Cyanogen Inc. goes "modular", exec changes underway

The birth of the Google Pixel and the end of the Nexus could have flared up anti-Google sentiments among the Android faithful. And yet, in an odd, but somewhat foreseen, turn of events, one of the most vocal of those is slightly changing paths. Cyanogen Inc. is no longer as obsessed about a Cyanogen OS that will eject Google from Android. Instead, it will focus on modular software pieces. And with that change of direction comes a change of leadership, with Kir McMaster stepping down as CEO.

It's not hard to think up of conspiracy theories about these changes. McMaster rose to infamy by making rather controversial and ambitious statements about putting a bullet to Google's control of Android through its Cyanogen OS. The goals may be lofty but the numbers spoke for themselves. Last July, the startup reportedly laid off its OS staff, fueling rumors that Cyanogen Inc. will simply be focusing on apps instead. Or worse, folding up completely.

The former at least turned out to be true, but the spiel is a bit different. Cyanogen will indeed be doing apps, but not in the traditional Android apps sense. Instead, it is pouring its resources into a new Cyanogen Modular OS program revolving around its previously announced "MODs" concept. These are practically add ons at the Android platform level that can be slapped on any Android ROM, whether stock from Google or an OEMs own spin. Advanced Android users might see some similarities with the Xposed framework here.

In short, Cyanogen Inc is no longer interested in a full Android OS stack to compete with dozens, if not hundreds, of Android ROMs out there. It says that the many versions of Cyanogen OS only served to worsen the fragmentation of the Android ecosystem even further. Instead, its MODs aim to add value on top of any OEM Android version, which would ultimately make it more viable to be licensed, and earn money for Cyanogen.

What that means in practice remains to be seen. Cyanogen MODs have always remained rather vague and filled with marketing buzzwords. In the meantime, the new company direction is being accompanied by leadership changes as well, with former COO Lior Tal taking the role of CEO and co-founder and CTO Steve Kondik as the new "Chief Science Officer". McMaster remains with the company as the Executive Chair of the Board of Directors.

SOURCE: Cyanogen Inc.