Forum Moderators: goodroi
CyanogenM0d, a modified version of the Android operating system, received a cease and desist notice from Google. The issue that Google has levied is that CyanogenMod’s developer is not just rewriting the open source bits of Android, but some of the closed bits, too. This means the Gmail and Gtalk applications, among others.
How Google Just Hurt Itself A Whole Lot
[izurl.com...]
...there was a little ROM that could called CyanogenMod. Basically, it is Android as it should be. It’s faster, works better, and has a whole slew of features that Google just didn’t build in. For example, you can’t run applications that are stored on an SD card with the standard build of Android, despite the small size of the on-board ROM. CyanogenMod doesn’t have this problem.
I like what Android is doing.. but in a way, doesn't google pulling this sort of kill much of what android was about, the antithesis of control that is iphone/apple?
No matter how much people dog windows mobile i've seen some fantastic interpretations of windows mobile platforms customized by companies such as samsung and HTC that are simply amazing - is that now in trouble for the likes of Android?
No matter how much people dog windows mobile i've seen some fantastic interpretations of windows mobile platforms customized by companies such as samsung and HTC that are simply amazing - is that now in trouble for the likes of Android?
I hear ya! HTC done a great job with mt previous phone that was running Windows Mobile, but HTC have done some great modifications to Android as well. The Phone smart dial interface and HTC flow have been integrated into the HTC Hero.
It would be interesting to know how deep HTC's mods went compared to the modifications carried out by the people behind CyanogenM0d.
Mack.
You guys need to read up on the notice. He is only getting trouble for packing the new rom with some closed sourced apps, such as the official Gmail and Google Talk clients.
If i'm not mistaken there is other licensed code that is critical to booting the rom that is also included in the C&D basically making the entire firmware illegal.
Thus the reason he posted on twitter asking if Microsoft, Apple or Palm needed a phone guru ;)
What seems terrible to me is why now? why not before the very same developer incorporated his work on BFS into the android tree? Seems like google waited until they got what they wanted and boom.
Also, the reasons given by google are enough to make any person cringe.. the "we decided to do this because xyz to get google to xyz and made this open for xyz but.. we're protecting our ip".
So yeah, google made an open source project to get free developer time but in the end, they don't REALLY want an open source project to allow developers full access to their system but only to incorporate changes google can use to shove more advertising in your face.
why ARE there any non-open-source bits in Android if Google is really pro-open-source
Exactly...... and what is worse the developer has advanced the source on their behalf which is what open source is about and they slap him.
They get free development, they can use his source to improve theirs and this is what they do?
Strange they didn't just offer the guy a job.
He should invoice them.
wonder if HTC et all are going to share that technology or if the only way to have an open source phone is a completely open hardware platform which i DOUBT we would ever see running on a commercial US network
A couple of years ago I got a new Win mobile handset. I experimented by installing a linux version onto my old phone. The old phone was originally also running win mobile, but the linux flash essentially worked. People do port software to work on non standard hardware.
I think the question here is who owns the hardware? I know who owns the IP rights on it, but can it be used as I see fit. Can I use it as a doorstop and can I choose what software I want to take advantage of the hardware?
This could be very bad for Google. It does give the impression that they are using the developers to get what they want, yet stop any progress that doesn't steer Android in the direction Google wants it to go in.
At this point there is very little to prevent a breakaway group forming their own branch of Android and removing all Google fearures from it. Is this what Google wants?
Mack.
