LineageOS 15.1 Goes Official, First Builds Rolling Out

Google released the stable version of Oreo 8.0 in August last year. Shortly after Oreo's source code was made available on AOSP, the LineageOS team got working on basing their ROM to Oreo. However changes made to Android with Oreo were huge and it required time to incorporate them. Explaining the same in their blog post, the LineageOS team wrote:

Project Treble changed the way hardware is managed in Android, so all the OEM-abandoned platforms that are supported by Lineage had to be adapted for the new platform. Moreover, we’ve taken the time to make the code future-proof by converting a lot of our hardware-related code to make use of the new Treble capabilities: things such as LiveDisplay and lights (leds) control are now up to date with the new Android standards, so we’re going to have an easier time forward-porting stuff whenever a new Android version comes out.

We’ve not spent all the time just forward-porting 14.1 features: the whole platform code has been cleaned up: all the unused and deprecated bits have been removed and the rebrand process has been completed.

While the LineageOS team were working hard on LineageOS 15.0 (based on Android 8.0), Google released Oreo 8.1. To streamline LineageOS with the latest version of Android, the LineageOS team announced in December that instead of LineageOS 15.0, they would directly release LineageOS 15.1 (based on Android 8.1). The LineageOS team have done that today. The first builds of LOS 15.1 are now up for grabs.

All the features of LOS 14.1 have been carried forward to LOS 15.1. There are several new features too. We have highlighted them below.

Styles

LOS 15.1 now allows you to set a custom accent color with a light or dark background color. 'Styles' has also been integrated with LiveDisplay. What this means is that during the daytime you can choose to have the light theme and when its nighttime, your device will automatically change the interface to dark. With Oreo, Google introduced the WallpaperColors API which changes the interface to light or dark depending upon the colors in the wallpaper. If it's a dark wallpaper, the interface would be set to dark and it's likewise for the light colored interface. LineageOS have used the WallpaperColors API and used it to theme several components of their ROM. For Styles, you have three options - Light, Dark, and Automagic (theming based on WallpaperColors API).

Updates to Trebuchet and QR code scanner in Snap Camera

The LineageOS team have updated their launcher Trebuchet with support for icon packs. All the Lineage apps now have an adaptive icon of their own (adaptive icons were introduced with Oreo). You can use Trebuchet to choose from four icon shapes for every app - circle, super ellipse, squircle and teardrop. The Snap Camera has also received an update with support for scanning QR codes.

Deprecation of LineageOS 13.0 and continued development for LineageOS 14.1

Marshmallow based LineageOS 13.0 will no longer be developed. It will still however be updated with latest security patches. LineageOS 14.1 will be continued to developed upon.


For detailed instructions on how to update your device to LineageOS 15.1, please refer to the link in the source. It's important to note that the bootloader of your device must be unlocked to install LOS.

To begin with, LineageOS 15.1 builds are available for eleven devices. More devices will be supported once they meet the new requirements laid down in the LDSR (LineageOS Device Support Requirements).


Source: LineageOS

[Featured image credits - LineageOS]

Krittin Kalra

Krittin Kalra is a 20 year old Android freak. Striving for passions, chasing down his dreams and living a life without regrets is his sole mantra. A bit moody, he also does custom ROM reviews for AndroGuider. Currently pursuing his B.Tech, he aspires to follow his heart.