Comments on: Andy Rubin Reassures Us that Android Remains Open, Delay of Honeycomb is Not a Change in Strategy

By: ecommerce web developers

ecommerce web developers — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:11:00 +0000

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By: Beejay686

Beejay686 — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:03:00 +0000

you are so right about that brother.

By: Rocktoonz

Rocktoonz — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:02:00 +0000

In a perfect world that would totally rock, but unfortunately it’s not a perfect world, it’s a business world. Google and the OEMs are being pressured into locking things down by the carriers that provide the devices and services.

The only way you’re likely to see something like this would be if Google offered their own service that was as stable and fast as the current carriers, and could run both CDMA and GSM devices, and could offer every Android phone on their service as well as the other carriers’. If you wanted stock, you buy from Google, and if you want OEM Bloatware-infested but dumbed-down phones, you can get it from another carrier.

By: Rocktoonz

Rocktoonz — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 02:56:00 +0000

When did I say I wanted an OEM custom UI? What I said was I want a different UI on my device. If the OEMs and carriers want to put their custom ones on there, I have no problem with that, as long as I can replace it when I find something I like better without fearing the wrath of Big Red Brother.

Having said that, the only OEM UI I have any real experience with is the Sense that came with my DInc. I found that there were things about it that I liked (the sliding lockscreen and the clock/weather widget for example) and things I didn’t (such as the dock and notification bar). I went out and found a UI and some apps and widgets that gave me what I wanted without sticking me with things I don’t. THAT is the beauty of openness. Choice. If I could have removed the bloatware from my phone like I do from a new PC, and picked and chosen the elements of Sense I wanted to keep, I’d have probably never rooted and installed a custom ROM.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 02:55:00 +0000

You know the truth is, it’s not just Google, it’s pretty much everybody. Look at a device that ships with certain built in functions only to get crippled unless you pay more to un-cripple that function. In the end, to think that any company actually “cares” about a customer is living in a land of unicorns. The only thing companies care about is making money off people who want the tech. The only time they show any “care” is when their sales start dwindling and they have to switch gears. That’s when all the sheep start talking about what great customer service they have, etc. Bullshit. It’s a money making business and to think you’re anything but a contract is delusional at best. Vote. Vote with your wallet and vote hard.

By: Shanklin07

Shanklin07 — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:01:00 +0000

Thanks for the reply. What I was saying above is that I’m angry android is going in the direction it’s going. It’s a shame that nothing can last if it’s good. We are the 5% of people that care. And maybe your right, maybe we can’t actually do anything about what is happening…But at the same time I want to tell you that if we think like that things will get worse and we will never have our say. Maybe we don’t have a say now…but as long as android is open source, I think the hardware should be too.

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Here’s a simple solution for this UI problem.

Google. . . simply make each OHA member create an “optimized stock Android” version for each device they release.

House that optimized stock Android version in the market and allow users to switch to it from the OEM’s “proprietary Android” without voiding the warranty–it would be a simple wipe and reinstall and bootloader would be set to the OEM’s default. We know Google has the power to do this as demoed recently via the infected apps in the market.

This will ensure that every OEM that is part of the OHA starts with an optimized version of Android, thus ensuring that their device works with Android properly before they do any customizations.

It will also give every user the freedom to choose whatever hardware they want and whether or not to stick with the OEM’s proprietary version of Android or go stock Android without voiding their warranty. Therefore, the end user really does have freedom of choice which is lacking now.

Then everyone can have their cake and eat it.

Is this really that difficult to do?

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Here’s a simple solution for this UI problem.

Google. . . simply make each OHA member create an “optimized stock Android” version for each device they release.

This will ensure that every OEM that is part of the OHA starts with an optimized version of Android, thus ensuring that their device works with Android properly before they do any customizations.

Then everyone can have their cake and eat it.

Is this really that difficult to do?

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:17:00 +0000

For the end user there is no difference, that’s my point. The end user is getting Android on a device, not downloading the AOSP and making their own device thus it is not different than an iOS device despite that fact that Android itself is open source–for the end user it is locked down.

Your alternative is an extreme that is not necessary nor the only alternative.

Google could insist that all OHA partners have an optimized stock Android that users can switch to via the market without voiding warranty = problem solved and Google would maintain updates for it form that point on. It’s just that Google doesn’t seem to care about the end user as much as the OEMs and is willing to allow the OEMs to make Android as locked down as they wish without any option for the end user to get the “open Android” experience without voiding their warranty.

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:09:00 +0000

Yes, that was my point and that’s the problem. Most people are to stupid to do that not to mention rooting voids the warranty and some people just don’t want to do that on a $500+ device.

I personally feel this is where Google needs to step up to give us users an option to change the ROM without voiding the warranty but I don’t think it will happen.

By: AndroFan

AndroFan — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:04:00 +0000

The alternative – Google restricting OEM alterations of the source code – is not a valid alternative. THAT is true locking down. So, while OEMs FUBARing the code and “forcing” people to invalidate their warranties is a *undesirable* choice, the alternative of Google entirely preventing licensing of Android (ala Apple) is NOT a choice.

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:04:00 +0000

I want to be able to do that without voiding the warranty on the device. After all their device is supposed to support Android so why should my warranty be voided because I’m putting a stock UI on the bloody thing?

As is now only the Nexus S is the device I will even consider. Sad, it’s like having to purchase an Apple device–only one form factor to choose from.

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:01:00 +0000

So, you are saying the average user should have to void their warranty just to get back to a stock Android UI that they can customize instead of being locked into a UI that the OEM chooses. And you think that’s open?

That’s the catch. OEMs benefit more because they can use the same fear against users that Apple does–do anything and your warranty is void even if its just reverting back to a stock UI. Therefore, for the average user the device is “locked down” just as much as any iOS device. If I’m going to void my warranty just to change the UI then why not use a device that has more apps, more devs, etc?

The OEM’s implementation of Android is a proprietary Android that is just as locked down as Apple’s iOS devices. There’s no difference in that. Your argument isn’t valid unless a user can create the hardware for the AOSP to go on. It’s the hardware that is locking down Android.

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:51:00 +0000

ditto. . . I just read it as, we’ll let OEMs do whatever they want as long as they keep using Android. . . as for the end users. . . who cares.

By: Honeycomb_FTW

Honeycomb_FTW — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:49:00 +0000

Your points are well taken. And much of what you say is why I will not buy an iPhone. I really had hopes that Nokia would push Meego forward. . . but that’s dead now. Maybe MS might improve their OS enough and not lock it down and take a similar route as they did with Windows–I can at least live with that, but I would really like to see OEMs and/or Google really step up for users’ choice and allows us some way to remove their custom UI without voiding the warranty so we can have our customizable Android on any device.