I don't get this. Google is in this to make money. They are not running some kind of a foundation where people contribute and together they make software. Google has all the right to hold the code back and only share it with the partners that adhere to its demands and use their services so that the development is paid for.
Of course its another thing that doing all this they come out looking like a hypocrite preaching things like open and do no evil while practicing the exact opposite. But hey...
Google is in this to make money. They are
not running some kind of a foundation ...
Everybody knows that and really, it's not worth repeating it because that's no excuse for acting hypocritical.
Google said Android is and will be open-source. Google said that it wants to foster an open ecosystem. If Google makes money off Android, that's precisely because of those promises and companies should really be held accountable when breaking promises, just like real people. As I already said, Android would be nothing if it were just another proprietary Windows-wannabe.
If some friend steals from you, will you still consider him a friend, even though he stole from you to feed his children? Wouldn't it have been easier just asking for money, instead of stealing / lying about it?
If people don't get away with it, why should companies?
But the openness of Android is a big selling point, at least to a lot of us hackers that don't like the idea of a black box phone. Maybe Google figures it can afford to alienate that audience but I think they might regret it.
Of course its another thing that doing all this they come out looking like a hypocrite preaching things like open and do no evil while practicing the exact opposite. But hey...