Hacker News Reader

Comment by mtgx | Hacker News Reader

Until now Google didn't really care about manufacturer skins/customizations, because at the end of the day, they were still getting growth with Android, and to put their services on each one of those devices. So no matter what they might've said to the users that they care most about them, it's been pretty clear that they didn't care enough to force out all OEM customizations.

But this time - well, this time it might be different, because instead of being complementary to their services, this one actually threatens them. It might finally make them ban OEM/3rd party customizations, and get everyone to use stock Android, just like every PC out there has to use the same Windows interface.

As an Android user who would like to see more phones without OEM customizations, Facebook Home couldn't make me any happier, if it actually forces Google into banning it and any other such customizations, starting with Android 5.0.

View on HN

the OS in AOSP stands for open source.

They can't stop anyone from customizing Android outright, but they reserved the right to ban them from the Open Handset Alliance, a lá Amazon.

The closest I've seen to straight up bans from Google are against malware/virus apps and selective bans against violators of their ToS (some ad-blocking apps were banned for using a workaround, but other apps that used that workaround were not banned).

Don't forget that Windows is closed source.

While they could potentially close off the platform going forward, they can't retroactively un-open source code.

They control the ability to add Google services (Maps, Gmail, Google Play Store, etc.) on top of Android. So they do have some power that they can exert without destroying the open source concept.

What exactly would they ban, though? Custom app launchers? Because users are going to be pretty annoyed about that.

Facebook Home will sell more Androids. Maybe a lot more Androids.

Amazon saved Google from having Apple run away with the tablet business.

Tighter grip, more star systems slip through, and all that.

Not only that, but a "Facebook phone" easily becomes an "Android phone" with the installation of one app.

But why would anyone buying a "FB phone" remove Home? I mean what's the point of buying a Home phone in the first place?

Because it's going to be reasonably priced and running something closer to stock Android than almost any other device by a major manufacturer.

There's a chance that the new Motorola's will run close to stock but apart from the Nexus range and the more obscure brands, nothing else does.

So - word might get around that these are worth buying ironically - to avoid custom skins.

Most people who buy Android devices don't know what a skin is, and certainly don't buy a particular phone because its easier to remove the skin. It happens, but not enough to matter at this scale.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com