After launching the Mi 3 more than a year-and-a-half back, Xiaomi have made public the kernel sources of the Android smartphone. Along with the classic, sources of the nearly-a-year old Mi 4 and current flagship, i.e., Mi Note have also been released.
Jai Mani, Lead Product Manager at Mi India and VP, Xiaomi, Hugo Barra sent the update through their social media streams.
The kernel sources have been uploaded to GitHub’s servers, and can be accessed by following this link. If you’ve been flashing ROMs and such, you will know that the system and ROM that the Mi 3 and Mi 4 use are extremely similar, sometimes even cross-compatible.
In addition to the kernel sources, Mani also revealed that the MIUI 6 update for one of the most popular Xiaomi phone till date — the Redmi 1S — was due soon, and that it was undergoing private testing.
We’re working on MIUI 6 for the 1S. We’ve been testing it internally and aim to launch it publicly in April
“PS: Because I know you’ll ask… We’re working on MIUI 6 for the 1S. We’ve been testing it internally and aim to launch it publicly in April,” is what Mani had to say about the impending MIUI 6 update for the Redmi 1S.
[ Source]
And that’s how a big company does things, respecting the GPL and helping the community come up with custom ROMs for the devices that they sell.
I wish other Chinese companies would understand that besides being illegal to withhold the GPL kernel source they’ve only to gain by releasing them to their users.
Well sure, that’s bad but look at other Chinese manufacturers like Jiayu.
See their kernel sources anywhere ? Even 2 years later.
Hopefully for their new products they’ll release the kernel sources on time.
True, but just because other manufacturers are shitty in this regard, doesn’t make it any better for Xiaomi :/ Releasing source code THAT late, is basically “shitting” on GPL as well. In fact it’s a clear violation