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They ship Google apps because they must do so to be able to put in Google Play. That's not freely chosen.
by kryptiskt 8y ago
They ship Google apps because they must do so to be able to put in Google Play. That's not freely chosen.
- dahfizz 8y agoBut they don't need Google Play Services either. They choose to bundle it in because it makes their phones better.
- hadrien01 8y agoThey choose to bundle Google Play. Because if you don't have it (with Facebook, and Twitter, and Snapchat, and other essential apps for many people), your device won't sell. But to get the Google Play store, you also need to include Google Play services, Google Play Music, YouTube, Chrome, Google Maps, Location Services, Google Keep, Google Docs, other stores (Movies, NewsStand, Books), etc. This ruling finally forces Google to decouple at least some of its apps from the package, and to sell some devices (but not all of them) with or without Google apps.
- freeone3000 8y agoYou need Google Play Services if you want to run the average app. There is no difference, in the consumer's mind, between Play Services and Android. Deliberately, on the part of Google - new geo services are Play Services only, for instance.
- Markoff 8y agonot really, i have phone full of apps without gapps and i am fine - WhatsApp, signal, brave, nine, spotify, boost for Reddit... all work fine, the issue are really only apps depending on maps like Uber
- bubblethink 8y agoUber has other dependencies on play services beyond the location api. The Uber mobile site works though.
- GeekyBear 8y agoGiven that modern Android applications require access to API's that are only installed with Google Play Services, it hardly seems optional.