Google Plans Stronger Control Over Android Wear, TV and Auto; No OEM UI Skins Allowed

dgstorm

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It looks like Google has decided to exert far more control over the newest variations of Android products, specifically Android Wear, TV & Auto. They will basically forbid OEMs from creating custom UI skins, or any deep customizations to these variations of Android. This is in stark contrast to the very open nature of the first iteration of Android which has defined the way Google has done things since the beginning. Manufacturers who create any of these devices will still be allowed to provide a collection of their own pre-installed apps, and even custom watch faces, but these will basically just be features which don’t alter the Android framework, leaving the core of Android Wear, TV and Auto intact.

Google engineering director David Burke said, "The UI is more part of the product in this case. We want to just have a very consistent user experience, so if you have one TV in one room and another TV in another room and they both say Android TV, we want them to work the same and look the same... The device manufacturers can brand it, and they might have services that they want to include with it, but otherwise it should be the same."

To be honest, this makes perfect sense and it's not too tough to support Google's decision in this regard, especially considering the devices these new versions of Android will be used in. Plus, it just makes more sense now that Android is more mature than it was during its infancy. Of course, the flip-side of this means it could be much more difficult for community developers to create custom mods for these products. We are confident they will find ways around that though... :D

Sound off with your perspective.

Source: arstechnica
 

Jeffrey

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It's an awesome move on Google's part. Now they need to extend this to phones and tablets.
 

pc747

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It's an awesome move on Google's part. Now they need to extend this to phones and tablets.


I almost feel like it is too late to do that with phones it will just be too much of a headache to police especially now customers are use to a certain look when they buy a certain brand (ie HTC and Sense Samsung and Touchwiz). With Auto, TV, and Wear they starting anew and they can now set the ground rules going forward. I do think they will allow them to theme (maybe) but not to the extent where customers are waiting for updates. This is a great move, it is one thing to buy a $300 phone (on contract) and not see an update because of testing, non-compatibility, or the oem do not care, it is another to buy a 700-1200 TV or a 30,000+ car and not get an update being you going to keep that car for at least 3-5 years and the TV for 2-4 given the cost. Nothing would make me angrier then to have a buggy car or tv and the oem's answer is that it is the software and the new software that has a fixed will not be available for your model.
 
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