Ludd1t3

Is Android any different from Windows in that sense?

It's open source in name only. All development is done behind closed doors and essentially dumped out in the open when Google determines it's ready for a release. No one else has say in the development process and you can't contribute changes either.

All the other things you mentioned, can also be done on Windows. I am not sure how that's different than what Windows does/is doing.