Hacker News Reader

thats effectively a distinction without a difference to consumers, to run android you still need an android device.

There is tons of open hardware you run Android on. It's just not phones. https://www.google.com/search?q=android+arm+computer

Just curious, what are the pros and cons to Android manufacturer to lock down a device? Are these Android manufacturer each trying to create its own platform based on an open OS?

Mostly carriers demand it. There is no reason to lock the bootloader otherwise.

Of course a more cynical mind can see a reason in planned obsolescence - if you stop updating a device after an year you will buy your next sooner.

You mean manufactures like Google themselves?

It seems to be an issue with 'Android' as no one, including Google, makes an Android phone on which you can install a modified version of Android without voiding the warranty.

Geeksphone (the same folk that do a Mozilla phone) do.

Looking at www.geeksphone.com I don't see any phones available for purchase.