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Apple threw down the gauntlet when they made it clear that their devices would be a walled garden where they would have absolute control over what apps you can

Apple threw down the gauntlet when they made it clear that their devices would be a walled garden where they would have absolute control over what apps you can run. Prior to Android, your choice was between your carrier overlords and the Apple overlord. Not only was that limiting for users, it was a vulnerability for Google business-wise to have their direct competitors as gatekeepers between their services and their users.

Apocryphon 13y ago
But with Android, the choice is between your OEM overlords and the Google anti-fragmentation efforts overlord. Yes; you can flash your own ROM and switch to CyanogenMod or Replicant. That is the freedom you are guaranteed in Android. But how many people actually take advantage of it?
- bad_user 13y ago
  I take advantage of it. I love it that I can take advantage of it. I also helped about 5 other people take advantage of it, by installing Cyanogen on their obsolete phones (I'm not from the US and down here people keep their phones longer than they should). What you say is a classic logical fallacy. Do you repair your own car? Personally, I like having the freedom of doing repairs on my car outside of "authorized" repair shops, even though I know nothing about cars.
- Joister 13y ago
  >But how many people actually take advantage of it? Who gives a shit. The fact that the option exists means the "android locks you into google" argument is nonsense.
  - gibwell 13y ago
    It means nothing of the sort. Regular consumers are absolutely locked into google by this, and as a consequence, so are developers. The fact that a few hobbyists can back their phones does nothing to change this.
- fpgeek 13y ago
  You forget about "Unknown sources". In practical terms that is substantial freedom (see: Amazon and other app stores) that makes Android phones qualitatively different from phones with an overload (OEM, carrier or otherwise).
- hershel 13y ago
  >>how many people take advantage of it? The Chinese do.

Apocryphon 13y ago

But with Android, the choice is between your OEM overlords and the Google anti-fragmentation efforts overlord. Yes; you can flash your own ROM and switch to CyanogenMod or Replicant. That is the freedom you are guaranteed in Android. But how many people actually take advantage of it?

bad_user 13y ago
I take advantage of it. I love it that I can take advantage of it. I also helped about 5 other people take advantage of it, by installing Cyanogen on their obsolete phones (I'm not from the US and down here people keep their phones longer than they should). What you say is a classic logical fallacy. Do you repair your own car? Personally, I like having the freedom of doing repairs on my car outside of "authorized" repair shops, even though I know nothing about cars.
Joister 13y ago
>But how many people actually take advantage of it? Who gives a shit. The fact that the option exists means the "android locks you into google" argument is nonsense.
- gibwell 13y ago
  It means nothing of the sort. Regular consumers are absolutely locked into google by this, and as a consequence, so are developers. The fact that a few hobbyists can back their phones does nothing to change this.
fpgeek 13y ago
You forget about "Unknown sources". In practical terms that is substantial freedom (see: Amazon and other app stores) that makes Android phones qualitatively different from phones with an overload (OEM, carrier or otherwise).
hershel 13y ago
>>how many people take advantage of it? The Chinese do.