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Most Chinese versions of Android are completely de-Googled[1]- no Play store, no Maps, no GMail, etc. They have their own app store, web browser, and everythin
by throw20102010 7y ago
Most Chinese versions of Android are completely de-Googled[1]- no Play store, no Maps, no GMail, etc. They have their own app store, web browser, and everything else. They are still based on Android, but it's not a stretch to think that most Chinese phone manufacturers could fork the open source project tomorrow.
As soon as Google goes too far against the Chinese government, the manufacturers will receive a notice that Android is no longer welcome as an operating system and they will flip the switch. Most Chinese citizens wouldn't care or even notice.
Other Asian companies are working on alternative OSes in case Google ever "pulls a Google" and kills off Android. Samsung has Tizen, which sucks, but could be better with some work.
[1] I bought a Xiaomi phone with a Chinese ROM and it took three days to get unlock permissions from Xiaomi to put the Global ROM on it that had Google apps. In that time I didn't feel like I was missing anything huge- except for being able to get directions since the maps app didn't have US street maps.
- saagarjha 7y agoIt's also important that WeChat is essentially the "operating system" for a large number of people in China.
- dx034 7y agoIn the end, the only superior system Google offers outside of China is Search (and to some degree Mail). Search can be integrated without the need of an app and GMail can be accessed by any mail client. All the other money making products (Maps, Play Store, Pay) could probably be replaced without users complaining much.
- logicchains 7y agoBing's not banned in China, and it's not _that_ bad.
- sorenjan 7y agoIt's not just about Google's own apps, it's about installing and getting updates to other apps from the play store. Additionally, most apps now use the Google play services that Google has moved a lot of Android functionality into to be able to update it faster.
- dcsan 7y agowith multiple competing app stores, and even OS modifications (miui) its arguable that taking the google out of android created a much more competitive and vibrant ecosystem in China. Amazon failed where the rest have thrived.
- voltagex_ 7y agoThe big problem I have is that what happens when that unlock site goes away? When I bought my Mi4c, it wasn't getting an update I knew was released. When I ran a packet capture, I found it was trying to hit "udate.xiaomi.com" instead of "update.xiaomi.com". I was eventually able to unlock and reflash the phone manually.
- dcsan 7y agoso xiaomi shipped a phone with the wrong hardcoded update URL? How did that work for the rest of their users and not for you? for example if they fixed it at the other end and also enabled udate.DOMAIN it should work for you too?
- andygates 7y ago(Insert obligatory OpenStreetMap plug here.)
- loyukfai 7y ago>As soon as Google goes too far against the Chinese government AFAIK, most Google stuffs are already blocked by the GFW, and Google Play is not preloaded on Android phones sold in mainland China. What can Google do to go farther...?