Android Honeycomb Open Source, After All [Google VP Andy Rubin Explains Source Release Delays & Hints That Some Honeycomb Features Will Appear in Gingerbread] Read: Android Honeycomb Open Source, After All [Google VP Andy Rubin Explains Source Release Delays & Hints That Some Honeycomb Features Will Appear in Gingerbread]

Google was earlier criticized for withholding the Honeycomb source code, and limiting support to only certain devices. Google has recently explained this move, and sheds light on the Android “fragmentation” issue.

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Android is popular in the smartphone market because of support from various manufacturers (unlike the iOS, which is only limited to the iPhone). However, the potential issue here is fragmentation, especially with the release of the tablet-specific Honeycomb version. Different manufacturers and developers will customize Android such that it will have different features and UIs. Even Google’s own differentiation between the smartphone and tablet versions of Android might be cause for fragmentation.

Andy Rubin, Google’s VP for Engineering, explains the philosophy behind this.

We don’t believe in a “one size fits all” solution. The Android platform has already spurred the development of hundreds of different types of devices – many of which were not originally contemplated when the platform was first created. What amazes me is that even though the quantity and breadth of Android products being built has grown tremendously, it’s clear that quality and consistency continue to be top priorities.

Due to the number of devices that run Android, and the differences between devices and platforms, Google believes that Android does not necessarily have to be too consistent across platforms. However, Google notes that they have basic compatibility requirements. As such, manufacturers are free to run different UIs on top of Android, but some basic elements should remain the same.

Our “anti-fragmentation” program has been in place since Android 1.0 and remains a priority for us to provide a great user experience for consumers and a consistent platform for developers. In fact, all of the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance agreed not to fragment Android when we first announced it in 2007. Our approach remains unchanged: there are no lock-downs or restrictions against customizing UIs. There are not, and never have been, any efforts to standardize the platform on any single chipset architecture.

Rubin goes on to say that Google is not locking down Honeycomb’s source code. Rather, they are just waiting for the right time before publishing the code.

One line on Rubin’s blog post might spark interest with Android users and developers, though:

As I write this the Android team is still hard at work to bring all the new Honeycomb features to phones.

Will this mean that features previously exclusive to Honeycomb will appear on smartphones, as well?

Read: Android Honeycomb Open Source, After All [Google VP Andy Rubin Explains Source Release Delays & Hints That Some Honeycomb Features Will Appear in Gingerbread]

Read more at:http://nexus404.com/Blog/2011/04/08/android-honeycomb-open-source-after-all-google-vp-andy-rubin-explains-source-release-delays-hints-that-some-honeycomb-features-will-appear-in-gingerbread/