CyanogenMod adds native file manager to CM10 builds
While the CyanogenMod team hasn’t yet released any information on its plans for moving to the latest Android 4.2 as a base for its custom ROM builds, the team did have something else interesting to announce today that isn’t related to Android 4.2 or the Nexus 4. CyanogenMod has just merged a new CM File Manager application into the CM10 code, and the app should be showing up in nightlies as soon as today.
The app includes quite a few important features, including root capabilities, USB storage access, and a very clean-looking Holo-based theme. Overall, the app looks quite simple and functional, and blends with the rest of the CM apps (such as Apollo) and even with the rest of the Android interface. By all indications, the new file browser is a functional, high quality app, and a good addition to the CM10 ROM.
For some, a file manager is rather insignificant, but for others it is a must have feature, and this has led to some slight user backlash about CyanogenMod adding more “bloatware.” Personally, I’ve noticed that the feature is missing from CyanogenMod quite a few times, and wished that a file manager was included in the ROM. Since most other custom ROMs include a file manager, it was a bit odd quite annoying that CyanogenMod didn’t have one when I expected it, especially in situations where I needed to use it quickly.
In fact, I think a file manager is important enough that it should be included even in stock Android, since file system access and manipulation is a feature not found on competing devices. As far as I can tell, the newly included CM File Manager show above is great choice for the CM stock file manger, and I’m glad that CyanogenMod will finally come with a file management app.
[Google+]
