source build/envsetup .sh
make

is that not open enough? ^^

I have never wanted to punch through my screen as much as I wanted to while reading this garbage.

This has got to be one of the most misinformed, non-factual, made up write ups I have seen in a very long time. Showing ignorance comment after comment…. this is truly baffling that the editors did not pull this article down after 55 comments or so of pure bashing…

From its licensing model, Android is a fully open OS. Android itself is licensed under Apache and the kernel is licensed under GPL, both of which are OPEN SOURCE LICENSES. Hence, Android is by definition… open.

However, this concept may be a tad too much for our author to grasp, and considering that dissecting your article to point every since inaccuracy has already been done by pretty much everyone who has left a comment in here, I would not want to embarrass you more than you’ve already done yourself.

“but Android actually has most of the same restrictions, some of which are thanks to the carriers.”

Carriers add restrictions to prevent network abuse. They add them to all devices regardless of OS. This has jack to do with the topic of your article.

” rooting allows Android users to dig deep into the phone’s software and hardware in order to optimize performance and boost battery life.”

Uhmmm… no. Rooting provides the ability to have access to all Linux files and commands, and it gives the ability to either grant or deny permissions to apps to modify system files. Rooting does not allow you to do anything with the hardware. You can potentially have root level access with apps to interact with the kernel, which in turn WILL control the hardware, but root alone will not allow you to do any HW level modification.

Even with Jailbreak, you will NEVER get remotely close to the level of access you get on Android. Want to change your UI? opps… how about your lockscreen? nope… oh I know! how about adding some extra settings?…

“Battery life is obviously one of the biggest caveats to Android devices, and rooting is the only way to truly improve it, with custom kernels and CPU-altering apps that can make your phone last all day and more on a single charge.”

Wrong: Rooting does NOT allow you or enable you to modify/change the kernel (there are some software apps that will allow you to tweak some values on a custom kernel, but certainly you cannot modify the kernel itself). You can optimize running processes, much like it is the case with any computer, and tweak parameters such as screen brightness to prevent your battery from draining like crazy… none of these require rooting. Kernels indeed can be optimized to get better performance, but this is not something that can be achieved through rooting. In fact, kernels can ONLY be replaced by unlocking the bootloader of the device. Again, rooting will not allow you to change kernels. But again, that is only one way of getting more out of it. There are various non-root-required methods for optimizing battery life…

“And don’t even get me started on the numerous Android versions roaming around. Currently we’re on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, but manufacturers and carriers are making things harder than they need to be by releasing new handsets with an OS that’s 16 months old (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for those keeping track)”

Why is this relevant? Oh I know! because Stevie said that Android fragmentation was bad and you are regurgitating his argument like a mindless drone without even knowing IF its bad…

“Rooting your Android device is the only way to receive the latest OS version through custom ROMs,”

Again, you are dead wrong. Custom ROMs can only be flashed if the bootloader is unlocked. Rooting does not allow you to flash roms….

“Plus, you’ll be able install apps that Google and carriers normally wouldn’t allow, some of which are of questionable legality.”

Cidia and virtually every pirate market app available for iOS…. that is all

“Either way, if an OS was truly “open,” you’d be able to install any app you wanted.”

You’re an idiot and you should read up on the definition of open software, because quite honestly, you don’t have a goddamn clue.

“Of course, in the long run, I can’t say that iOS is as open as Android”

No shit Sherlock… iOS is a CLOSED SOURCE OS

“since Google’s mobile platform does allow a bit more customization and leeway with their OS,”

A bit?

“but there’s definitely plenty of restrictions that Android and iOS users regretfully share.”

You still have not provided a single one… and don’t tell me that bit about the carriers again. Carrier locks are NOT OS restrictions and as such are completely irrelevant to any argument you have made so far…

In short, stop being such a laypress hack and get a clue.

Android is actually MORE open than most people think. Especially considering most people who have smartphones only call, text, use Facebook, and play casual games.

You can install unapproved apk files, you can create your own ROM, you can control most aspects of the hardware performance in your device.

No, it’s not Linux. But let’s be honest, which one has more support and install base (not counting web servers etc) among the general public?

Android being an open platform is what allows carriers and phone makers to modify it before it ships to phones.

It’s what allows them to freely distribute whatever version they want when they release or update a phone.

It’s also what allows you to install any .apk file you download off the web, and for developers to release apps to the entire android community without going through a screening process as painful as Apple’s. I built mobile apps on 4 platforms for the second largest non-profit in America, in the hopes of raising money for cancer research, and Apple denied our application because we wouldn’t give them a share of the donation money. To the contrary, Google has given us free technology like Analytics and Maps for years, free support for those, and never asked for any money.

Android’s “battery life being the main reason to root” is a total farce. My Samsung Galaxy SII goes 3-6 days without charging it, and that’s with the original OEM battery. Some phones like the Droid Razr Maxx can do the same. It’s just a matter of how nice a phone you spring for. This whole article is so misleading, as a Chief Architect and 14 year software developer, please disregard the entire thing.

Slashgear, I would expect better of you than to post this garbage.

I don’t expect inexperience people in IT world not to understand what an open platform truly means.

I have provided my analysis in above comment, something will happen in the future. I’m yet to get my analysis totally wrong.

Android IS open, you have access to the source code, you can download it, compile it and re-distribute it (you know AOSP), go ask people like Cyaongen about it.

Handsets can be open or not, that depends on many things, builders, carriers, etc.

Can you tell me what is the relationship between a handset being closed and Android being closed? If you had only one device I could understand it… but you have a myriad of them.

What do you want? Google forcing other companies to keep their devices open? they cannot… because Android is open!!! you can do whatever you want with it.

Regarding root… Are you suggesting that an operating system is not open if you are not an administrator (root)??? so my L. Mint machine is not open for my children but is open for me… yeah… right.

iPhone jailbrakes allow for hardware optimization and about the only reason one would really do that is when iOS is “optimized” (iOS6). Apple started with this crap of “optimizing platforms” and to make things more “eficient” on certain platforms with iOS6. iOS6 made things easier for carriers because the cell phone options are available in software “designed” for my iPod Touch.

Another important thing to note is about the five year agreement by which Android to remain, so called, open with China government. This has to be a kind of milestone for Google’s Android. Public is not aware of the discussions behind the closed doors but the final agreement revealed more than it meets the eyes in my opinion.

Google will never make financial loss in Android world and will remain in full control of its platform indefinitely. Google will secretly lobby (directly or by proxy) to make it unlawful to install alternative OS on Android based hardware to make it difficult for the likes of Ubuntu. This is where China manufacturers come to the rescue, and make a fortune, by flooding the global market with cheap handsets so people can buy handsets contract free and with their choice of OS. This is also a battle aganist global network operators on which their subsidised program gave them very powerful positions, especially in America.