Arguably the most important development in the world of open source in the last year or two has been the rise and rise of Google's Linux-based Android operating system. It's true that the mobiles out there employing it are not 100% free, but they are considerably more free than the main alternatives. More importantly, they are turning Linux into a global, mass-market platform in a way never before seen.
On Open Enterprise blog.
I have been thinking about this for about a year and a half and I agree. Android is monumental and I think it is a win. It may not be complete freedom, but it is better than anything we have had so far.
ReplyDeleteI also wrote a post on this based on your piece: http://dasublogbyprashanth.blogspot.com/2010/07/android-open-source-and-free-market.html . I don't think it it's just a victory for free software, but it is also a victory for open markets over central planning - no one is telling developers what to do. The consumer is always right - no one will know better what consumers want then consumers themselves.
ReplyDelete--
a Linux Mint user since 2009 May 1
@PV: yes, that's a good point.
ReplyDelete