My ROM of choice: Cataclysm

Android. So many possibilities. So many ways of customizing the one device we rely on every day. Google has made a good job on upgrading/optimizing their operating system on smartphones. As great as Android Stock can be, there is “better” out there. Custom ROMS that is, and the one I’ve been relying on since the summer of last year is Cataclysm. I had it running on my Galaxy Nexus for seven months before I bought my Nexus 5 and to this date, it is still the ROM I use everyday. It was first made for the Galaxy Nexus, then the Nexus 4 and now the Nexus 5.

What’s so special about Cataclysm?

• Cataclysm gives you a %100 Google experience plus other features.
• Cataclysm won’t ever include anything you can ever get with an app.
• Cataclysm is %100 Stock themed and will never include a theme chooser.

Highlights of a few features:

• SmartRadio feature
• Longpress back for killing the foreground app.
• Clear all recents button
• Unlink Notification Volume and many more...
  

Basically, Cataclysm feels just like Android Stock but with lots of useful features. Luckily for me, most features are features I want to see and use on my phone on a daily basis like the InCallBlocker, where I can setup to only receive calls from my contacts, the Torch tile that is quickly accessible from the Quick Settings, being able to toggle through the Ringer Modes, easily clearing all my recent apps from the touch of a button and a sleep button on statusbar to help spare the power button etc etc... Take a look at my Quick Settings screenshot and you’ll understand what I mean by being able to quickly accomplish a lot of small tasks.

Cataclysm is not for the person that needs to flash nightlies everyday. The last update was on December 12th 2013 but you know what? It works. It just works. No bugs with anything, and that’s the kind of stability I need.

Cataclysm comes with the latest Android 4.4.2, is rooted and includes gapps. It can be downloaded here, here or here.

The official thread is here. The best way to judge a ROM is to try it out yourself so don’t be shy!