XDA devs create OTA update center for custom ROMs

Editor’s Note: Wow, this will really improve the custom ROM ecosystem and allow more people to feel comfortable and safe with a non-’official’ OS.

In some news that should downright embarrass carriers around the world a team of devs over at XDA have developed an OTA (over-the-air) update center for developers of custom ROMs. It hooks into and pushes updates out to their users automatically, just like “real” updates from your carrier or Google, of course minus the waiting time.

This article was submitted to Android Australia as a community blog post. You can contribute too!

ROM devs simply have to register, upload your ROM and then using the API set about integrating with the system to have it automatically push updates. For the end user this will mean no more re-flashing just to add the latest update zip to your ROM and will create custom ROM lines with constant “hands free” updates. Like any regular user, you could for example set your mum up with Cyanogen* and let her be safe in the knowledge updates will roll in when available. All of this is being offered to ROM devs for free.

Custom ROMs are well known for containing the latest updates and versions before Google even gets the code out and way before carriers finally push it. The additional functionality of OTA updates will only improve the benefits of custom ROMs.

This is a relatively new ‘product’ and as yet no ROM developers have come out saying they will 100% support it. However, it’s hard to imagine them not using it, especially those that push nightlies.

You can see the XDA thread here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=29501085, or the project official home page here https://www.otaupdatecenter.pro/?page=home.