Comments on: Will Google fracture or unify mobile Linux?

Google's Open Handset Alliance is at least the fifth consortium tackling Linux-based mobile phone technology. Developer support could help determine its success.

[Rusty Digital Marketing]

Looks like Whack a Mole to me!

I quite agree that this looks like it will fracture mobile Linux. But that could just be a defence for what Google seems to be up to - embedding code so that handsets cannot be prevented from accessing Google services (and advertising). The parallel is Microsoft and the Explorer browser.

Google's idea seems to be to have so many variants of the Google / Android code out in the market that Anti-Trust regulators cannot find the "off" switch.

This idea is explained a lot better at:

http://www.digitalmarketing.us/blog/index.php/?p=35

[Papa Chango]

embedding code in open source?

>But that could just be a defence for what Google >seems to be up to - embedding code so that >handsets cannot be prevented from accessing >Google services (and advertising). The parallel >is Microsoft and the >Explorer browser.

And you believe that embedded code will not be noticed by all the eyes that will be able to access the source code? Or removed?
That logic works with a closed source, not open source where everything is in plain sight.

And that article from a guy who says he doesnt get it is mediocre at best.

I know they are using the Apache license to ease in companies that have no open source experience but the fact that this license has no follow through clause means that anyone can take everything from the Android project, spin it off for themselves and close it back up.
Relying on the kindness of strangers in business to not do the wrong thing is risky especially considering how the big carriers and such have open disdain for their own customers.

[bilols]

What we consumers really need...

...is not another "platform", open or not.

What I want is a cells phone that works better at MAKING PHONE CALLS. I don't care if it takes grainy pictures, has cheap games, slow web browsing or does anything else related to stuff I don't need. I just want it to stop inadvertently disconnecting because of the lack of investment made in foundational services instead of adding "bells and whistles".

And please -- no more iDontCareAnymorePhone(tm) commercials.

[lefty-]

"Now-cancelled"...?

Steven, just FYI, the Mobile Linux Initiative still exists, as the Mobile Linux Workgroup, under the auspices of the Linux Foundation (the organization which resulted from the merger of the OSDL and the Free Standards Group around the beginning of this year).

See http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/Mobile_Linux for more details.

David "Lefty" Schlesinger
Director, Open Source Technologies
ACCESS Co., Ltd.