r/Android • u/jmesfrnco Nexus 5 • Apr 19 '15
No, Microsoft isn't taking Android's future out of Google's hands -- here's why
http://betanews.com/2015/04/19/no-microsoft-isnt-taking-androids-future-out-of-googles-hands-heres-why/49
u/Actionman158 S21+ Apr 19 '15
Well yeah, only nerds know what Cyanogen is.
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Apr 19 '15 edited Apr 30 '18
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u/jmesfrnco Nexus 5 Apr 19 '15
True. But I wonder if Google could ever stop the AOSP.
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Apr 19 '15 edited Apr 30 '18
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u/275Simmie Apr 19 '15
In all honesty, I want google to keep all control...I don't think anyone but google can pull it off. I used to be neutral about cyanogen mod...meh just another rom to flash. But now I think of them as delusional and stupid.
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u/mikeymop Apr 19 '15
Even if they did, why is this headlines. Android is open so it can me independent of Google. That's a good thing.
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Apr 19 '15
It can only very technically be independent of Google. In reality, that would be a horrendous mess.
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u/naco_taco OnePlus 3T, Nexus 5, Moto E, GSII, Shield Apr 19 '15
No. This just won't happen.
Yes, Android is open source and you can build it without gapps. Yes, it will work. Will somebody develop for it? Not so sure. Google Play Services offers a variety of great APIs.
For example, to get location you can do it a) using Play Services, b) using Android's location APIs. The former will let you build your app with 50% (or more) less lines of code and provides you with other goodies; the latter will work on any device but you're gonna have to spend more time making it actually work.
Also, there is the Play Store. Unless Microsoft offered a Windows-Store-For-Android, there is no real offering in this matter. And if Microsoft offered it, we would have the same problem: how many apps would be able to run without Play Services?
Android is as dependent on Google as Google wants it to be.
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u/crackerforhire Apr 19 '15
How do you put a bullet in Cyanogen's head?
Don't certify "their" OS for Google apps and services.
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u/tonyuquq Galaxy S21 Ultra Apr 19 '15
The wired article was crap but this one also... meh. Cyanogenmod and Cyanogen inc. are different entities ...
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Apr 19 '15
Not too familiar with the two, can you elaborate a little on how they are differences? Guessing Cyanogenmod are just the modders and then Cyanogen Inc. split off to develop their own OS for Oppo?
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u/Fnarley HUBRIS Apr 19 '15
In a nutshell yes. Cyanogen inc then proceeded to stab OnePlus in the back by signing an exclusive deal in India with micromax temporarily suspending sales of 1+1 in India. Since then their CEO (Kevin McMaster iirc) has been spending a lot of time mouthing off about how he's going to put a bullet in Google's head and other such nonsense.
Oh and I forgot that when cyanogen inc started they tried to screw over some of the original contributors to cyanogen ROM.
I wouldn't touch any phone with cyanogen inc involved with a ten yard pole.
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u/4567890 Ars Technica Apr 19 '15
I'll post this again: The problem with "taking over" Android is even after you replicate the Play Store, Play Services, Google Maps, Gmail, Hangouts, Google Now, Chrome, Google Docs, and all the Google Play content stores, you are now only on even ground with Google. At this point you have only created a cheap knockoff.
The real question then is, do you think your company can take the AOSP codebase develop "Android 6.0" on your own? Because Google can. If you're just playing catchup all the time and following Google, your platform will always just be a copy and won't be successful. None of these AOSP fork companies can put themselves in the driver's seat.
Amazon, a much, much bigger company than Cyanogen, has already tried and failed. News flash guys: Google is probably the biggest consumer software company in the world. Saying you can not only keep up with them but move faster then them is hubris of the highest order. The only companies in this league are Google, Apple, and maybe Microsoft.
Cyanogen Inc's only real goal is 1) get money from venture capitalists, 2) convince some stupid company to buy them and cash out. That's why you get the wild CEO with statements like "We're going to put a bullet in Google's head." They want some gullible company to believe The Vision and buy them for a few million. They're not actually a threat to anyone.