As promised, Cyanogen has released an update to Cyanogen OS (which is not CyanogenMod) that integrates Cortana into their Android offering.

In the Cyanogen OS 12.1.1 update, we are excited to introduce Microsoft Cortana. What makes this such an exciting partnership is that by having Cortana’s voice command capability deeply integrated into the Cyanogen ecosystem, we’re opening the door to future capabilities that don’t currently exist.

So, they’re going to “take Android away from Google“, and then give it to Microsoft? This Microsoft?

OK.

Look – like Microsoft, Google collects data. A lot of it. We all know it, and at least all of us, OSNews readers, make a conscious choice to use Android anyway. While I don’t trust Google in any way, there’s at least the comfort that they are probably the most closely monitored company when it comes to privacy, and there’s little to no risk of the company folding and being up for grabs – meaning, your data will remain within Google, and won’t end up in somebody else’s, less trustworthy hands just because they happened to buy Google.

Cyanogen Inc., however, is a whole different ballgame. This is a start-up funded by venture capitalists who are clearly looking for a quick buck. They’re making a lot of grandiose claims and a ton of ruckus, and as I’ve said before, I give them a few years before they’re acquired by someone else – at which point your data could end up anywhere, completely beyond your control, with little to no oversight.

Venture capitalists – and by extension, those who depend on them – have no interest in you. You are irrelevant. All they care about is cashing in on their investments as soon as possible, everything else be damned.

Don’t buy into Cyanogen. Just don’t.