If HTC provides an android ROM localized in any language (say Arabic for instance), then does that make it obligated by GPL license to share the localization code?
HTC has release HTC Magic in middle east and the ROM supports right-to-left Arabic in the standard android apps. So I'm wondering if they would publicly share the localization code.
I think the only GPL code is Kernel and kernel doesn't have localization.
Its pretty much screwed until they release Hero in the middle east which could be coming very soon, then we can just use their ROM, otherwise its nothing to do with the kernel its all with the rom
As other posters have said, only the Kernel is GPL'd and the Kernel 'only' provides the software to enable base functions like cpu, memory management, drivers (wifi, touchscreen, etc.). The actual applications that HTC provide are private and proprietory, which is all legal an above board.
Thanks all for your replies
Please note that I'm not complaining about extar (add-on) applications they have bundled with the rom, I'm basically concerned with the standard applications including the browser, message reader. I though these were open source and thus protected by the GPL license!!!
Contrary to what everyone else is saying, the kernel is NOT the only open-source/GPL portion of the Hero software.
Yes, the *HTC* software is closed-source, however, don't forget that it runs on top of Android, which (aside from certain google apps) is entirely open-source as well. I'm pretty sure that the localization is part of the Android code, and not something HTC developed themselves, thus you can get the localization source by downloading the Android OS source.
(I could be wrong about the localization being part of Android though.)
craig0r said:
Yes, the *HTC* software is closed-source, however, don't forget that it runs on top of Android, which (aside from certain google apps) is entirely open-source as well.
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Sorry, but this isn't quite correct!
The Android Open Source Project has released the entire base source code for Android (which excludes the kernel) under an Apache Software License (ASL). This means that it is open source, and anyone can do anything with it including creating proprietary software, because the ASL is not a "copyleft" license.
What this means is that HTC could take the Android source code, make a number of changes under the hood, stick it on a phone, and sell it. However, under the terms of the ASL, they are *not* required to divulge their modified sources if they don't wish to do so. Effectively, this means that their customized version of Android becomes closed source.
In the context of the original question, what this means is that if HTC rewrote the "standard" Android apps to support Arabic they have absolutely no requirement to make the source code for those applications public. They might - they just don't have to!
Regards,
Dave
foxmeister said:
Sorry, but this isn't quite correct!
The Android Open Source Project has released the entire base source code for Android (which excludes the kernel) under an Apache Software License (ASL).
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O I C
I had no idea. I thought it was GPL. But that makes sense, it's more appealing to handset makers that way.
foxmeister said:
Sorry, but this isn't quite correct!
Dave
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Dave, i'm really disappointed
but sincerely appreciate your explanation.
regards///
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Hi all,
Is there a specific way to hunt down commits for feature sets in the source of ROMs on github? As a simple example, let's say someone was searching my ROM for how to enable AppOps in AOSP. They would eventually find this commit:
https://github.com/nowsci/platform_...mmit/a766afc88ebed960c2027d3d1539ff9a38be4115
However, many feature additions require changes across many repositories for Android. Let's say I want to find the Expanded Volume Control code for Cyanogenmod. The only way I can think to do this is to clone every single Cyanogenmod repository, print out the git log, and comb through for every mention of "volume" until I find the right commits.
How do other ROM developers shortcut this?
I ask for my own education, and because I think a central repository of "features" that links all the commits and provides the merge commands for AOSP might be a handy thing to start creating in the community (unless there is already a better way).
Thanks!
Hello Developer Community,
I am presently using a bluetooth home automation device from a company called Plugable. The device is being controlled by a stock/default Android app provided by Plugable in Google Play. After testing the product, I realized I wanted a hour:minute:second count down style timer and presets features added to what Plugable describes as a completely customizable open source application.
I am not a programmer, so I was wondering if someone would be willing to take a look at the open source code to see if the features I want can be built into the open source app and be willing to design a new UI layout that would be more appealing(features that look similar to Control 4 Android app available in Google Play.) I am open to any new app development and program design as long as the device can communicate in the manner intended by Plugable.
If anyone feels my request is practical, I would be willing to pay a fair value for your time and service. I would need to also start this project ASAP. And I mean ASAP!
You can find more information about Plugable-BTAPS Python Library for Creating Custom Applications with the Plugable PS-BTAPS1 and the Bluetooth Home Automation Device on Plugable's website.
Thank you for your time and assistance anyone can provide.
Some Android distributions (e.g. OxygenOS) come with a load of Google proprietary apps, not all of us may want it. I simply don't want Google's hands getting everywhere for my information. While I may accept OnePlus's blobs, I want to clear my device of all Google's proprietary blobs. Or at least the ones that can access the Internet.
One can say: get an alternate ROM, but then the camera quality may suffer.
There's a lot of such apps, so I'd like to build a comprehensive list of the applications and their FOSS counterparts. But it's difficult from the start.
Do you know any decent alternative for the following Google's apps (apart from the ones listed here - in square brackets)
- Phone
- Messenger [QKSMS]
- Contacts
All of them have the unlimited Internet access permission (sic!)