“While Google is actively trying to reduce Android fragmentation by imposing certain conditions to partner companies — including forcing them to use the latest Android OS versions on new devices in order to get access to Google apps and the Play Store — other companies are ready to help OEMs create their own Android forks,” Chris Smith reports for BGR.
“TechCrunch reports that Russian giant Yandex has now released its own Yandex.Kit to help OEMs fork Android to their hearts’ content,” Smith reports. “Yandex is basically encouraging OEMs to offer users a Google-free Android experience by using its own services instead of the Google services mobile device users will get with Google-approved Android devices.”
Read more in the full article here.
“In a blog post announcing the new Kit, Yandex described it as ‘a comprehensive, out-of-the-box solution, versatile and technologically honed enough to be offered to original device manufacturers as firmware that they can install on their devices shipped to the Russian market,'” Natasha Lomas reports for TechCrunch. “The kit is fee-free, and while Yandex is obviously targeting Russian device makers and mobile carriers who want a more locally flavoured set of services to Google, it is also targeting international B2B clients by offering ‘deep customisation’ for parts of the kit — such as the ability to brand the app store and have the specific device maker’s/carrier’s own apps featured (i.e. rather than having to stick with Google’s branding and whatever Google wants to feature in its Play Store).”
“Yandex said it already has two customers for the firmware kit, who will be showing devices at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow in Barcelona next week,” Lomas reports. “These are Chinese OEM Huawei and Russian device maker Explay. Yandex said both makers will launch their Yandex-flavoured Android handsets in Russia in March.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yet another sign that Google’s Android is forked.
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leave it to our friends the russians to stir the pot and rustle up some new brand of trouble. (of which google is oh so deserving, so no complaint here, but it does bring to mind their practices at the height of the cold war)
but one can only wonder what the north koreans might have up their sleeve other than their home grown knock off of os X
Honestly it is no different than what china has done with its hundreds of forked versions of android. Which according to the latest data makes up almost 25% of android now most of which does not connect to the google play store making google not a dime of advertising revenue. Which is there number one income.
Good points. I am having trouble understanding your last phrase: “Which is there number one income.” Could you explain it please? Is it a question?
Which is their number one income?
Was it the ending to the previous sentence: ” . . . making Google not a dime, which is their number one income.
Spelling/grammar Nazi Alert!
Do you understand the intent of that last sentence in his post?
It is different, since Yandex’ solution is industrially-grade smooth for that. You should not have to do it manually anew every time any more, Yandex did the work for you.
I am happy to hear of any effort to bleed or deny google of their only real source of income. This is excellent news.
“… Android is forked” – classic!
Yep, Google — 4 Q!
How does this work? Huawei is a currently making Google Android phones, and Google’s MADA agreement forbids that the same manufacturer produces forked versions.
Something’s got to give.
Forked like a devil’s tongue.
“While Google is actively trying to reduce Android fragmentation”.. you know, ’cause Steve Jobs was wrong and according to google android is not fragmented..
“including forcing them to use the latest Android OS versions” Again, ’cause Steve Jobs was wrong and according to google there is no such fragmentation in versions or devices capabilities..
I really don’t get those “HOPERS” (because they can’t be called analyst anymore), Steve Jobs was right each and every time he predicted something (like the post pc era) or he pull a new category device, still, media keeps saying what apple should do and whats doing wrong and celebrating every stupid, crappy and little thing other companies does. They even celebrate failing attempts to copy apple and completely forget about each apple success.
And that is why so many fear for Apple in the post Jobs era. Jobs was a true visionary, and his track record for starting trends was second to none. Seismic shifts and the gravitas to pull others in the direction of those shifts was Jobs mastery. It’s hard for me to imagine seeing another like him in my lifetime.
Android is forked love it love it.
Many Android users have rooted devices running hacked ROMs that have minimal or no Google apps installed. Others with rooted ROMs simply remove unwanted Google apps. Google is really forked.
When will the markets realise that Android market share does not equal Google revenue. Device manufacturers don’t want to be forced into using Google’s services, and the biggest (Samsung) is already trying to detach Google from Android; Amazon have already done it. Yet we constantly here about Android market share which people then take to mean Google market share; the two things are totally different and it’s only going to get worse for Google.
I don’t know what is worse, Google knowing and tracking everything you do or Russian hackers.
Russian hackers. Google would incur serious liability if they were caught stealing and using their customer’s credit card numbers without authorization, but that is all the Russian hackers are interested in.
Hot. Cool. Yours!