Google Open Source or Open Divorce for Android

October 31, 2009

Laptop Magazine, a publication I once read in airport newsstands, ran a story that plopped into my RSS basket this afternoon (October 30, 2009). “Networks in Motion: Google Attacking Developer Community, Android Openness Total BS” nibbled on an important information Snickers bar. Mark Spoonauer’s story reported:

According to him [Steve Andler, vp marketing for Networks in Motion], the free Google Maps for Navigation Beta is the second time devs have been burned by Google. Latitude was the first shot across the bow when it got added to Google Maps, leaving the likes of Loopt scrambling to justify their relevance. It’s obviously in Andler’s best interest to defend Networks in Motion and the work that they do in the GPS space, but given his experience in the PC industry–including at Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Apple–he brings an interesting perspective to the debate over whether Google may be biting the hands that feed Android. Check out the interview and decide for yourself.

The balance of the article is the text of an interview with Mr. Andler. Please, read the full interview.

Let’s assume that the opinion of Mr. Andler is spot on. Will Google find itself in more hot water? Seems likely. The open source world may not be the happy campers at Google’s next developer picnic.

Stephen Arnold, October 31, 2009

The person who was to buy me lunch today forgot. I would have counted that free lunch as payment for this opinion piece.

Comments

One Response to “Google Open Source or Open Divorce for Android”

  1. Cory Aidenman on November 2nd, 2009 6:54 am

    Interesting post..

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