On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 2:28 AM, Bob Kerns <r...@acm.org> wrote: > How are device manufacturers increasing their costs by NOT DELETING > the core Google app? Is it a matter of license fees to Google?
Ah, I see where you're going. This rolls back to your statements regarding control over the deck. To mix metaphors, while iPhone (and to a lesser extent Android) have fired torpedoes and the deck is starting to list to starboard, the bilge pumps are just about keeping pace. It will be years -- if ever -- before carriers and device manufacturers let the deck model sink entirely. They'll say that they view it as being strategically important, to help differentiate their products from the competition. In reality, it's a bit that and a bit just plain vanity/ego. For example, one device manufacturer (who shall remain nameless) elected to make a change in core SDK functionality, affecting all third-party applications across a few of their devices, because one carrier for one device didn't like the way that SDK functionality looked on-screen. The carrier thought it looked ugly. As a result, they stole functionality from many Android apps (not just the handful that break when they change their contacts database, either). With a mindset like *that*, the concept that they're going to do *anything* just because a disorganized lot of third-party developers complain on mailing lists is unrealistic. Your starting position for this debate is what you think should be. My starting position for this debate is what I'm sure is the current reality. Hence, the gap. I used to start from your position, until I started actually working with these firms, which caused me to reset. There are certain windmills I'll continue to tilt at (e.g., getting more firmware-replaceable devices), but others, such as this area, I'm settling for fighting for incremental improvement. > Even better would be to fold in their improvements into the original. Pigs will fly first. Remember: differentiation is key in their minds. -- Mark Murphy (a Commons Guy) http://commonsware.com | http://github.com/commonsguy http://commonsware.com/blog | http://twitter.com/commonsguy Android Development Wiki: http://wiki.andmob.org -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
