Hacker News Reader

GKI didn't exist in 2012/2015, so it was very difficult and expensive for OEMs to support Android for longer. Apple could do so more easily because they control both hardware and software. Google introduced GKI and other related efforts/architectures to address this very problem, which is unique to Arm, Linux and the ecosystem around it.

It's really silicon manufacturer's fault for not wanting to mainline and long-term support their BSP, not Google's.

View on HN

I would say it's both. Google could put support requirements in the gms certification

And how would that help when the major SoC manufacturer refuses to support their chipsets?

Let the market decide, then.

Isn't this what capitalism loving companies say, anyway?

Broadcom had to open source their wireless drivers at the end. Same can happen for SoCs too. Add pressure, if not broken, goto 10.

If a device cant get play certified it cant realistically be sold anywhere in the world except china, so no phone manufacturer would choose a SoC for their phone that was not supported.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com