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Re:Android now forces apps to include proprietary code for p... by TeMPOraL on Monday June 10, 2019 @08:00AM (#20145868)
I think they already do. Isn't it what Play Services is really all about?
Re:Android now forces apps to include proprietary code for p... by squarefoot on Monday June 10, 2019 @08:48AM (#20146220)
They never did. Releasing the source contributed creating the developers ecosystem we have today. What Google fears more than the Armageddon would be someone making a truly FOSS operating system capable of running on Android devices, and they prevent that by keeping device drivers and firmware tightly locked.
Re:Android now forces apps to include proprietary code for p... by extropy on Monday June 10, 2019 @09:40AM (#20146608)
IMO Android is working towards having a compatibility layer so that drivers can be freely shared across distros.

Look up Project Treble.

Re:Android now forces apps to include proprietary code for p... by imtringued on Monday June 10, 2019 @10:15AM (#20146883)
That still requires cooperation from the SoC vendors. If they aren't interested then Treble will go nowhere.
Re:Android now forces apps to include proprietary code for p... by lern_too_spel on Monday June 10, 2019 @10:50AM (#20147243)
Treble is required by the Vendor Test Suite for Android 8 and higher. https://source.android.com/devices/architecture
Re:Android now forces apps to include proprietary code for p... by anchpop on Monday June 10, 2019 @06:03PM (#20151336)
This is probably still in Google's best interest, since it greatly reduces the cost for OEMs to distribute updates (and updates are one area where Android severely lags behind iOS)