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Android Founder To Critics: You’re Full Of FUD

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Apparently Google doesn’t like being called a liar in public and Andy Rubin (one of the co-founders) seems to be upset about the “fear, uncertainty and doubt” being spread by the media about Android’s new rules.

Rubin attempts to clarify Google’s position regarding Android, although manufactures may not like what they hear.

We don’t believe in a “one size fits all” solution. The Android platform has already spurred the development of hundreds of different types of devices – many of which were not originally contemplated when the platform was first created.  […]

If someone wishes to market a device as Android-compatible or include Google applications on the device, we do require the device to conform with some basic compatibility requirements. (Official Android Blog)

To Google’s credit, members of the Open Handset Alliance did promise not to fragment Android, so Google (technically) did not perform a “bait and switch” upon carriers or manufactures when launching Android publicly a few years ago.

However Google can not claim to be open while running their “anti-fragmentation” campaign, as the former by definition gives everyone the power to alter (or fragment) Android to their hearts content.

Google is trying to have their cake and eat it too by using the open source community to help build up Android, while at the same time embracing a “Windows Phone” philosophy (i.e. force standardizations upon all phones).

While having standards for Android devices is needed for consumers and app developers, Google needs to stop pretending that Android is all about open (as Android is only “more open” than rivals, instead of being purely open source).

Originally posted on April 7, 2011 @ 1:03 pm

Comments

  1. Google – Android – Open – Yeah RIGHT !

    One size fits all solutions – privacy issues – and the worst developer support ever – we can’t get anybody to return calls or work with us to launch new processes or services – so our apps WORK – but we get the feeling that Android could care less about innovation or openness unless they control it.

    But when Apple Development and their team is more responsive and interested in developer enhancements – and Android has their head in the sand and isn’t listening – Maybe Andy should get back in the trenches and pay attention to the reality that Android is becoming a developers maze not worthy of dev praise.

    So what is the answer – if it is open we will see soon as there is something coming to solve the android problem – and our guess is Google won’t like it because it takes Google one step out of the equation in terms of consumer connectivity.

    As far as ‘other’ handsets and OMA – the story remains the same as to development – developers must follow rules, and from what I see Android is learning there needs to be rules.