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The great irony of Android's "openness"
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I've been trying to restore my Droid 2 Global to the way it came from the factory all morning. I love how Motorola actively tout their phones as being "open" (along with Android), yet they don't actually provide a way to get back to the way the phone shipped. "Closed" Apple does, no questions asked, and their method works on multiple desktop platforms: Just plug the phone in and hit restore.
There are a lot of things I enjoy about Android, but every time someone calls it "open," I have to chuckle. If I can't get back to normal, I think I'll just buy a T-Mo SIM card for my Nexus One. Some solution.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2000
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The phrase open has been a major misleading part of the entire Android marketing, as technically only 'open' to the carriers, not the consumers. You have to root it "jailbreak' it to do some of the custom things (Install apps to SD, Overclock, update OS, tethering, custom keyboards, use apps/widgets from other phones, multitouch on some older phones, etc)
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Yep, it's only open to the carrier and OEM, who, except for the Nexus series, will lock it down in any way possible. So frustrating.
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Addicted to MacNN
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It's open to the carrier, OEM, and developers. However, it's pretty locked down for the regular customer of these devices.
I want to upgrade my galaxy tab to gingerbread or honeycomb, but I can't.
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Bush Tax Cuts == Job Killer
June 2001: 132,047,000 employed
June 2003: 129,839,000 employed
2.21 million jobs were LOST after 2 years of Bush Tax Cuts.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Samsung still sells phones running 2.1.
Also, I have to use Windows to get my phone back to normal. FAIL.
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2001
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Originally Posted by imitchellg5
Yep, it's only open to the carrier and OEM, who, except for the Nexus series, will lock it down in any way possible. So frustrating.
It's not even completely open to the OEMs, e. g. Google has not and does not intend to release the source code for 3.0. This is particularly ironic since Andy Rubin in his infamous tweet defined open to be able to get the source code and compile it.
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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
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LG is shipping their new Android phones with an unlocked bootloader (ie: no rooting necessary). HTC is making noises about moving in that direction as well. And I believe Sony Ericsson is as well. The market is correcting itself.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
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I agree that the term "open" is chuckle worthy and those misusing it should be ridiculed, but I'll also point out that this is nothing new. The term "open" has been used as a means of manipulating customers/users for years, including by Apple.
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Posting Junkie
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Originally Posted by OreoCookie
It's not even completely open to the OEMs, e. g. Google has not and does not intend to release the source code for 3.0. This is particularly ironic since Andy Rubin in his infamous tweet defined open to be able to get the source code and compile it.
3.0 is an interesting case, because while Google have said they aren't going to release the source code, clearly OEMs are able to play with it. For instance, the Acer Iconia Tab and the Asus eepad Transformer have the home and menu buttons redesigned, as well as different icon sets and system fonts. Clearly there is a bit of leeway.
Originally Posted by nonhuman
LG is shipping their new Android phones with an unlocked bootloader (ie: no rooting necessary). HTC is making noises about moving in that direction as well. And I believe Sony Ericsson is as well. The market is correcting itself.
True. HTC have said they will unlock bootloaders coming forward, which is good, yet their versions of Android are the most heavily skinned out there. And LG has only unlocked one phone on one carrier.
Originally Posted by besson3c
I agree that the term "open" is chuckle worthy and those misusing it should be ridiculed, but I'll also point out that this is nothing new. The term "open" has been used as a means of manipulating customers/users for years, including by Apple.
Yes, you are correct.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Why on earth did you get that phone to begin with? For however much I love the idea of Android, I can't stand it's current implementation. It's as awkward as a Google employee hitting on a woman.
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Moderator
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Originally Posted by imitchellg5
3.0 is an interesting case, because while Google have said they aren't going to release the source code, clearly OEMs are able to play with it.
Google's justification is a good one IMO, but it still isn't open source. It's not as if the community can suggest APIs or changes to the architecture. And this is not necessarily a bad thing: someone needs to steer such a big project and Google has the people to do it. But it's hypocritical and non-sensical to proclaim `We're better, because we're open!' if you're not open and the latter does not imply the former.
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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
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Posting Junkie
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Originally Posted by Salty
Why on earth did you get that phone to begin with? For however much I love the idea of Android, I can't stand it's current implementation. It's as awkward as a Google employee hitting on a woman.
Because I needed a phone that works with GSM networks on Verizon and it was the only option at that time besides a BlackBerry. Sorry you don't like Android in it is current implementation.
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Addicted to MacNN
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I don't mind Android. Hell, I don't even mind Windows Phone. Apple has raised the bar for usability so ridiculously high that most of the competing phones are quite good--minus Blackberrys (the Bold is my primary phone.. ugh).
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Professional Poster
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