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Chinese IT Ministry Looks Askance At Google's Control of Android

Posted by timothy on from the derives-from-a-mandate-from-the-masses dept.

itwbennett writes "In what one expert is calling a clear message to China's tech industry that the authorities want to support a homegrown mobile operating system, China's tech regulator warns in a white paper that the country is becoming too dependent on Google's Android OS. 'Our country's mobile operating system research and development is heavily reliant on Android,' reads the white paper from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 'Although the Android system currently remains open source, the core technologies and technology roadmap is strictly controlled by Google.'"

19 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Centralized government to Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Pot, kettle, black.

  2. Fork it by kimvette · · Score: 5, Informative

    Don't like it? Fork it. It's like the typical copycat bullshit China usually does, only better. Others have already taken the initiative:

    http://news.yahoo.com/three-android-forks-exist-today-135000744.html

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
    1. Re: Fork it by 1u3hr · · Score: 3, Informative

      I don't even know how to cuss or ask for a beer in Chinese.

      Pok gai -- aw yiu bia jou!

    2. Re:Fork it by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Or even better - PARTICIPATE. The Android Open Source project is there for a reason.

      Manufacturers who want to guide the direction Android goes technologically will work with Google - for example, Sony is a heavy contributor to AOSP. The results of this show with their newer devices, which are far more well integrated than older ones. It's a win-win situation for Sony, Google, and users in general.

      But Chinese manufacturers just want to steal and not do any work. Seriously, they have stealing refined to such an art that IF YOU GIVE IT TO THEM FOR FREE THEY STILL MANAGE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STEAL IT! (Note that nearly every Chinese handset is in noncompliance with the GPL under which the kernel is licensed. Not just halfassed pseudo-compliance like HTC and Samsung with source code that obviously doesn't match what shipped, but full on complete noncompliance with zero kernel source whatsoever.)

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    3. Re: Fork it by Runaway1956 · · Score: 2

      I think that was one of the complaints among the cast of 'Serenity' and 'Firefly'.

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
  3. Re:Then... Use your usual techniques? by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

    But most of the cheap knockoffs *run* android.

  4. Nice thing about open source by fermion · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Is it can be forked. But then we have the question of whether Android, the open source part, is really enough to build a phone or if only basic elements are open source, while key elements are closed or so severely controlled that they might as well be closed.

    Of course the Chinese might be able to fork some of it, and the Apache licensee lets them do this without giving back. But then, given that 50% Android phones pay a tribute to MS, the Chinese government might get into trouble for being a pirate nation, unless of course they pay tribute to MS>

    --
    "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    1. Re:Nice thing about open source by Baloroth · · Score: 2

      Is it can be forked. But then we have the question of whether Android, the open source part, is really enough to build a phone or if only basic elements are open source, while key elements are closed or so severely controlled that they might as well be closed.

      What question? Tons of devices use just the open source part without Google's proprietary stuff. All you have to add are hardware drivers if you're using non-standard hardware, everything else you need comes open source. Only stuff like Google Play and Google Maps are close course.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
  5. Uh, what? by Daetrin · · Score: 5, Informative

    There are already a number of Android forks in China, including one by the Chinese search giant Baidu, who has also replaced Google as the default search engine in most of the Android phones there.

    cf. "Android is failing by succeeding in China"

    The Google "control" of Android doesn't seem to be doing much to deter Chinese companies.

    --
    This Space Intentionally Left Blank
  6. Open Handset Alliance by Enderandrew · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not entirely true. Google initially created Android and released it as open source. But Android today is governed by the Open Handset Alliance. Several companies (including hardware ones) have a say in Android development, not just Google.

    http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/android_overview.html

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  7. Meta: pretentiousness in the title by blind+biker · · Score: 2

    If you want to look smart and use a rarely encountered word such as "askance", you should at least remember not to capitalize a preposition.

    I like fine vocabulary just like any other intellectual, but pretense bothers me - a lot.

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  8. Re:Chinese OS? by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well you have to install someone's OS. And right now Google is probably the most trustworthy company on the planet.

    Ding! I can trust Apple, Microsoft, or Google. Google's offering is based on Linux and much of it is Open Source. The parts that aren't Open Source tell you that they're spying on you, and are optional. Does it, in fact, get any better than this?

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  9. I had to loook it up... by ArcadeNut · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Definition of ASKANCE

    1: with a side-glance : obliquely

    2: with disapproval or distrust : scornfully

    Guess that's the word of the day...

    --
    Visit the Arcade Restoration Workshop @ http://www.arcaderestoration.com
  10. Re:Bull$hit! I don't buy it! by PPH · · Score: 2

    How come China is now complaining about Android dominance and they are using window$ without any complaints

    Because China knows they have Microsoft by the ball$. All they have to do is threaten to move a small part of their operations over to Linux and maybe close Microsoft's Beijing R&D office and Microsoft will give them the keys to the kingdom.

    I'm guessing that what China really wants is the ability to put back doors and kill switches into communications platforms used there. Microsoft (and other businesses, like RIM) will do that For A Few Dollars More.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  11. Re:Poor PRC commies by X0563511 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'd rather avoid either - but if I had the choice, I'd take the "Zionist" over government.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  12. Chinks love Microsoft, hate Google by benjfowler · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Explanation. Microsoft are disloyal, money grubbing sellout who would give those Communists a long, leisurely blowjob if they thought they could make a few bucks out of it. No doubt Microsoft are happy to do anything to keep the Chinese happy.

    Google have higher standards, and to their credit, have told the commies to fuck off in the past.

    This is why the dictators are all whiny and butthurt now. Because Google won't let them have their own way and oppress China and the world.

  13. They are right by WindBourne · · Score: 2

    That is also why America needs to stop our reliance on China as well. It is high time for us to stop their dumping, subsidies, and money fixing, or using any of their parts/equipment in our gear.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  14. Re:Gotta watch out for those cheap Chinese knock-o by SilentStaid · · Score: 2

    Yeah!! What's not to love about a mobile OS that has all the security of the Chinese State Department? On the bright side, every back door to the system will be built there intentionally so you'll know exactly where they all are.

  15. $50 tablet or unlocked smartPhone says so by peter303 · · Score: 2

    Most of my kitchen appliances and electronics are Chinese now. Whos what they are doing when i am sleeping? :-)