[stanleydrew]

I'm sorry but I don't see a double standard here. Developers get mad at Apple for exerting control over the App Store. Users get mad at Apple for capriciously restricting their use of great applications (like Google Voice, until recently). It's entirely App Store control that everyone declares draconian.

Almost everyone I know is very happy with Apple exclusively controlling iOS as an operating system. They are also very happy that Apple exerts lots of control over carriers in the sense of not letting them make additions or modifications to the operating system, pre-install apps, add carrier branding to the hardware, etc. This is the kind of control Google is now seeking.

To me it appears that you have a double standard. You want to criticize Google for attempting to exert the same control that Apple is rightfully lauded for.

[isleyaardvark]

> You want to criticize Google for attempting to exert the same control that Apple is rightfully lauded for.

We're criticizing Google for falsely describing their approach as "open". Apple is rightly lauded for their closed approach because it is effective in ensuring quality, looks like Google is starting to learn the same lessons. I have no problem with Google taking that approach, I'd like to see quality Android tablets. But it isn't "open".

[bonch]

"To me it appears that you have a double standard. You want to criticize Google for attempting to exert the same control that Apple is rightfully lauded for."

Since when is Apple lauded for that around here? Apple is usually bashed for its strict control and closed platform. Yet when Google begins exerting that same kind of quality control, the comments section is full of defensiveness and justification. It's a double-standard.

Google fans in general have become some of the most obnoxious people on the planet, mocking Apple fans for blindly supporting a closed platform while unwittingly doing the same thing themselves, even as they preach about how open Android is.

Google is an advertising company. Android and other free products only exist to get people onto their proprietary content-indexing platform. That's why Verizon Android phones modified to use the Bing search engine are being obstructed by Google. The whole point of Android is for it to be a Google platform, not some benevolent revolution in openness and freedom.

[mberning]

Exactly. I learned how closed android is when I tried to remove my Google account form my Nexus One. It simply wouldn't let me do it. That's an interesting concept of free and open if you ask me.