The most closed open-source system: Eight sins of Android

Http://www.ifanr.com/9833

By Andreas Constantinou from visionmobile.com | lordhong translation. For more information, see the ifanr.com translation link.

Do you think Android is open? Google uses a series of control measures to ensure that each Android phone has its specified software and hardware specifications. However, they also use the Apache license in the android SDK to publicize that android is open.

That's right. Google's mobile platform is currently the smartest way to use open source to drive business agenda. But before we go into this question, let's talk about why the success of Android has nothing to do with open source.

What makes android

Despite the early doubts, Google's Android mobile platform has been widely supported by operators and mobile phone manufacturers in the mobile industry, with only stubborn Nokia. Android has grown from a model in to more than 50 models in 10 years. The rapid development surprised the vast majority of industry observers.

The success of Android has nothing to do with open source. Its success depends on the following three main factors:

-AppleIt seems strange that android was developed by its main rival? Let me analyze it. With the unprecedented iPhone success and Apple's arrogant and harsh attitude towards network operators, carriers are eager to find a cheaper option; therefore, the largest operators at the first layer began to use android to develop mobile phones for users who could not afford the iPhone. More importantly, they don't have to pay a 300 euro discount for apple every time they sell a cell phone.

-Carriers around the world are eager to stand out. Android provides them with a unified software platform. They can easily customize their desired systems, and the cost is very low (three months, this is much shorter than the custom period of savaje for more than 12 months ). For large carriers, Android also reduces their investment in smartphone software. This is why most Android mobile phone projects are backed by a combination of operators and OEMs.

-QualcommThis $10 billion chip maker has contributed to the rise of Android. Mobile phone developers can use a solution that Qualcomm has integrated for Android to promote it to the market within 9-12 months. (Compared to Motorola's cliq, it took more than 16 months, while HTC G1 took more than two years ). In addition to Qualcomm, we also have ti's omap3 platform (based on this solution, Motorola Droid/Milestone ). St Ericsson and Broadcom are also working on Android integration solutions.

In other words, on Android phones, most OEM budgets are spent on customization. The vast majority of Symbian's budget is spent on the transplantation of wireless communication and hardware integration (the result of Symbian's decision in 2001 ). In general, Android allows OEMs to significantly cut R & D budgets and spend money on customization. Of course, we cannot forget that android is free of charge. This free trial is exciting for many vendors.

In other words, Android uses open source for market promotion, which has successfully disrupted the entire industry, this has led to Nokia's acquisition of Symbian and the overall collapse of Windows Mobile (however, the translator thinks that the launch of the multi-task mechanism of iPhone OS 4 makes WP7 a real winner ). However, more importantly, Android attracts thousands of developers using open-source names and the charm of Google. Although Android does not allow developers to make a lot of money, in addition, the number of Android mobile phones is less than of that of Apple's products (the number of countries with support charges is 6 times less than that of Apple ).

Behind the veil of Open Source

What's even more surprising is how closed Android is, despite the fact that Google's "no evil" slogan and Apache license mode are encapsulated outside. In a model-T-related book, Henry Ford used the following statement: "Anyone can freely select the android color, as long as it is black (anyone can have android in their own color as long as it's black ). Android is an excellent commercial case-to show how a company uses open source to win attention and participate in communities, while maintaining a very strict business operation.

How does Google control what services, software, and hardware are used in each Android mobile phone? This search giant has established a perfect control management system. In order to mine more information, we spent two months discussing it with many insiders who are closely connected with Android. The facts we have discovered are shocking. From a macro perspective, Google's Android mobile phone control constitutes the following eight sins:

1.Private branch. Android has multiple private branches. These are only available to a few specific partners, often those who develop Android, and these are only available to people who need to know. These private branches are at least six months ahead of the published sdks, which is also the key for OEMs to stay competitive. The public SDK provides the latest features released in private branches for third-party applications.

2.Closed evaluation process. All code evaluators seem to be Google employees. That is to say, only Google can decide whether to accept the Code submitted from the community. In addition, Google is still circulating a culture of thinking "not invented here". They feel that the code written by Google employees is invincible. If you ask anyone who has submitted a patch to Android, you will get the same answer: there is almost no submission accepted by Google, and there is often no reason or explanation for rejection.

3.Evolution speedGoogle's innovation speed in Android is unique in the mobile industry. They released four major versions in 18 months. OEMs who want to write articles on Android have to keep up with Google's pace (this reminds me of the OMS of mobile cups), otherwise they will not be able to keep up with the release of new features and bug fixes. Nexus One, droid, G1, and other mobile phones with Google experience applications provide Google with innovative testing sites.

4.Incomplete Software. Mobile phones cannot be built completely with public sdks. The missing key components include wireless communication integration modules, international language packs, carrier information packages, and closed-source Google applications, such as market, Gmail, and Gtalk. Although cyanogen can customize its ROM, the apps contained in it are not authorized, so they cannot be released on Android phones for commercial purposes.

5.Closed developer community. Android Market is the only Android app store with more than 40 thousand programs and contracts with each Mobile Phone OEM. This restriction is terrible because no OEM is willing to release Android phones without a market (tianchao is an alternative ). Of course, releasing an application on the market is very simple and there is no approval process. This is just the opposite of Apple's appstore.

6.Anti-differentiation contractIt is almost unknown that all Oha members have signed an anti-differentiation contract. However, this contract can be understood as failing to publish a mobile phone that has not passed the CTS compatibility test. (CTS) (Note: It seems that mobile has been kicked out of the private branch of Android. Is it because their OMS violates this agreement ?)

7.Development Blueprint for confidentialityThe development blueprint for Android is quite a cup of cake. So far, the publicly released development blueprint remains in the first quarter of 2009. If you want to see the internal development blueprint, you need the blessing of Google.

8.Android TrademarkGoogle holds the registered trademark and title right of Android. Any vendor that wants to use the android brand must be authorized by Google. To put it simply, you can enter the Google portal, or there is no portal. If you want to do Android branch on your own, you will all rely on yourself. For example, you need a company as big as China Mobile.

There is also a major chapter in the legend of Android: CTS (compatibility testing group), that is, Google's set of Android phones to test whether the Android mobile phone meets Google's standards. According to our sources, CTS not only tests the software API, but also includes performance testing, hardware functions, device design, UI user interface requirements, and packaged services. CTS determines that you can add additional features, but cannot cut functions from the most basic configuration. In addition to CTS, OEMs also need to sign authorization contracts with Google so that they can package Google services, such as Gmail and YouTube.

CTS limits the idea of OEM-tailored Android mobile phones to weaken the version! MTK and mid-Microstar. release some low-end Android phones at the end of the year !) This also greatly limits Android's ability to open up the low-end market. The fact that CTS is compatible with more than 40 thousand applications is a great challenge for Google to take 2-digit market share in the smartphone market. These restrictions also involve the partnership between Google and OEM, which has led to discussions on the establishment of Android funds in the OEM circle.

Google's ultimate goal

With Android in hand, Google aims to provide a stable platform for its revenue-generating services. At present, this advertising business. But in the future, Google will target voice services (Billions of users without data services) and Google Checkout (for example, Visa cards in the mobile field ). However, no matter what Google's ultimate goal is, we should be aware that android is not much open than Windows Mobile, Mac OSX, or palmos. Android is one of the smartest cases to use open source to drive the business agenda. In the Android system, there are no evil ideas in our subconscious.

-Andreas on Twitter: @ andreascon