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Here is a statement of Andy Rubin on this: https://plus.google.com/112599748506977857728/posts/hRcCi5xg... Apparently, they even have pirated google apps. How Alibaba/Acer claim moral high ground on this is beyond me.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/09/15/aliyun-app-store-con...
Here's my own personal perspective. I am very thoroughly in Apple's camp. I have owned several iPhones, an iPad, and more Macs than I can count. This is what I use personally, and what I program for. Although I don't use Android myself, I'm glad it exists. It keeps Apple on their toes. I don't think Apple will make much of a dent in the Android ecosystem, despite the fact that Steve Jobs apparently wanted to. But now…
Android can be forked just fine.
Andy Rubin: >So there’s really no disputing that Aliyun is based on the Android platform and takes advantage of all the hard work that’s gone into that platform by the OHA. >So if you want to benefit from the Android ecosystem, then make the choice to be compatible. Its easy, free, and we’ll even help you out. But if you don’t want to be compatible, then don’t expect help from OHA members that are all working to supp…
Your point would only be valid if Google stopped Amazon from forking Android.
I think Google's position is reasonable: either Alibaba make Aliyun OS pass the Android compatibility tests, or remove the Android app runtime.
* there is a group called the open handset alliance (OHA), formed by google and others, that gives certain benefits to hardware makers. to be a member of that group you have to commit to not release incompatible versions of android.
* alibaba have created software for a smartphone that acer were going to release, called aliyun.
* everyone seems to agree that aliyun is not compatible with android (in the sense required by the OHA agreement). it can, however, run some android applications.
* the disagreement is about whether or not aliyum is a "version of android". if it is, then google can kick acer out of the OHA (which acer does not want; hence the phone would be blocked). alibaba is arguing that it is not (in particular, it does not use the dalvik vm), so acer should be free to release the phone and remain in the OHA.
"Aliyun App Store Confirmed To Be Distributing Pirated Android Apps" http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/09/15/aliyun-app-store-con...
I've no idea of the process for their store but without more information that doesn't prove them bad anymore than pirate content on YouTube makes Google the bad guys.
Andy Rubin: >So there’s really no disputing that Aliyun is based on the Android platform and takes advantage of all the hard work that’s gone into that platform by the OHA. >So if you want to benefit from the Android ecosystem, then make the choice to be compatible. Its easy, free, and we’ll even help you out. But if you don’t want to be compatible, then don’t expect help from OHA members that are all working to supp…
"They would basically have to quit the handset market outside China to make Aliyun phones for the Chinese market. Forking is a fundamental tenet and in many cases the lifeblood of open source. If you don't want that, put that in the license and do not call it "open" instead of artificial after-the-fact restrictions like this. If you make something open, people are going to eventually do something with it that you may…
They couldn't, because they didn't have someone like Acer making those phones. Microsoft couldn't and did not stop VA Linux from shipping Linux boxes so I am not sure what point you're trying to make.
I wonder if the OHA rules would prohibit someone like Acer from shipping phones running Amazon's fork of Android. Are the details of the OHA rules public, or are they secret like the Microsoft OEM agreements?
I think Google's position is reasonable: either Alibaba make Aliyun OS pass the Android compatibility tests, or remove the Android app runtime.