Is android open or not?
September 9, 2010 Posted by mitch | android, cliq, motorola-sucks | 0 Comments
Given my recent posts about how much I hate my Cliq and Motorola for dragging their ass over their stupid motoBlur interface.
I've come across a blog entry questioning the viability of Android should Apple do what they probably will eventually... and release their iPhone to all carriers. Which was then followed up because of people clamouring that they like Android because its "open"
To which I would say I agree on his points. However, I do think he places most of his blame on how un-Open Android is on the Carriers... While in my mind... some of the things that AT&T have done to the HTC phone he mentioned and the V-Cast stuff Verizon more than likely will do as he said. After having a Motorola Cliq since launch and not seeing ONE update to Android since its release (which was ALREADY DATED). I would say that the bulk of the phones that you see running the latest releases of android are the ones running the stock android build. So, while I agree that the Carriers do their part in screwing up Android phones and keeping locked down, I think the phone makers are taking their little pieces of this as well. They seem to think that they need to differentiate themselves though both the phone and OS. That thought... to me, says they never understood what Android is all about... its supposed to make it so all they need to do is make the OS run on some awesomely designed hardware and then sell it... no more having to custom develop all these High End software features for their phones... just make the hardware and release. Leave the OS design aspects to Google, and anyone else who gets involved in the Software side of things. My next phone... the G2. Why... Vanilla Android! the Android Experience (aka Nexus One esq.) WITH A KEYBOARD! On a side note... which phone officially had Froyo pushed to it? oh, right... the Nexus One! Suck it Moto! I hate you.
