Android Tutorial Lesson 8 - Arena

What is the role of Android Market in compatibility?
Devices that are Android compatible may seek to license
the Android Market client software.
This allows them to
become part of the Android app ecosystem, by allowing
users to download developers' apps from a catalog shared
by all compatible devices.
This option isn't available to
devices that aren't compatible.
What kinds of devices can be Android compatible?

The Android software can be ported to a lot of different
kinds of devices, including some on which third-party apps
won't run properly.
The Android Compatibility Definition
Document (CDD) spells out the specific device
configurations that will be considered compatible.
For example, though the Android source code could be
ported to run on a phone that doesn't have a camera, the
CDD requires that in order to be compatible, all phones
must have a camera.
This allows developers to rely on a
consistent set of capabilities when writing their apps.
The CDD will evolve over time to reflect market realities.
For instance, the 1.6 CDD only allows cell phones, but the
2.1 CDD allows devices to omit telephony hardware,
allowing for non-phone devices such as tablet-style music
players to be compatible. As we make these changes, we
will also augment Android Market to allow developers to
retain control over where their apps are available.
To
continue the telephony example, an app that manages SMS
text messages would not be useful on a media player, so
Android Market allows the developer to restrict that app
exclusively to phone devices.
If my device is compatible, does it automatically have
access to Android Market and branding?
Android Market is a service operated by Google. Achieving
compatibility is a prerequisite for obtaining access to the
Android Market software and branding. Device
manufacturers should contact Google to obtain access to
Android Market.
If I am not a manufacturer, how can I get Android Market?
Android Market is only licensed to handset manufacturers
shipping devices.
For questions about specific cases,
contact android-partnerships@google.com .
How can I get access to the Google apps for Android, such
as Maps?
The Google apps for Android, such as YouTube, Google
Maps and Navigation, Gmail, and so on are Google
properties that are not part of Android, and are licensed
separately. Contact android-partnerships@google.com for
inquiries related to those apps.
Is compatibility mandatory?
No. The Android Compatibility Program is optional.
Since
the Android source code is open, anyone can use it to build
any kind of device. However, if a manufacturer wishes to
use the Android name with their product, or wants access
to Android Market, they must first demonstrate that the
device is compatible.
How much does compatibility certification cost?
There is no cost to obtain Android compatibility for a
device.
The Compatibility Test Suite is open-source and
available to anyone to use to test a device.
How long does compatibility take?
The process is automated. The Compatibility Test Suite
generates a report that can be provided to Google to verify
compatibility. Eventually we intend to provide self-service
tools to upload these reports to a public database.
Who determines what will be part of the compatibility
definition?
Since Google is responsible for the overall direction of
Android as a platform and product, Google maintains the
Compatibility Definition Document for each release. We
draft the CDD for a new Android version in consultation
with a number of OEMs, who provide input on its contents.
How long will each Android version be supported for new
devices?
Since Android's code is open-source, we can't prevent
someone from using an old version to launch a device.
Instead, Google chooses not to license the Android Market
client software for use on versions that are considered
obsolete. This allows anyone to continue to ship old
versions of Android, but those devices won't use the
Android name and will exist outside the Android apps
ecosystem, just as if they were non-compatible.
Can a device have a different user interface and still be
compatible?
The Android Compatibility Program focuses on whether a
device can run third-party applications.
The user interface
components shipped with a device (such as home screen,
dialer, color scheme, and so on) does not generally have
much effect on third-party apps. As such, device builders
are free to customize the user interface as much as they
like.
The Compatibility Definition Document does restrict the
degree to which OEMs may alter the system user interface
for areas that do impact third-party apps.