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What do you mean by features? Do you mean Google apps like gmail, play store and youtube because I think it should totally be up to the Google to distribute th

What do you mean by features? Do you mean Google apps like gmail, play store and youtube because I think it should totally be up to the Google to distribute those apps on platforms. Because, otherwise you can get Google-free Android. Just look at Amazon FireOS or CyanogenMod. Or, in fact just go ahead a grab a copy of the source and make it how you want it to be.

mSparks 10y ago
really? ive got an archos 55 platinum. would love to do this but cant find any way I'd trust to even root it.
kuschku 10y ago
No, I can’t. As long as Google forbids OEMs from producing both FireOS and Google Android devices, I can’t buy a CyanogenMod device from Motorola, or similar. And no, I don’t think Google should be able to hardcode any of their services into Android – instead each service should be provided via a standardized API, so users can select defaults (like it already is done with many apps on Android).
- vr3690 10y ago
  Google develops Android for a reason - so you use Google more often rather than its competitors. It's a simple business decision.
  - kuschku 10y ago
    Which they can not legally do. That’s the point of Antitrust laws, to prevent one company unfairly taking over a market through their power in other markets. Google has to treat all competing services the same as their own on Android or Search – in general, in all markets where they have a majority. Microsoft had to add BrowserChoice.eu, and Google will have to add the same for Android, too. Microsoft was prevented from forcing OEMs to install Windows everywhere, and Google’s Anti-Fork Anti-Kindle clause will be declared invalid, too. This is the law, and if Google wants to avoid doing so, they’ll have to avoid operating in the EU.
- djustmytwo 10y ago
  What do you mean by hardcode? I disabled all Google apps incl Play Services, Services Framework, etc on my smartphone and it still works quite well. Sure, many people don't know how to do that but most of them certainly wouldn't want to do without either.
  - kuschku 10y ago
    I mean, for example, the Search bar in the recents screen: http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/03/61/63551918823389/0/quick-tip-access-app-info-pages-from-lollipops-recent-apps-menu.w654.jpg http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/03/61/63551918823389/0/quick-... http://core0.staticworld.net/images/article/2014/11/android-50-lollipop-pinning-100531190-large.idge.jpg http://core0.staticworld.net/images/article/2014/11/android-... It is hardcoded to access the Google app, and if you remove the Google app, it just shows an error. There are several such cases. For example, Doze will terminate all apps – except for Google Play Services’ GCM service, that one can stay. This is, again, hardcoded. The only way to modify these things is by actually recompiling SystemUI.apk and framework.jar. Which no normal user can do.
- romansch 10y ago
  But you can buy a Fairphone 2 and install their Android version that comes without Google Mobile Services. Other manufacturers are free to do the same. https://www.fairphone.com/2016/04/28/releasing-the-fairphone-2-open-operating-system/ https://www.fairphone.com/2016/04/28/releasing-the-fairphone...

mSparks 10y ago

really? ive got an archos 55 platinum. would love to do this but cant find any way I'd trust to even root it.

kuschku 10y ago

No, I can’t. As long as Google forbids OEMs from producing both FireOS and Google Android devices, I can’t buy a CyanogenMod device from Motorola, or similar. And no, I don’t think Google should be able to hardcode any of their services into Android – instead each service should be provided via a standardized API, so users can select defaults (like it already is done with many apps on Android).

vr3690 10y ago
Google develops Android for a reason - so you use Google more often rather than its competitors. It's a simple business decision.
- kuschku 10y ago
  Which they can not legally do. That’s the point of Antitrust laws, to prevent one company unfairly taking over a market through their power in other markets. Google has to treat all competing services the same as their own on Android or Search – in general, in all markets where they have a majority. Microsoft had to add BrowserChoice.eu, and Google will have to add the same for Android, too. Microsoft was prevented from forcing OEMs to install Windows everywhere, and Google’s Anti-Fork Anti-Kindle clause will be declared invalid, too. This is the law, and if Google wants to avoid doing so, they’ll have to avoid operating in the EU.
djustmytwo 10y ago
What do you mean by hardcode? I disabled all Google apps incl Play Services, Services Framework, etc on my smartphone and it still works quite well. Sure, many people don't know how to do that but most of them certainly wouldn't want to do without either.
- kuschku 10y ago
  I mean, for example, the Search bar in the recents screen: http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/03/61/63551918823389/0/quick-tip-access-app-info-pages-from-lollipops-recent-apps-menu.w654.jpg http://img.wonderhowto.com/img/03/61/63551918823389/0/quick-... http://core0.staticworld.net/images/article/2014/11/android-50-lollipop-pinning-100531190-large.idge.jpg http://core0.staticworld.net/images/article/2014/11/android-... It is hardcoded to access the Google app, and if you remove the Google app, it just shows an error. There are several such cases. For example, Doze will terminate all apps – except for Google Play Services’ GCM service, that one can stay. This is, again, hardcoded. The only way to modify these things is by actually recompiling SystemUI.apk and framework.jar. Which no normal user can do.
romansch 10y ago
But you can buy a Fairphone 2 and install their Android version that comes without Google Mobile Services. Other manufacturers are free to do the same. https://www.fairphone.com/2016/04/28/releasing-the-fairphone-2-open-operating-system/ https://www.fairphone.com/2016/04/28/releasing-the-fairphone...