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Anyone know if you can convert your device from one of the three types to another?

In principle you can build your own android image from the public git tree. This would be the first type. My understanding is that people have figured out how to hack the google apps (gmail, market, etc) onto these pure open-source images, so switching between the types is technically possible, but probably infringes copyright and/or violates eulas.

If you can install any app on the free version, though, why not just install GMail etc? Perhaps not an officially sanctioned app, but I'm sure you could find/make one that would get the job done.

I guess I don't really get where the tension is in the three options. Usually, e.g., you get more options but have to pay more. He seems to hint that handset makers and carriers trade autonomy for more polished software, but doesn't really make it clear.

The tiers are aimed at the carriers, not at end users. The logic being that the (typical) end user is not going to be changing to a non-carrier-sanctioned version of the OS.

I don't fully understand the difference between tiers 2 and 3, but it looks like the big picture is basically you don't get to put the Google signature apps on your phone unless you enter some kind of agreement with them.

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