There has been a lot of press recently about how Android is being controlled by Google. While that is true in many respects there is also confusion as to what Android actually is and what Google is controlling.
What is Android?
Most people associate Android with mobiles phones so here is a simple overview of what software is in an Android mobile phone and how it is licensed.
- Linux kernel – modified to run Android
- Open source – community code with Google modification
- GPL licence – Any changes to code must be published
- Dalvik JVM Java engine that runs the UI and most applications
- Open source – developed by Google and only published when released
- Apache Licence – No need to publish changes
- Android UI and Basic Applications (Phone, Web browser etc )
- Open source – developed by Google and only published when released
- Apache Licence – No need to publish changes.
- Google Applications – including Google Maps and Google Marketplace
- Google proprietary. Source not available
- Only available if the device they run on has been approved by Google by passing the Compatibility Test Suite and adheres to conditions set by Google. Currently that device effectively must be a smartphone.
- Custom applications and UI modifications from the device manufacturer. i.e. HTC sense , Motorola MOTOBLUR™
- Usually proprietary. Source not available
- Only available on that particular manufacturers device. Normally supplied in the ROM
It is possible to build a device using the first three of these elements by downloading the code from Google et al and building your own version of Android but you will not have access to Google Apps and the Android marketplace. The French based portable media player company Archos do this for their devices. They use an Archos version of Android and they also run a Archos marketplace to distribute applications for their device. China’s biggest mobile operator, China Mobile, have taken the free Android elements and produced their own phone OS called OPhone and have encouraged a number of major manufactures to produce devices for their network using it.
A device made using the first four of these elements (i.e. no manufacturers ‘enhancements’) is a pure GooglePhone such as the Nexus One and the Nexus S.
Google however, controls most of the Android devices in market by stipulating the terms and conditions that allow them access to Google applications and the marketplace. Andeas Constantinou described this in his blog last year. It is these terms that Google are enforcing that is giving the impression Android is no longer free.
Android on Tablets – Honeycomb
The currently available versions of Andorid (1.5-2.3) are all aimed at smartphones. They can be modified to run on other devices but then it unlikely they will be able to pass the Google compatibility tests and have access to the great Google controlled Android world.
Honeycomb is Google’s version of Android specifically aimed at tablets. Google have not yet publicly released the source code for this and it is unlikely to be released before we will see devices in the marketplace running Honeycomb.
Google have said this is for quality and fragmentation reasons and I can see their point. If they and their hardware partners are to compete against Apple and the iPad2 they need quality product. However I can go to my local store and buy and iPadesque tablet running Android for around £100. It will be a modified version of the the Android phone OS with no access to Google Apps (well not legal access – there are often hacks available that may allow it) and it will be a poor experience and not reflect well on Google or Android. But then you get what you pay for.
Apple design both the hardware and the software for their devices and have a remarkable user friendly focus  – they set the bar very high. Google and its hardware partners are no doubt keen not to dilute the quality of the Honeycomb offering when they launch their products and as a result are not releasing the code at this time.
The other side of the argument is Google should open source their code early and let the community contribute and thereby benefit from some collaborative development – which is how Linux is developed. But this is not the path they have currently chosen.
So basic Android remains free ,but Google controls the design of Android ,its applications and the access to its market. However Amazon is now after the latter with its new marketplace. We live in interesting times.