G+_Jonathan Mayer Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Google’s iron grip on Android, Nonsense Just a couple examples of the development on the AOSP apps. Calendar https://android-review.googlesource.com/#/q/status:merged+project:platform/packages/apps/Calendar,n,z Calendar app released on oct27, 2012 Music https://android-review.googlesource.com/#/q/status:merged+project:platform/packages/apps/Music,n,z Google Music Released on Nov, 2011 Camera https://android-review.googlesource.com/#/q/status:merged+project:platform/packages/apps/Camera,n,z All have been developed and improved on AFTER the release of the corresponding google app. Sure in each instant only a handful of changes were made, but AOSP is supposed to deliver a bareboned but fully functional OS. Google releasing these apps is good thing for one reason. The OEM dont use the AOSP apps, they rip them out and use their closed sourced apps that are tethered to the OS and to only their specific devices. Google releases their closed sourced apps for free. They would on any current device and offer a better experience and faster updates than the OEM's could ever fathom. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Kristian Aalen Berg Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 It's great. And it's the way they have to be heading with android. It's definitely sad that an open source project such as Android has to be closely supervised, but it's just what happens when things become to widespread and profitable. This is, unfortunately, what makes for Google to do. And to be honest Android is only getting better and smoother as by the process. I guess we'll be left with the best of closed source and open in the end. We'll always have a lot of choice compared to iOS. #aosp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Luke Olson Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Android is always going to have a open source non-google side. It's not going to have all the bells and whistles that google enables with their backend, nut it's always going to be available for other to build from. Amazon already does it, imagine yahoo releasing a store that could enable a yahoo experience on an android phone, blackberry or he'll even Microsoft or Apple could do it too?. The last two will probably never happen, but it could Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Glenn Hoeppner Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 I don't understand why they need to be closed? If the OEMs are forking the code, wouldn't Google want them to be forks of their good code? It's disturbing to me that using Google's new, closed apps are licensed and must be licensed as a bundle. That has the stink of 1990's Microsoft all over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Luke Olson Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 License is still free and must only meet certain hardware requirements, anyone else can make their own apps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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