Why Google is pushing Android One at the expense of open source

The open source nature of Android has always been a mixed blessing for Google. It has helped Android become the single most dominant mobile operating system on the planet, but it has also caused huge headaches for users and Google itself because of fragmentation. Now Forbes reports that Google stands poised to take back control of Android via its Android One initiative.

According to Forbes:

Now that market share is clearly with Google (IDC estimates it at 85% for Q2 2014) the question is no longer how to get the OS established as the mass market mobile platform of choice, but about maximizing the revenue generating possibilities for Google. So how does Google deal with the legacy of the first ‘free as in speech’ strategy, namely the Android Open Source Project?

Its answer is Android One, and it hopes that the new for 2014 off-the-shelf package will stem the flow of handset manufacturers in China and India rolling their own flavors of Android from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Every manufacturer switching to Android One will benefit Google’s bottom line and tighten its grip on the so-called open ecosystem.

More at Forbes

You can get more information about Android One at the official site.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about Android One, but I can completely understand why Google has created it and why it’s so important to them. It might help them maintain and grow profits by making sure that their applications and services are in as many Android devices as possible. Google is a publicly traded company so they have a responsibility to maximize profit for their shareholders.

But what about users and companies that make Android devices? On one hand the fact that Android One gives Google more control over Android might not please some users and some Android manufacturers who have come to expect more freedom in how they use and manufacture devices. On the other hand it should improve the speed at which users get Android updates, and it takes the heat off of Android manufacturers to maintain Android itself.

I suppose that, in the end, it’s inevitable that we’re going to have to take the bad with the good in Android One. I am hoping that the good will outweigh any of the bad.

Google Play Newsstand updated

Android Police reports that Google has updated its Newsstand app.

According to Android Police:

Newsstand is now using Material Design, which incorporates “larger images, more contextual headers, and smoother transitions” into the overall feel of the app. Users are also able to swipe horizontally between topics, as well as vertically to get more info on a particular topic. So, really, it’s more intuitive.

Also new with this update is a better way to read magazines on phones.

More at Android Police

You can read the official announcement on the Android blog, and you can download the updated Newsstand APK file right now via these links:

AndroidFileHost mirror

MediaFire mirror

ZippyShare mirror

MEGA mirror

Android L preview on Samsung Galaxy S5

Android Central reports on a preview of Android L running on the Samsung Galaxy S5.

According to Android Central:

As we approach the anticipated launch window for Android L, it’s not unexpected that major OEMs might have their hands on pre-release code for the next version of Google’s OS. What’s a little more unusual is seeing one of these unreleased builds being laid bare online, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing today courtesy of Samsung fansite SamMobile. And on the whole we’re witnessing a surprisingly comprehensive overhaul of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, mostly thanks to Material Design.

More at Android Central

If you aren’t familiar with what Android L has to offer, see Wikipedia’s overview article about it. Expert Reviews also has information about Android L’s release date and features.

What’s your take on all this? Tell me in the comments below.

The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of ITworld.