Thread: General questions about Linux
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Laughing Man is offline Laughing Man
2009-11-15 , 21:39
Posts: 4,556 | Thanked: 1,624 times | Joined on Dec 2007
#9
Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
But if the Linux kernel is completely open, how can Google lock out the root? Isn't that against the open-source nature of Linux?
They just make it hard to access (or change the root password). And yes it's slightly against the open-source nature of Linux (hence why some people prefer Maemo to Android simply for it being more open).

Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
I can see Nokia's incentive for creating Maemo for its own devices, but what incentive does Google have for creating Android, since they technically don't build their own phones? If they are charging OEMs for Android, isn't that also against the free and open source nature of Linux?
Google just wants people to use their services. An operating system built around their services gets more people using their services. Hence also why you see Google stuff on Symbian, BlackBerries, Windows Mobile, etc.. they don't care if people use Android or not as long as you use their services.

And there's nothing that says you can't charge for Linux. It's just under the GPL you have to provide the source code (meaning anyone could also recompile it and distribute it).

Originally Posted by cheetos316 View Post
If Android does lack the root feature, how are people able to write apps for it? Since Maemo is more open than Android, I'm pretty surprised that Android seems to be taking off more so than Maemo is. Aside from Android being backed by Google, are there any other reasons why it is more prevalent in new devices (ie. why aren't others adopting Maemo)?

Thanks again for the great info guys!
It doesn't lack root necessarily, you can hack it back onto there. Just like you can jailbreak an iPhone. It's more "why should we have to jump through these loopholes". Android can also go on any device (from non-touch screens, to touchscreens, to tablets, to netbooks, etc..). Nokia is currently keeping Maemo to themselves. Mer on the other hand is the more open sourced version of Maemo.
__________________
Originally Posted by ysss View Post
They're maemo and MeeGo...

"Meamo!" sounds like what Zorro would say to catherine zeta jones... after she slaps him for looking at her dirtily...