Is Android more open than Apple?

Yes, Android is generally considered more open than Apple. There are several reasons for this:

1. Open Source and Customization: Android is open source, allowing anyone to use and modify the software. This leads to various forks of Android, like CyanogenMod and the software used in devices from companies like Xiaomi and Amazon (Kindle Fire) 1 2.

2. Developer Ecosystem: From its inception, Google emphasized the openness of Android to developers, unlike Apple, which initially controlled all aspects tightly. Allowing developers to freely develop apps for Android significantly broadened the platform's reach and created a more inclusive app ecosystem 1.

3. App Installation Flexibility: Android allows users to install apps from outside the Google Play Store, providing more freedom, although Google issues security warnings which might discourage this. In contrast, Apple requires all apps on iOS to be vetted through its App Store, controlling the ecosystem tightly 2 3.

   Android's Open Revolution

   David Rosenthal

   Ben Gilbert

   Google's move to make Android open source and developer-friendly shook up the tech industry, challenging Apple's closed ecosystem. The birth of Android in 2008 marked a shift towards a more inclusive approach to mobile software development. The Android challenge and the release of the first Android phone set the stage for a new era in smartphone innovation.

   

   Acquired

   Episode 20: Android

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4. Business Strategy: Google's strategy of making Android open source was partly to prevent Apple from dominating the market and charging high fees to feature Google services like search. This openness aligns with Google's broader business objective to keep their services widely accessible 4.

Overall, Android's open-source nature and flexible app ecosystem contrast with Apple's controlled environment, highlighting Android's openness.