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Android OEMs love it when people keep blaming Google for phones not being updated and as long as this happens this issue will never be addressed. Do you know h

Android OEMs love it when people keep blaming Google for phones not being updated and as long as this happens this issue will never be addressed. Do you know how open source works? Google has no control over OEM phones or the carrier approval process. Period! The only reason OEM Windows phones can be upgraded is that OEMs agree to that level of control by Microsoft. Have you ever noticed their are few Windows phone OEMs? LOL Google could try to assert this kind of control on OEMs but Samsung would bail as soon as possible for sure. They would fork AOSP or move to their own OS.

wmf 10y ago
Google can definitely control any phone that has Play Services installed since that requires a non-open-source license. I agree that Samsung would probably not agree to stricter control, but other OEMs probably would since they don't have any other realistic choice.
- 01Michael10 10y ago
  No! They absolutely can not! OS updates do not come via Play services... Why can't people understand that Android is open source? An Android OEM can (and does) modify their Android distribution anyway they like UNLIKE a Windows phone OEM. The fact is any OS update directly from Google would probably brick an OEM phone not that Google can unilaterally decide to update someone else's phone anyway. Samsung bails, Google and Android is screwed...
  - coredog64 10y ago
    I don't believe parent is saying updates come from Play, just that actually getting the approval to ship Play on your Android device requires signing an agreement with Google. That agreement provides the leverage that Google would need to enforce any policy of "updates for x years".
    - 01Michael10 10y ago
      That don't have leverage... Google is already facing fines from the EU because of what they currently require from OEMs to use the Play Services. Trying to make OEMs accept Google updates is not in the cards.
      - detaro 10y ago
        It's far from clear if the EU complaints would apply to this, which have been strictly about anti-competitive behavior. Which competition would this negatively impact?
        01Michael10 10y ago
        I agree the EU should require phone OEMs to update their damn phones. My argument is Google shouldn't and can't do that...
        ocdtrekkie 10y ago
        But... Google can, and should. And you shouldn't buy products with Google's software if Google doesn't.
        01Michael10 10y ago
        #facepalm Google has NO CONTROL over OEM phones. Sorry... Samsung would would fork AOSP tomorrow and create their own store. You think we have fragmentation now... I don't know why you and others want to keep repeating yourself but that is not going to change anything. I have no idea what you said in your second sentence.
  - ocdtrekkie 10y ago
    Android isn't open source. Samsung and other OEMs are only permitted to distribute it with proprietary closed source software. Therefore, the platform, as it's sold, is proprietary. Furthermore, Samsung can't leave, Google has a backroom deal with them, it involves patents.
    - 01Michael10 10y ago
      The platform is NOT sold. AOSP is open source... What OEMs do with it is up to them. I suppose you can produce this document? Common sense would dictate if Google could make OEMS provide updates they would already be doing that. Right?
      - ocdtrekkie 10y ago
        I actually can't produce this document. Google's contracts with OEMs are strictly confidential. Only some from way back in 2011 have leaked in their entirety. If you actually believe OEMs just get AOSP and get to do what you want, you don't know very much about Android. Google gets to approve or veto every Android device every OEM sells. And that's just for starters. If you're an Android OEM that has access to the Play Store, Google has an incredible amount of control over your company. These are the leaked 2011 MADA agreements, but the new ones are far more strict: https://oasis.sandstorm.io/shared/A9MKYwaMtKZ1p5xC5KQlknXDP4muS7NyAyE_JKI7di4/files/Android https://oasis.sandstorm.io/shared/A9MKYwaMtKZ1p5xC5KQlknXDP4...
        01Michael10 10y ago
        >I actually can't produce this document. Google's contracts with OEMs are strictly confidential. Thanks man... I hear they also keep martians at Roswell. >Google gets to approve or veto every Android device every OEM sells. 100% Wrong... The only thing an OEM really needs to do is include certain Google apps and have them presented in a certain way to use Play services.
        ocdtrekkie 10y ago

wmf 10y ago

Google can definitely control any phone that has Play Services installed since that requires a non-open-source license. I agree that Samsung would probably not agree to stricter control, but other OEMs probably would since they don't have any other realistic choice.

01Michael10 10y ago
No! They absolutely can not! OS updates do not come via Play services... Why can't people understand that Android is open source? An Android OEM can (and does) modify their Android distribution anyway they like UNLIKE a Windows phone OEM. The fact is any OS update directly from Google would probably brick an OEM phone not that Google can unilaterally decide to update someone else's phone anyway. Samsung bails, Google and Android is screwed...
- coredog64 10y ago
  I don't believe parent is saying updates come from Play, just that actually getting the approval to ship Play on your Android device requires signing an agreement with Google. That agreement provides the leverage that Google would need to enforce any policy of "updates for x years".
  - 01Michael10 10y ago
    That don't have leverage... Google is already facing fines from the EU because of what they currently require from OEMs to use the Play Services. Trying to make OEMs accept Google updates is not in the cards.
    - detaro 10y ago
      It's far from clear if the EU complaints would apply to this, which have been strictly about anti-competitive behavior. Which competition would this negatively impact?
      - 01Michael10 10y ago
        I agree the EU should require phone OEMs to update their damn phones. My argument is Google shouldn't and can't do that...
        ocdtrekkie 10y ago
        But... Google can, and should. And you shouldn't buy products with Google's software if Google doesn't.
        01Michael10 10y ago
        #facepalm Google has NO CONTROL over OEM phones. Sorry... Samsung would would fork AOSP tomorrow and create their own store. You think we have fragmentation now... I don't know why you and others want to keep repeating yourself but that is not going to change anything. I have no idea what you said in your second sentence.
- ocdtrekkie 10y ago
  Android isn't open source. Samsung and other OEMs are only permitted to distribute it with proprietary closed source software. Therefore, the platform, as it's sold, is proprietary. Furthermore, Samsung can't leave, Google has a backroom deal with them, it involves patents.
  - 01Michael10 10y ago
    The platform is NOT sold. AOSP is open source... What OEMs do with it is up to them. I suppose you can produce this document? Common sense would dictate if Google could make OEMS provide updates they would already be doing that. Right?
    - ocdtrekkie 10y ago
      I actually can't produce this document. Google's contracts with OEMs are strictly confidential. Only some from way back in 2011 have leaked in their entirety. If you actually believe OEMs just get AOSP and get to do what you want, you don't know very much about Android. Google gets to approve or veto every Android device every OEM sells. And that's just for starters. If you're an Android OEM that has access to the Play Store, Google has an incredible amount of control over your company. These are the leaked 2011 MADA agreements, but the new ones are far more strict: https://oasis.sandstorm.io/shared/A9MKYwaMtKZ1p5xC5KQlknXDP4muS7NyAyE_JKI7di4/files/Android https://oasis.sandstorm.io/shared/A9MKYwaMtKZ1p5xC5KQlknXDP4...
      - 01Michael10 10y ago
        >I actually can't produce this document. Google's contracts with OEMs are strictly confidential. Thanks man... I hear they also keep martians at Roswell. >Google gets to approve or veto every Android device every OEM sells. 100% Wrong... The only thing an OEM really needs to do is include certain Google apps and have them presented in a certain way to use Play services.
        ocdtrekkie 10y ago