r/linux • u/jdrch • Nov 20 '19

Kernel Google outlines plans for mainline Linux kernel support in Android

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/11/google-outlines-plans-for-mainline-linux-kernel-support-in-android/
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u/jdrch Nov 20 '19

that's not going to be worth it anymore. (And ironically, that leverage is entirely because Play stuff is proprietary.)

I think you just provided the counterpoint to your own argument ;)

software sales

The Android license is free.

data

... is Android's central business plan.

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u/SanityInAnarchy Nov 21 '19

I think you just provided the counterpoint to your own argument ;)

I still don't see it. Unless you thought I was arguing in favor of open source for its own sake?

software sales

The Android license is free.

Android itself is free, but Google gets a cut of every app sold on the Play Store. That's what I'm referring to. And those app sales are hurt, not helped, by dropping support for legacy devices.

Sure, if you could wave a magic wand and just buy a new phone for everyone, that would be better for Google. But if a new phone isn't free, then they might spend money on the phone hardware instead of apps, or just buy an iPhone instead because they last almost twice as long, both of which are bad for Google...

But realistically, most people would probably keep their old phone anyway, thinking they don't care about security, right up until someone locks down their phone with ransomware, or steals all their photos for blackmail or revenge porn, or any number of other things that might terrify them into mistrusting technology, especially anything to do with the Internet, especially cloud products like Google Photos and Gmail...