Android is more google than ever

The development of Android will not be the same, the news has just happened: Google leaves AOSP to focus on its private branchIt is a hard setback for free software. From now on, only the original operating system code will update when its development is finalized.

Google has separated more and more from its roots: Google Play Services offers many functions that do not come from the platform itself. Now, for your comfort, Android is more private than ever. And that makes Google the owner and the Lord of Android, if it was no longer.

Google has and Lady of Android

The information that Android Authority put forward was a bomb. Change a lot and nothing at the same time, that Users will not be directly affected For this rudder. We will continue to receive updates and new versions of Android each year as so far, but basically, the nature of the development of this operating system is modified.

Until now, Google has updated two Android updates branches: AOSP and a private to develop the Pixel firmware. In the second, changes are more frequent, given the functions and options that Google adds to its phones. These can end with AOSP or not, which has generated a debate on the open source character.

Essentially, AOSP is accessible by anyone: the source code is completely public and is updated when Google considers that it has reached a sufficient point of maturity of the new version. This is why the code merges from its private branch to AOSP, to Maintain the original life and public project.

However, from this moment, All development will go to the private branchLeave developers and users without the possibility of knowing the development characteristics. Google refers to the acceleration of its development process during the response to radical change. Of course, the nucleus is out of the screen, because under the GPLV2 license, the publication of the code is required (it is independent in addition to AOSP).

Android has more and more private components. In addition to modifying the frequency of public source code launches, the green robot system is more private: sections such as Framework are already part of Google's private branch.

Refused access without GMS

Application developers will not be affected, or those who create personalized ROMs. Manufacturers who use Android Forks either (a modified version), but enthusiasts who contributed to the original code. Without a GMS license (the same thing that gives manufacturers access to Google Play and all its components), it will not be possible to access the code, which, with this requirement, leaves the patent that Google controls more than ever Android.

A free Android without freedom. The only early access route to Android now goes through GMS (with the exception of waiting for the changes to reach AOSP months later), which, of course, add Google Play Store (with Play Protect, Integrity and more outbuildings), Google Search, Google Play services and Ristra software developed by the American giant: Chromect content and even location services.

In summary, Google is now and more than ever Android owner. Although he does not give up in his entirety AOSP, he leaves the community without the possibility of contribution and therefore distracted the nature of SO. Nor should we surprise ourselves: Google Movements for a few years pointed out in this direction.

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