First unofficial CM10 build for Nexus 7 already available, seems to be working great

 

Google’s fresh new Nexus 7 Tablet comes with the latest (and some say greatest) Android version out of the box, but that hasn’t stopped independent devs having their way with the new gadget’s software. While I’m sure most regular users are more than content with Nexus 7’s Jelly Bean official build, I’ll bet there are people amongst you who are dying to try out something different too.

What better alternative than a CyanogenMod 10 port, slightly modified and supposedly working like a charm? Before getting overly excited, you should know that everybody’s favorite independent dev team hasn’t yet released an official CM 10 build for the Nexus 7 and the software package we are going to talk about in the following is an unofficial one, coming from a more obscure developer.

Winner00 is the “author” of the [AOSP][4.1.1]CM10Kang port for the Nexus 7 and, while its name might not say much to most of you, he is a senior member over at the XDA-Developers forum and has quite the expertise in dealing with such custom ROMs.
That said, we have to tell you that the CM10 software package has been very well received by XDA-Developers members, and, according to user comments, everything seems to be working smoothly. What’s great at Winner00’s port, especially considering the early release, is that it actually comes with a few notable improvements and tweaks over Nexus 7’s stock Jelly Bean version.

 

You’ll surely notice the addition of a customizable lock screen, a couple of new options for the power widget, support for USB OTG, and most importantly, the inclusion of an AOSP browser. In fact, most users are claiming it’s much faster than the default Google Chrome. Some people are also claiming that the UI interaction is smoother than stock Jelly Bean, while battery life seems to be superior as well.

Despite those software enhancements that I’m sure make this port a tempting one for any Nexus 7 adopter, we have to advise you to take precautionary methods before flashing the ROM. Its creator himself admits to have put some “experimental stuff” in it, so do make a backup of your system in case anything goes wrong. Remember that rooting your device and installing any custom ROMs on it will most likely void your warranty, so think long and hard before making that decision.
Has anyone flashed the CM10 port? Are you planning to do it? Is it worth risking your warranty for a couple of UI tweaks?