Google has kicked the open source CyanogenMod Installer out of its Play Store after claiming the app was in violation of its developer terms.
CyanogenMod is a popular open source firmware, which allows users to replace the factory version of Android on a device with a feature-rich custom version of the OS by writing over the memory. It also allows users to upgrade Android devices, which may no longer be supported by carriers or manufacturers.
The Cyanogenmod Installer app was made available on 12 November, and downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. Despite the app not actually installing anything on devices (it pointed users to a debugging mode and a desktop app), Google asked the developers to remove it.
"After reaching out to the Play team, their feedback was that though the application itself is harmless, since it encourages users to void their warranty', it would not be allowed to remain in the store," Cyanogenmod wrote in a blog post.
"We've seen hundreds of thousands of installations of the application, proving the demand for more choice, and that the need for an alternative Android experience exists. As we work through this new hurdle, we will continue to make available and support the installation process via our own hosting services."
The removal of the app from the Google Play Store does not prevent users from installing the CyanogenMod version of Android, it simply adds more steps. The installer can still be put onto devices through a process known as sideloading and the developers have submitted the app to the Amazon and Samsung stores too.
