The best Samsung deals! Galaxy Book 4 series, Watch 6, S24 Ultra or Z Flip 5! - Join SamMobile on Telegram!

SamMobile has affiliate and sponsored partnerships. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn a commission.

Notifications
    News for you

    Google clamping down on Samsung’s control over Android

    Phone
    By 

    Last updated: September 30th, 2014 at 11:11 UTC+02:00

    Google has always allowed Android manufacturers to make their own customizations to the software that powers their smartphones and tablets but now evidence has surfaced which reveals that the company is tightening requirements for manufacturing partners that want to build Android devices. Confidential documents obtained by The Information show that since Google wants the Android experience to be more consistent across all the different devices available it wants manufacturers to pre-load more of its apps and position them in prominent places.

    The report claims that this has been a frequent point of contention “particularly between Google and Samsung.” It goes without saying that Samsung is Google's biggest hardware partner and it is known for making customizations like TouchWiz and placing its own native apps more prominently as opposed to the apps by Google.

    The contract, called Mobile Application Distribution Agreement, will reportedly now require manufacturers to pre-load 20 Google apps on their devices, that's up from nine back in 2011. The agreement also requires that a Google search widget be available as default on the homescreen apart from icons for Google Play store and a separate Google icon which contains 13 applications such as Chrome, Maps, YouTube, Gmail and others.

    If manufacturers have agreed to adhere by this agreement then we should start seeing less customization and more of a consistent experience across different devices as far as Google's products and services are concerned. Whether or not it will be received positively by customers remains to be seen.

    Source

    PhoneTablet AndroidGoogle

    You might also like

    Accessing Meta AI in WhatsApp to get easier

    Accessing Meta AI in WhatsApp to get easier

    Currently, you can access Meta AI in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android in two ways. First, by tapping the Meta AI button on the Chats tab, which will open the conversation with the chatbot. Second, by searching for Meta AI in contacts and then tapping on the contact to open the conversation with […]

    • By Abid Iqbal Shaik
    • 11 hours ago
    Google Messages copies useful feature from Samsung Messages

    Google Messages copies useful feature from Samsung Messages

    In the current stable version of Google Messages, when you capture an image from within the app to send it in an RCS chat, a small preview of the picture pops up in the compose box. You can tap on the image to see it in fullscreen. Well, Google has started testing a significant change […]

    • By Abid Iqbal Shaik
    • 16 hours ago
    Android 15 brings three keyboard features that One UI already offers

    Android 15 brings three keyboard features that One UI already offers

    Earlier this month, Google released Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2. It brought many features, and among them were two new accessibility options meant for use with a physical keyboard, sticky keys, and bounce keys. It was reported that these two features will soon be joined by another option, slow keys. Well, that third option is […]

    • By Abid Iqbal Shaik
    • 2 days ago
    Good Lock’s ClockFace module now offers more customization

    Good Lock’s ClockFace module now offers more customization

    Samsung has released an update to ClockFace, a module for Good Lock that gives you additional options to customize clock face for the lock screen and always-on display over what Android and One UI offer.  The update changes the app’s version to 3.1.7 and according to the changelog, it brings three features for phones/tablets running […]

    • By Abid Iqbal Shaik
    • 2 days ago
    Google Play Store makes it easier to access search

    Google Play Store makes it easier to access search

    Google is finally giving some attention to the UI on its stock apps. It is bringing a unified look and feel to its apps and ecosystem of products. An upcoming design change to the Google Play Store will make it easier to access search within the app. Google Play Store gets Search option on the […]

    • By Asif Iqbal Shaik
    • 2 days ago
    WhatsApp will soon let you disable link previews

    WhatsApp will soon let you disable link previews

    In the current version of WhatsApp for Android, when you paste a link to a website in the text input field, the app loads its preview, showing you the title, description, and thumbnail of the webpage, and when you send that message, it shows the preview to the other person as well, instead of just […]

    • By Abid Iqbal Shaik
    • 4 days ago