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Thread: Why is Android Open Source

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
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    32

    Why is Android Open Source

    The Android Operating system is now a widely used Open source operating system in mobile market as well as in tablet PCs. When it was first released on September 20, 2008, it is specially developed to support mobile or some portable platform. But then slowly it started appearing in some Desktop also but still now it is a most popular OS in Smartphone and Tablet PC. It gains 70% of the world’s mobile market. Some of the major manufacturers of Android phones are Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Sony Ericsson etc. Even having such popularity to Android, Why Google made this OS as an Open source? Google is a creator of Android and has been upgrading it to newer version till now. The latest one and presently running is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Is there any particular reason behind this?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    570

    Re: Why is Android Open Source

    Making Android as open source system really increases the chance of other vendors can implement it or publish it on their platform. It will increase the popularity of such a OS. I don’t know whether Google really own the all part of Android stack but I am quite sure that it has control over certain part of the software.

    Open source is really different; something like Linux but it is not same as a community-driven project. The Android has both features on it. I mean it has both community-driven side and on the open source but the ratio would be somewhat different like 1:5 or 1:3 something like that.The developers can add more functionality to it by developing APIs and all.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
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    592

    Re: Why is Android Open Source

    Android may be a open source project but the some platforms or devices which are going to implement this OS does not really make it as a open source device. I mean they are completely restricted from the customization and modification view. Android is built on Linux. Handset makers are really does not to be the part of open source. The Android is only open source as a developer point of view who is going to develop application to Android devices using the SDK which is freely available from the Google side. The Android app will be approved very easily than the ios apps. But still the Google has a very tight policy in terms of acceptance of Android software which is being developed for handsets despite the Apache 2 license.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    161

    Re: Why is Android Open Source

    As far as I know the Android is truly open source and the vendor who is going to implement it can really make any changes to this platform depending on his needs. Then he can publish them with the agreement of android platform licensing. Vendors or anyone can easily modify the distribution. The playstore which is created for Android contains plenty of apps, games, utilities, widgets and more. Anyone can develop apps and put on their store once it is approved by the Google side under the usage agreement and policy. Even you can put a certain amount for your app to make money. The Google will cut certain amount as a part of commission and other amount will be directly credited to your account.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    270

    Re: Why is Android Open Source

    Google started the Android project in order to developer a all-in-one platform which would always be an open platform so that it can be easily available for carriers, OEMs, and developers. By making the project as open source, anyone make use of it and implement their innovative ideas into reality. Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) makes the Android more and more compatible to the different devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops. Deskptops, portable devices like MP3 players, handheld gaming, and wrist watches and also in TVs. Users will try to implement in more and more devices due to its open source nature so that it can be modified and customized freely. This is why android is now a most widely used OS in mobile computing.

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