Thread: N9 [Shipping]: It's finally here [for some]!
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Milhouse is offline Milhouse
2011-09-22 , 23:56
Posts: 3,401 | Thanked: 1,255 times | Joined on Nov 2005 @ London, UK
#6724
Originally Posted by jalyst View Post
WRT to AD, pretty sure end-user is feasible, I recall reading as such, can't recall where now.
But as you say even if it is, there's still the potential legal issues... sigh.
cnet interview Myriad about Alien Dalvik on the N9:

So Alien Dalvik is a solution to the N9's app needs, in theory, but it won't be something you can install yourself, if you end up with an N9 in your pocket. Instead, Nokia or your network would have to slap Alien Dalvik on the phone.

"Because it goes really deep into the root of the OS, it cannot be a downloadable application. It would have to be ported prior to the phone being shipped. It would have to be a decision of the mobile phone manufacturer or the network."
Interesting point raised about the networks though I doubt they'll have much say in the matter.

Originally Posted by jalyst View Post
That's a good point, hadn't considered that, might raise that in the thread if you haven't already.
I haven't, as I have no idea if it's even feasible.

But assuming OpenMobile (and Myriad) are taking the stock Android 2.x source, which I'm also assuming is freely available to Joe Public, then applying their own patches and special sauce, then it should be possible to automate the downloading, patching and packaging so that it becomes an end user activity. OpenMobile/Myriad provide a free Windows/Mac/Linux executable that creates the required N9 "package", then the user "loads" the package on to the N9 device via the OpenMobile/Myriad app that has been purchased from the N9 app store.

Originally Posted by jalyst View Post
Surely google would just pay a once-off settlement (or some sort of licensing might be arranged), & not bother w/a total re-write?
It'd be risky on their part, the market's moving so fast, or maybe they've already started, who knows.
That's another option, although I'd hate to see the cost of the fine or licence passed on to end-users of Android source code (which would play into the arms of Microsoft), although if it's a "fair" cost and not something like $15 a throw then it could easily be absorbed by most vendors (including OpenMobile and Myriad).

At the end of the day, Google are not looking to make money directly from Android, they use it to drive searches and advertising revenue their way so it's in their interests to have it on more devices.
 

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