Original Post : linkedin.com/pulse/google-android-guys-here-idea-you-prashantha-mundkod
Today, I have some business ideas for Google Android guys..:)
Idea
A tool (a desktop tool and/or android app tool ) for creating ROM and installing stock android.
This tool basically does 3 major tasks.
1. Reads hardware information of an Android device through the desktop/android tool and creates a stock android ROM for that device.
2. Creates a super user , roots the device , installs the ROM created in step 1.
3. Provides an option to keep/remove the super user after the installation based on user sophistication.
(Alternatively, tool will install a generic stock android and then look for appropriate drivers for the device after the installation)
Why do we need a tool ?
Here is what I found while playing around with stock android.
1. Majority of handset manufacturers simply don't bother provide updates . Even if they do, its ridiculously delayed.
2. The UI created by most manufacturers is not innovative or user friendly. They are loaded with ridiculous amount of bloatware. Since they don't bother to provide timely updates either, end user is stuck with an older version of Android regardless of device's capability to support newer versions of android.
3. For an average user, there is no simple way to install a stock android . Users are in mercy of tech forums and developers who volunteer to create custom ROM. Expecting a ROM from volunteers for all devices out there is unrealistic . Trusting those ROMs is another biggest concern as well. Despite the volunteer efforts , installing a stock android ROM still needs some level of IT knowledge , not the cup of tea of an average android user.
4. There is no generic stock android ROM. Reason perhaps is that, creating a package with drivers for thousands of manufacturers would be practically not feasible as the package size would be enormous.
User Experience
An end user who wants a stock android doesn't need to be an IT guy and the tool should be simple to user. Example : Click a button that would read hardware and create the package, next user interaction is a prompt asking the user to install the stock android ROM. All other user interactions such as retaining super user etc is an an option for advanced users.
Manufacturers
Any custom UI or App package a manufacturer wants to push for their device should be updated as App package from manufacturer over a pure android . (Example : Once user install the stock android, manufacturers like Samsung, can push their app like Galaxy gifts etc as a package. )
This would shorten the development cycle for manufacturers as well. Thus updating Android for their device becomes purely a app package for an android version , rather than individual device.
Advantages
For users, clearly the benefit is the ability to have most updated software and experience of pure android and freedom from abandonment of device from manufacturers.
For Google (and Android as a platform ), one of the biggest competitive disadvantage is , its fragmentation. One of the reason for fragmentation is that, for a large number of devices, simply there is no easy way to update the software. The tool could help solve fragmentation issues.
The tool may be included as part of Google's attempt for Android One initiative. Certainly , no explanation is necessary on how it benefits Google from having one single version of android in all (or at-least as many devices as possible) android devices.
For now, that's it . When i am free, I will post the details on how exactly they should do it .
Experts... What do you think ?
Disclaimer : Views expressed are my own.
