android as open source

[constellanation]

First I am NOT talking about everything should be free. Open source does not mean free!

What I am wondering about is people's opinions as to how the next firmware release (or future firmware releases) are going to represent the fact that it is opensource. And also how the fact that is open source should mean the people at Xda, google groups, etc. are doing more for it's development overall.

It's my understanding that opensource usually means that as the product develops (be it officially or from enthusiastic hobbyists) it is up to whomever is in charge of product (not sure if it's google here or the open handset alliance) to decide what will be included in the future updates. The most common reason for including something is it's usefulness and stability. If we use those factors what is stop (and I do not mean this in a negative way) google from adding for a quick example bratag's snaphoto to replace the current one, or the multitouch and autoupdates?

or more in general how do you see "open source" evolving android?

[hondamx525]

You can submit revisions to the google code for them to look at and consider so its very possible that some user somewhere will have some code in a future update.

[inportb]

Even in opensource development, there are project managers and leaders. So I imagine we'd be able to submit our own code, which would be accepted or rejected with a reason... and so on.

[All~G1]

I think the problem lies with the differences between the publics, GOOGLES and Tmo's definition of OPEN. Finiding a equilibrium to that equation is what will border what the open public will receive. I truly believe that if the community would have more "say" then the G1 and/or Android OS can truly benefit, I mean who knows better about a product then the end user???

look at in the case of root.... 4 months and the G1 has taken leaps and bounds from devs who use their spare time, THANKS, to truly make the G1 the phenominal phone it should of been on release. I truly trust the Android community (as a whole) to advance this phone to its fullest capabilities.

[coyote711]

Even in opensource development, there are project managers and leaders. So I imagine we'd be able to submit our own code, which would be accepted or rejected with a reason... and so on.

That is a scary number for posts!

[TopDNBass]

All that open source means is that we have access to the source.
Which we do. Anyone can boot up linux get all the source files and everything for free, and start working on android.
http://source.android.com/download

That's all it means. T-mobile is not a part of that.
The openness of our phones is not relative.

Although they are extremely open compared to every other phone.

[constellanation]

true and thats why i never mentioned tmobile (i realize others have) but i was wondering (in part) if anyone else believes that the android os will absorb into its permanent structure some, if any at all, of the things that others have done. i mean snapphoto to me is a perfect example where, they shouldn't put out the stock camera without the improvements made into it or for that matter barcode scanner.

[TopDNBass]

If the creator of snapphoto would like that to happen, he may give google rights to the app and thed they could decide what to do from their.