AfterDawn: Tech news

Device makers must now add 'Powered by Android' to their devices or risk losing access to the Google Play Store

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Mar 2014 5:30 User comments (8)

Device makers must now add 'Powered by Android' to their devices or risk losing access to the Google Play Store

Google has updated their Google Mobile Services agreement for Android phones, adding the new mandate that each device must have a bootup logo that states "Powered by Android."
The new logo has its own guidelines, as well, and must be present for devices to keep their access to the Google Play Store and other Google services.

This new move certainly makes sense for Google. Google is a globally known household name, but not everyone knows Android is the operating system on their, for example, brand new Galaxy S device. By adding the logo during boot up, Google hopes to make the operating system more widely known, no matter who is your OEM of choice.

On new devices, like the Galaxy S5 and the all-new HTC One M8, the companies are already using the new logo, underneath the classic green Android robot and their own name.


Previous Next  

8 user comments

129.3.2014 17:49

this is an interesting turn and rightfully so...

229.3.2014 18:10

Shouldn't that be "Operated By Android"

329.3.2014 21:19

Not surprised, should be par for the course anyway IMO

430.3.2014 12:17

Kinda kick in the groin for Samsung, who has quite nicely made its Galaxy a synonym for its smartphones. That strategy has always kept the door open for Samsung to switch its entire smartphone line to use some other OS (say, Tizen) if Google would ever start to squeeze the manufacturers too tightly.

Then again, now that Moto is off Google's hands, Samsung is probably much less worried about its partnership with Google..

530.3.2014 15:05

I don't think Samsung really want to start fighting Google on things like this when they already have a nice legal back and forth going with Apple.

They needn't worry either, I shouldn't think. One has to assume that Samsung plans to move away from Android favouring an in-house OS at some point, and perhaps now that will come sooner rather than later, but I'm sure they can suck it up for a while.

631.3.2014 03:17

Originally posted by Ripper:
One has to assume that Samsung plans to move away from Android favouring an in-house OS at some point, and perhaps now that will come sooner rather than later, but I'm sure they can suck it up for a while.
I think those plans were quite strong only few months ago, but now that Google saw the light and decided to sell its Motorola unit, IMHO Samsung is much more comfortable to co-operate with Google. Previously, there was always the untold thread of Google deciding to favor Motorola over other manufacturers.

72.4.2014 19:19

True, and even if they hit-and-run on patents, I suppose the impact from their Nexus line isn't great enough for Samsung to be concerned about whichever manufacturer is currently producing it.

83.4.2014 12:16

No surprise, this is a natural evolution

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Latest news

VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads (16 Mar 2024 4:31)
VLC Media Player, the versatile video-software powerhouse, has achieved a remarkable feat: it has been downloaded over 5 billion times.
1 user comment
Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit (19 Dec 2023 11:09)
Google settled its lawsuit in September 2023, and one of the settlement terms was that the way applications are installed on Android from outside the Google Play Store must become simpler. In the future, installing APK files will be easier.
8 user comments
Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets (06 Jun 2023 9:19)
Roomba Combo j7+ is the very first Roomba model to combine robot vacuum with mopping features. And Roomba Combo j7+ does all that with a very clever trick, which tackles the problem with mopping and carpets. But is it any good? We found out.
Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations (02 May 2023 3:38)
Neato Robotics has ceased its operations. American robot vacuum pioneer founded in 2005 has finally called it quits and company will cease its operations and sales. Only a skeleton crew will remain who will keep the servers running until 2028.
5 user comments
How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp (20 Mar 2023 1:25)
The world's most popular messaging platform, Meta-owned WhatsApp has enabled sending messages to yourself. While at first, this might seem like an odd feature, it can be very useful in a lot of situations. ....
18 user comments

News archive