Google is working towards regaining control over apps that are preinstalled, wanting to limit third-party "bloatware" in favor of preinstalling their own apps.
Android has always been faced with fragmentation and security issues. In an attempt to curb this, Google has started tightening control over its Android partners. Mashable has spotted a report on The Information that claims new documents from Google show tighter requirements for Android manufacturing partners to highlight their own products.
New Terms Added to Manufacturers' Contracts
According to The Information, they have viewed confidential documents revealing the following additions to Google's contract with Android manufacturers like Samsung, Huwaei and HTC: putting more emphasis on Google Search, pre-installing up to 20 Google apps, and using more prominent icons or placing more Google apps on the home screen by default.
These new additions, if the report is true, are believed to be the beginning of the end of Android being the "open" alternative for iOS. Apple is known to control all aspects of iOS device production, while Google is known for letting manufacturers put their own spin on Android through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
Still, The Information quotes a source as saying "It's not much worse than it was before, but it's not better either." According to the report, the additional terms vary from one manufacturer to the next, and partners' representatives are still able to negotiate specific exceptions to these new rules.
Google Introduces Android One
Another report from IT World points out that Google has recently launched Android One, Google's own smartphone. The move is another way for Google to regain control over their OS and ensure their profits continue to grow in spite of their tightening control over other Android manufacturers.
Some of the manufacturing partners mentioned in the Android One's official page include HTC, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Mediatek, Asus and Acer, to name a few. While Google did not reveal specific specs, they did say the Android One models to be produced by their partners will include a quad-core processor, microSD card expansion support, dual-SIM capability, and a battery that lasts all day.
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