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I'm with Google on this, although I do think they've dug themselves into a hole here. They're making the right decision, though it will most definitely be one o

I'm with Google on this, although I do think they've dug themselves into a hole here. They're making the right decision, though it will most definitely be one of the toughest to deal with. The way manufacturers customize Android really reminds me of the Ubuntu design thread on HN a few days back that argued about the close/quit functionality on Macs and PCs with some really ridiculous "solutions." Open-sourcing design (at this scale) is just asking for trouble. Every manufacturer/carrier keeps thinking they can come up with a better Android, with better features, and more custom fit. All I've seen is slower more bloated ROMs with extra eye-candy, built-in applications nobody wants, and even reductions in the original Android feature-set (most notably tethering). All the compromises the iPhone didn't make, Android did, and now the entire platform suffers. But the real lesson here is for the carriers. The carriers need to step up to the new smartphone world, where phones are no longer a one-time sale, but a long-term investment including support and software updates (especially if you decided to customize your own version of Android). The easier alternative would be of course just to let Google handle the software updates (i.e. Nexus S, Nexus One, G1, etc). But then you don't get all your fancy custom themes and subsidized applications. Boohoo. Can't have your cake and eat it too.

aphexairlines 16y ago
> But then you don't get all your fancy custom themes and subsidized applications. PC makers have no problem adding to Windows and then letting the consumer get updates straight from Microsoft. So they do have their cake and eat it too.
- arron61 16y ago
  How are they adding to Windows? They make applications. They don't necessarily alter the OS. Plus PCs have a 7 layer stack where there are abstraction layers over the devices and drivers, making this doable. Whereas phones are embedded systems that have tight integration.
  - aphexairlines 16y ago
    Yes, not technically modifying the OS itself. But PC OSs are extensible -- manufacturers often implement/bundle their own power management, wifi authentication mechanisms, disk monitors, etc, and of course apps. Not to say that any of it is actually helpful, but then neither is the crap that Motorola, HTC, Sony-Ericsson, Samsung, and friends bolt onto Android.
    - ZeroGravitas 16y ago
      PC Manufacturers do add crap, but they have also patched real holes in Windows e.g. better wireless support before XP service pack 2 , out of the box anti-virus, alternative Office apps, better browsers etc. The same is true of Android as early versions were missing some major pieces. It's a complex area with many shades of grey. The real problem is poor software engineer practice regarding Android and Linux at these manufacturers which leads to unnecessary delays and wheel re-invention. They seem to be learning and getting much better at this though e.g. Sony Ericsson announcing that they'd restrict their additions to the app level and make them easy to turn off and replace in future, and announcing they'd do an extra update for the X10 because they'd already done most of the work for the new phones that share the same platform.
barredo 16y ago
Agree 100%. Do you (or does anyone else) think that Larry Page is now on the wheel has something to do with this change of direction?
rwmj 16y ago
But then you don't get all your fancy custom themes and subsidized applications. I've got a Nexus S and I think this is a feature :-)
joezydeco 16y ago
"Every manufacturer/carrier keeps thinking they can come up with a better Android, with better features, and more custom fit." Every manufacturer needs to find a way to differentiate themselves from the other manufacturers out there. When the typical customer walks into a showroom and is ready to decide on a handset, they have no idea what is on the phone other than the initial UI and form factor they see. Only the alpha geeks know that this handset over here is running Froyo while this one over here has Gingerbread. "The carriers need to step up to the new smartphone world, where phones are no longer a one-time sale, but a long-term investment including support and software updates" So that means they need to bow down to the endless stream of attention-defecit Gizmodo readers that want that new x.x.1 release now now now? I'm not defending the carriers, but knowing how they work and how a buggy handset release can cripple an entire network, I don't blame them for taking the cautious route.

aphexairlines 16y ago

> But then you don't get all your fancy custom themes and subsidized applications. PC makers have no problem adding to Windows and then letting the consumer get updates straight from Microsoft. So they do have their cake and eat it too.

arron61 16y ago
How are they adding to Windows? They make applications. They don't necessarily alter the OS. Plus PCs have a 7 layer stack where there are abstraction layers over the devices and drivers, making this doable. Whereas phones are embedded systems that have tight integration.
- aphexairlines 16y ago
  Yes, not technically modifying the OS itself. But PC OSs are extensible -- manufacturers often implement/bundle their own power management, wifi authentication mechanisms, disk monitors, etc, and of course apps. Not to say that any of it is actually helpful, but then neither is the crap that Motorola, HTC, Sony-Ericsson, Samsung, and friends bolt onto Android.
  - ZeroGravitas 16y ago
    PC Manufacturers do add crap, but they have also patched real holes in Windows e.g. better wireless support before XP service pack 2 , out of the box anti-virus, alternative Office apps, better browsers etc. The same is true of Android as early versions were missing some major pieces. It's a complex area with many shades of grey. The real problem is poor software engineer practice regarding Android and Linux at these manufacturers which leads to unnecessary delays and wheel re-invention. They seem to be learning and getting much better at this though e.g. Sony Ericsson announcing that they'd restrict their additions to the app level and make them easy to turn off and replace in future, and announcing they'd do an extra update for the X10 because they'd already done most of the work for the new phones that share the same platform.

barredo 16y ago

Agree 100%. Do you (or does anyone else) think that Larry Page is now on the wheel has something to do with this change of direction?

rwmj 16y ago

But then you don't get all your fancy custom themes and subsidized applications. I've got a Nexus S and I think this is a feature :-)

joezydeco 16y ago

"Every manufacturer/carrier keeps thinking they can come up with a better Android, with better features, and more custom fit." Every manufacturer needs to find a way to differentiate themselves from the other manufacturers out there. When the typical customer walks into a showroom and is ready to decide on a handset, they have no idea what is on the phone other than the initial UI and form factor they see. Only the alpha geeks know that this handset over here is running Froyo while this one over here has Gingerbread. "The carriers need to step up to the new smartphone world, where phones are no longer a one-time sale, but a long-term investment including support and software updates" So that means they need to bow down to the endless stream of attention-defecit Gizmodo readers that want that new x.x.1 release now now now? I'm not defending the carriers, but knowing how they work and how a buggy handset release can cripple an entire network, I don't blame them for taking the cautious route.