Stores. He was also a consultant for The Geek Squad, Compter Dept. and Mobile Dept. at Best Buy. He is Certified in a few things and knows his stuff but only uses it now for his own enjoyment and evil purposes haha!"

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  • fixxmyhead

    doesnt matter if i wanted aosp then i would buy a nexus. i buy galaxy phones cuz i love touchwiz and its neat features. stock to me is boring and lacks features.