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Android 4.0 Source Code Coming "Soon"

Posted by samzenpus on from the on-second-thought dept.

itwbennett writes "Good news today for those of you who have been waiting for news about whether Google would be opening up the ICS source and for those of you who thought it was gone for good. Android engineer Dan Morrill revealed new information in the Android Building Google group yesterday evening, saying that Google plans 'to release the source for the recently-announced Ice Cream Sandwich soon, once it's available on devices.'"

1 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. Since it's Google it's alright then! by mrpacmanjel · · Score: 0, Troll

    So let me get this straight.

    Google say something like "honeycomb source wll be released 'at some point in the future'" while specific hardware manufacturers get access to the source code for their devices - interestingly "cheap"/smaller (e.g chinese) brands do not(?).

    Google now say "we won't bother releasing the source code for honeycomb".

    Google then say "we'll release the source code to ICS - but not yet" - specific hardware manufacturers get access to the source code. Everyone else has to wait.

    Google's definition stretches the idea of "Open source" to it's limits. It's very "orwellian" - "some people are more equal than others"

    I get the feeling that manufacturers are putting pressure on Google to protect their markets. You can't have "just anyone" producing android devices with the latest features.

    It must be just me but generally with open source software everyone gets access to the source code in its current state. If you want a working, "predictable" version then you download the "stable" branch.

    Google + android = open source fail.

    At least with Apple you generally know where you stand.........(what did I just say!??)