Google today closed down access toAndroid 3.0 Honeycomb‘s source code, saying that it didn’t want developers using it in ‘unauthorized’ ways.
The move comes shortly after a member of theXDA Developersforum installed Honeycomb on a phone anddiscovered the unreleased Google Musicapp.
Google often cites Android’s openness as a selling point over alternatives such as Apple’siOS. Google’s claim that developers could use the source code in unauthorized ways flies in the face of what open source stands for, where such uses of the code are meant to be encouraged.
It’s not the first time Google has shut down access to the Android source code. The search giant has taken the same course of action before each major release of the mobile platform.
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Andy Rubin, Google’s VP of Engineering, has in the past taken a shot directed at Apple over the meaning of open source in atweet. The tweet is written in Geeklish, but it essentially means that open source means you should be able to download and do whatever you want with open source code.
Story byJoel Falconer
Joel Falconer is the Features Editor at TNW. He lives on the Gold Coast, Australia with his wife and three kids and can sometimes be found g(show all)Joel Falconeris the Features Editor at TNW. He lives on the Gold Coast, Australia with his wife and three kids and can sometimes be foundgamingorconsulting. Follow Joel onTwitter.
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