Google's Andy Rubin Weighs in on Aliyun and Acer Debacle; Things Become Clearer

[dgstorm]

Just last week we shared a story with you about a Chinese company named Alibaba accusing Google strong-arming Acer to stop them from releasing the Aliyun competitor OS. It turns out that the story was partially true, although as is usual in cases like these, the specific details make things a bit clearer.

After Alibaba's public accusation, Google's Andy Rubin weighed in on the subject via Google+. As it turns out, Google really did ask Acer not to continue forward with the Aliyun OS, but the reason wasn't because Google felt threatened by the new OS. Apparently, the Aliyun OS is a knock-off, "forked version" of Android. Google had no problem with Acer wanting to sell their products with competitor OS, and in fact Acer is working on Windows 8 handsets as well. The problem Google had was that Acer is a member of Google's Open Handset Alliance (OHA), and Google sees Acer using the Aliyun OS as a violation of the OHA agreement not to use forked versions of Android. Here is Andy Rubin's initial statements,

We were surprised to read Alibaba Group’s chief strategy officer Zeng Ming’s quote “We want to be the Android of China” when in fact the Aliyun OS incorporates the Android runtime and was apparently derived from Android.

While Android remains free for anyone to use as they would like, only Android compatible devices benefit from the full Android ecosystem. By joining the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), each member contributes to and builds one Android platform -- not a bunch of incompatible versions," reads the agreement that phone makers like Acer have signed.

Alibaba's vice president of international corporate affairs, John Spelich, responded, claiming that Aliyun was not a "fork" of Android, and that Google was "just speculating." He also said,

Aliyun’s runtime environment, which is the core of the OS, consists of both its own Java virtual machine, which is different from Android’s Dalvik virtual machine, and its own cloud app engine, which supports HTML5 web applications. Aliyun OS uses some of the Android application framework and tools (open source) merely as a patch to allow Aliyun OS users to enjoy third-party apps in addition to the cloud-based Aliyun apps in our ecosystem.

He also criticized Android as not being open, and that because of the distribution system Google incorporates for content they act as a gate-keeper. He elaborated,

[W]e are an ecosystem that includes other Internet companies, whereas Android does not because it provides apps through downloads. It’s the crux of the whole cloud vs. app debate. Cloud is open, apps system is closed because it is controlled by the operator of the apps marketplace.

Of course, Andy Rubin fired back with what seems like the most logical and damning argument,

Hey John Spelich — We agree that the Aliyun OS is not part of the Android ecosystem and you’re under no requirement to be compatible.

However, the fact is, Aliyun uses the Android runtime, framework, and tools. And your app store contains Android apps (including pirated Google apps). So there’s really no disputing that Aliyun is based on the Android platform and takes advantage of all the hard work that’s gone into that platform by the OHA.

So if you want to benefit from the Android ecosystem, then make the choice to be compatible. It’s easy, free, and we’ll even help you out. But if you don’t want to be compatible, then don’t expect help from OHA members that are all working to support and build a unified Android ecosystem.

What do you guys think? Was Google "being evil" to push Acer away from Aliyun, or where they doing the right thing by protecting the integrity of the OHA?

Source: AndroidAuthority

 

[akhenax]

iiiuuunoo

but one could easily tell it was based on Android. Even the soft touch buttons scream Android. China can do whatever they want to do. That's why MIUI handsets are such a hit there, because they look like iPhones without needing to worry about big bad Apple coming for them.

China is the king of pirated software and hardware, and no one can do anything about it.

 

[liftedplane]

honestly if Acer signed an agreement to not work with forked android versions then Google had full rights to ask them not to. plain and simple.

why doesn't aliyun just become compatible... I mean hell it wouldn't be that difficult and they'd more than likely benefit from it.

 

[pdroid]

Cloud is open, apps system is closed because it is controlled by the operator of the apps marketplace.

Pure FUD here. With the user consenting via a single check box, you can install any app you want on an Android device, it doesn't have to come from Google Play.

 

[SwiftLegend]

Seems to me like the MIUI guys should be mad. Looks exactly the same, just with different home icons..

 

[acousticshade]

Google has every right to do this. It's their stuff and if they want to lay some basic ground rules, then so be it. These Chinese companies just want to make money any way they can and say screw you to those who tell us otherwise. I applaud google for standing up to the unethical behavior of the Chinese.