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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)

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

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