Alibaba said that Acer “was notified by Google that if the product runs Aliyun OS, Google will terminate its Android- related cooperation and other technology licensing with our partner….We regret Google’s action.”
Stay classy Google.
Google strong-arms Acer
Google’s slogan is “don’t be evil”.
Apparently chaotic neutral is more profitable . . .
Hmmm, that sounds — what’s the word I’m looking for … oh, yeah — “anticompetitive”
But… that can’t be true, can it?
My one former friend who hates Apple and worships Google’s superior ethics would have told me.
If he was still speaking to me.
Open.
Ouch.
I question the validity though. I want to hear from Acer and Google what happened. Acer makes PCs, etc so how would they control any product decisions from Acer?
Interested in seeing this one play out.
Wasn’t that type of shenanigans that got Microsoft in trouble with antitrust in the mid to late 90’s?
This Google’s way to stave off the Fragmentation curse.
I always thought the “Don’t Be Evil” was just old fashion marketing speak. Any company when the get as big as google will become very anti-competitive. Goole wants to to be the only company that sells their users data in the cell phone business.
More proof that Google has reached the final phase of their slide into the dark side and of becoming that which they hated: the Microsoft of the 90s.
Don’t ship something that isn’t Android?
Doesn’t seem a very effective way of reducing Android’s fragmentation.
According to Wikipedia:
“the [Aliyun] OS itself is a binary-compatible Android clone. An App Store was launched with the Aliyun OS that contains downloadable Android APK files.”
Looks like Google is pissed because someone copied their source code to build their own OS, which is capable of running Android apps.
Google:
“Compatibility is at the heart of the Android ecosystem and ensures a consistent experience for developers, manufacturers and consumers. Non-compatible versions of Android, like Aliyun, weaken the ecosystem. All members of the Open Handset Alliance have committed to building one Android platform and to not ship non-compatible Android devices. This does not however, keep OHA members from participating in competing ecosystems.”
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/14/3335204/google-statement-acer-smartphone-launch-aliyun-android
Makes sense to me. If you’re in the OHA, follow the rules or sever ties.
Yep, and they should be. Open source is not the same as public domain. You can’t just clone something, slap a new name on it etc.
If that is what is happening here then Google is potentially within their rights