Re:Where's the Android 3.0 Honeycomb source code?
by theBobMcCormick on Wednesday January 05, 2011 @10:15PM
(#2073738)
Not to detract from your excellent reply, but I believe most of the Android source is under the Apache 2.0 license (http://source.android.com/source/licenses.html). So even folks who've been distributed a copy of the software are not entitled to the source for most of Android (there are some exceptions, such as the Linux kernel used by Android).
To answer the specific questions in the article:
1. Well where did [Asus] get the source code for [Android 3.0]?
Asus is a member of the Open Handset Alliance. Since they're a member of the organization responsible for developing Android, they necessarily have access to source code to their unreleased products.
2. Well where did they get the source code for [the new music player]?
Note that the title of the linked article is "Download the leaked Android Honeycomb music app now." This means that someone with privileged access to unreleased Android software made a copy of that and released it publicly, and, most likely, illegally.
3. I don’t see it? I can’t find it? There’s no updates for the SDK that contain the 3.0 API calls?
Correct. Android 3.0 has not been released yet, and thus, its source code is not available to anyone outside of the Open Handset Alliance.
4. So Asus has some kind of special deal with Google to be able to get early access to the “open” platform which is dubbed “Android”?
Yes and no. Asus and Google are both members of the Open Handset Alliance, which owns and develops Android. Google doesn't own Android, they simply contribute a great deal of engineering talent to the Open Handset Alliance. Thus, both Asus and Google have access to unreleased versions of Android.
5. Where is Honeycomb for the rest of us?
Unavailable. You're only legally entitled to a copy of the Honeycomb source if you purchase a device with Honeycomb on it, or otherwise legitimately receive the software. The Open Handset Alliance has decided to distribute publicly the source code to released versions of Android, rather than only distributing corresponding source to individuals who purchase devices. This is above and beyond their legal obligations under the GPL.
Android is developed privately, but released publicly under an open source license. Nothing in that license compels the Open Handset Alliance to work in public.