The Galaxy S25 is yet one more product from the Korean tech large that has entry to some options from Google that different telephones do not but have. It isn’t the primary time this has occurred; we have seen it in earlier Galaxy telephone launches, and even the “new” Put on OS appears fully like a Samsung/Google joint effort. The partnership between the 2 has by no means been stronger.
I’ve seen a couple of individuals declare that that is ruining Android. I disagree and suppose, if something, that is much less of a partnership and extra like Google exploiting Samsung as a result of Samsung permits it.
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I am not speaking about any kind of web slap-fighting between overzealous however misguided model loyalists. Samsung did not promote unhealthy shows to different firms or purposely promote exploding batteries to wreck the status of the Android ecosystem. Frankly, that type of pondering reveals an individual has no concept how the smartphone business even works, and I avoid all of it. OnePlus offered tens of millions of telephones and a handful of them utilizing Samsung shows had a inexperienced line. Samsung offered tens of millions of Observe 7s, and 10 or so had vital battery points, prompting a recall. Nothing was intentional.
What I am speaking about and the place a lot of the dialogue about Android’s ruined status stems from how intently the 2 firms appear to work collectively to present Samsung first entry, and even unique entry, to Google options.
This can be a change to how Android began. Having one firm in a position to get Google software program when different firms cannot is a slap within the face of Android’s “open” days. There was a time when Motorola and HTC had been atop the Android mountain and Samsung would have been displeased if Google gave both unique entry to options. Rightly so, thus I understand that to some individuals this modification has ruined Android.
The factor is that Android was by no means actually open and this is not Samsung’s doing. Blame Google if it’s worthwhile to level the finger.
The Google/Samsung relationship is not equal, and that’s Samsung’s fault. Samsung relies on Google for the software program that powers most of its cellular merchandise and has given up making an attempt to vary that. Units that ran Bada and Tizen weren’t good and had depressing gross sales numbers in comparison with any of Samsung’s more moderen Android-powered units. They had been Samsung’s personal, although, and I want lively growth and merchandise utilizing them had been nonetheless round. Competitors is nice, ya know?
Google appears to think about Samsung its personal private advertising division and product showcase division to me. Google did not permit Samsung to have so many Pixel-esque AI options on the S25 as a result of it wished to assist Samsung. It does it as a result of it is aware of Samsung can promote a whole bunch of tens of millions of telephones yearly, and it desires individuals to have entry to those options so it will probably acquire extra information. So long as Google stays in management, it would not care that folks suppose Gemini is a Samsung product. It cares that extra individuals are utilizing it.
Google does this by having two completely different Androids. There may be the Android Open Supply Undertaking that you just or I can obtain and use on no matter machine we like, making any adjustments we wish so long as the open-source licenses are honored. Then there’s the locked-down model of precise Android (sure, the title itself is trademarked) that Google controls with a decent grip. Licensing and platform entry agreements imply if your organization desires to promote a telephone operating Android with entry to any of Google’s software program, you’ll toe their line.
That is the Android that Google makes use of like a carrot on a stick for machine producers. What Google does right here is extraordinarily distasteful to me, however it means firms like Samsung or OnePlus do not need to develop their very own equal. Regardless that they in all probability may. If Amazon can do it, Samsung can do it.
Samsung has grown depending on Google. Some fragments present what Samsung may do, like Good Lock. It appears seemingly Google forces Samsung to forestall the mixing of Good Lock into OneUI, saying it might create some software program fork, and which means it’s a must to go to the Galaxy Retailer and set up it like an app.
Merely put, in case you consider that Google and Samsung are working collectively to create exclusivity, you are in all probability proper. It is a change from the Android of yesteryear, and also you may suppose it is ruining issues — some individuals dislike change.
Do not blame Samsung for it as a result of it is 100% Google’s doing.
