Google threatens Acer for using rival OS

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/09/report-google-threatened-acer-forced-it-to-dump-rival-os/

Looks like Google is the new "old" Microsoft.

 

that's okay windows phone and windows 8 are just around the corner.

 

How fundamental is the need to install the Google Play store? Do you *have* to have it installed in order to manually install (sideload is it called?) Android apps or run them? Is it very hard to acquire popular Android app packages you can manually install without going through Google Play?

 

No you don't need it at all - not even for sideloading apps. In fact there are numerous 3rd party app stores, but none have as many apps as Play Store. However, it is fairly easy to load the official Play Store onto a device which doesn't include it.

 

At the risk of my post being removed ...
Why not the new Microsoft? What's the difference between the the old Microsoft and the new Microsoft since you seem to have some sort of distinction in mind?

 

Interesting that Google did this . . .

 

This comment makes a lot of sense:

from: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57512418-94/alibaba-google-forced-acer-to-drop-our-new-mobile-os/

However, I do think competition is good.

 

...And Android not so 'open' after all!

 

Happy to see you again

 

Nice comment. Totally agree.

 

Why do you think Google is the new "old" Microsoft ?

Not a lot of detail to the story, we don't know what agreements Acer had with Google - we don't even know how fair/legitimate their complaints to Acer were, just what information are you basing your opinion on ?

Cheers, Nick

 

I never like Android

 

Oh well, i'll keep using Android anyways . . .
Not really interested in WP8 since it's all tiles and have never ever been interested in an iPhone i mean anything Apple.

 

Acer is part of the open handset alliance which means they are breaking the rules of the organization they are a part of. Google is merely trying to enforce the rules Acer agreed to in the first place. All 84 member companies have agreed to certain standards for their Android devices -- standards which Acer's OS does not adhere to.

Google never said Acer can't launch the OS, but are merely saying "don't call it Android and don't expect to use the Android TM or expect support from the rest of the open handset alliance."

I see nothing unreasonable about this. If Acer doesn't like it, they should have never joined the OHA.

 

The real issue that Google is against is that Aliyun is based on Linux (just as Android is), but it has been made to be compatible with Android apps by apparently using some Android runtimes. They are pushing the meme that "it takes advantage of their Google's hard work" but only people who still somehow believe the whole 'do no evil' thing will buy it.

This is a threat to Google's attempt to dominate the non-Apple market.

If rival OS's can conveniently use Android apps, then people won't need Android. If people don't have Android, how then will Google collect information on phone/tablet users that they sell to the various agencies?

This will cost them money and marketshare, so of course they're fighting it. They're not in it for the love of it, or they'd welcome OSs like Aliyun. This is purely a business decision, and any other arguments are cynical justifications.

 

Also they're arguing that Aliyun lets people use pirated apps - as if it's not trivial to do this on Android.

Just another diversion.