In a developer blog post this morning, Sony announced that developers can now build custom versions of Android for all 2014 Xperia devices with a Qualcomm processor. This is made possible through Google’s AOSP (Android Open Source Project), a project dedicated to keeping Android open and giving developers the power to build their own custom ROMs.
The open device project update announced today is based off of Android 4.4.4 KitKat, but it’s worth noting that developers can build versions of Lollipop on select devices, as well (Lollipop software binaries currently available for Xperia Z3, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z Ultra, and Xperia Z1 Compact).
In today’s blog post, Sony included the steps required to start building:
To get started building AOSP, head over to the AOSP for Xperia section here on Developer World. Download software binaries for KitKat, and follow the AOSP build instructions to download, configure, build and finally flash the source code onto your device. The source code and binaries released today can be used as a base for developing your own version of Android for unlocked Xperia E3, Xperia T3, Xperia T2 Ultra and Xperia M2 devices.
Sony warns that the software isn’t intended to be used as a daily driver, so if you don’t know what any of this means, it’s probably best that you don’t mess with it for the time being. For example, building this basic AOSP and installing it onto your device will mean losing the ability to use the device’s camera and make phone calls.
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