Google Play Services Supplants Android As Google's "Platform"

exomondo writes "Google has a plan to circumvent the problem of fragmentation of its Android operating system across the installed base by using its proprietary, closed-source Google Play Services. Play Services is a privileged service that runs on Android and provides the sort of functionality to applications that would generally be seen in operating system updates like cloud backup, remote wipe, push messaging, etc... This service can be updated silently and independently of the operating system and runs on almost every version of Android out there allowing Google to add functionality to Android devices without having to go through the OEMs so having an up-to-date version of Android is looking like less of a necessity." It might be worth noting that Google originally rejected copyleft in favor of permissive licensing in the name of giving OEMs and carriers more control over Android on their devices.

Anything that bypasses the carriers/manufacturers

[Anonymous Coward]

The manufacturers and carriers have ZERO interest in supporting devices after the ink is dried on the contract. The manufacturers want to be apple and sell a new phone every time the O/S gets even the most basic of incremental improvements to functionality. The carriers are right there with a fresh contract extension and a kriss bladed knife ready to seal the deal in blood.

The rooting community is the only group actively supporting devices. Google on the other hand has almost zero stake in contracts or hardware sales. Their profitability is tied to the services and ad revenue which comes with loyal devotion to their brand's ecosystem. The same brand that the carriers and manufacturers are more than happy to piss and shit on with their stupid & unwanted modifications from the stock Google release.

Samsung is the only manufacturer that doesn't have their head up their ass which is why the Galaxy S is on version 4 instead of these retarded Beta releases from every other manufacturer which get aborted as a brand out of shame and distrust like Diebold/Blackwater/Xe/Academi.

HTC is currently the only brand I'm willing to buy because unlike Samsung, they have figured out that locked boot-loaders are bad for business.