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Google Android source code now available
Google released an SDK for the Android mobile operating system a few months ago. But with the first Android-powered phone set to go on sale tomorrow, Google went all out and released the source code today. This isn't a surprise. Google has long stated that it would make the source code for the operating system available, but now that it is, developers can do far more than create applications that will run on Android. They can help improve the operating system overall by submitting potential new features, bug fixes, or other ideas.
The software license also allows developers to port Android to run on additional devices (Perhaps your old Palm TX? Maybe an Eee PC?), or to develop custom versions of the operating system. Don't like the version of Android that ships with the T-Mobile G1? Maybe Verizon or Spring will have a phone that runs a completely different operating system built on the same source code.
You can check out a video introducing the open source project after the break.
[via Techmeme]
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentssupernova_hqOct 21st 2008 3:14PM
As much as I LOVE open source and the idea of an open source operating system for phones, I fear that phone companies are going to take advantage of this. It won't take much for them to take a beautiful open source, extensible, customizable operating system and ship their phones with a custom locked down, provider locked, limited use piece of crap.
As much as I hate restrictive license agreements, there should be a clause in their license stating that no one can install (for resale) a version of this os with restrictions added. This clause may exist (I haven't checked), but it would be very nice if it did.
ToddOct 21st 2008 3:41PM
Android is under the Apache license, so anyone can take it, change it, and they are NOT obligated to re-post it as Open Source. Interrupt that how you may ( Yes, it is theoretically possible for Microsoft to take Android and call it Windows Mobile 8 ).
Most importantly, and not mentioned in this blog post ( WTF? ) the newly released Open Source of Android does not contain the software stack for the radio or the carrier network connection. That means it's WiFi only, like the iPod Touch.
ToddOct 21st 2008 3:44PM
"...The software license also allows developers to port Android to run on additional devices (Perhaps your old Palm TX? Maybe an Eee PC?), or to develop custom versions of the operating system."
No, that's irresponsible to even suggest. Android has a very short list of CPU's it supports ( Ti OMAP and QualComm ). If you can write new code to cause Android to support additional CPUs forget tinkering around with Android and go get a million dollar a year Engineering job somewhere!
When you see Android running on odd ball handsets and Nokia 810s , that's in emulation, not native.
bradwjensenOct 21st 2008 11:45PM
Does Android support the Open Source FLAC codec by default?
ToddOct 22nd 2008 12:32PM
@bradwjensen
Android's supported media file format's are: MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG, GIF
http://code.google.com/android/what-is-android.html
Write to the folks at FLAC and ask them about Android.
http://flac.sourceforge.net/developers.html
Jash SayaniOct 22nd 2008 8:17AM
Wow! I see Android coming to tons of other phones.... MagicianAndroid, PalmAndroid, ......
Maybe and iAndroid :)
Racetrack_OwnerOct 22nd 2008 8:17AM
Scroll up a couple ticks and read Todd's comment, he's dead-on. Don't hold your breath for ports to other hardware. Phone hardware is not interchangeable widgets.