Rumor: Google pressured Asus to cancel Android/Windows dual-boot devices
Taiwanese hardware manufacturer Asus has reportedly shelved plans to release a new Transformer tablet that would allow consumers to run both Microsoft's Windows and Google's Android operating systems on the same device after Google voiced opposition to the move.
Google may have demanded the product's cancellation due to concerns about giving Microsoft a new foothold in the mobile device space, according to Digitimes. Windows currently accounts for a minuscule fraction of the mobile device market, and Google is likely looking to avoid a scenario in which its battle with Apple turns into a multi-front war.
The search giant's wishes may be at odds with those of major Asus partner Intel, whose Core-series processors power the device. Sales of such high-specced tablets would be good for Intel at a time when the pioneering chipmaker is struggling in the mobile space against devices running lower-power ARM processors.
Known as the Transformer Book Duet TD300, Asus unveiled the tablet at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Users could choose which operating system to boot into using a key on the attached keyboard or with a virtual button in the customized Android installation, and Intel is thought to have been ready to provide financial and marketing assistance for the tablet's launch alongside the rest of Asus's 2014 products.
If true, it may not be the first time Google has helped to quash such a product. South Korean electronics giant Samsung quietly canceled plans for its hybrid Ativ Q tablet last year, and Digitimes notes that Asus may not be the only company to bow to Google's wishes.
Google may have demanded the product's cancellation due to concerns about giving Microsoft a new foothold in the mobile device space, according to Digitimes. Windows currently accounts for a minuscule fraction of the mobile device market, and Google is likely looking to avoid a scenario in which its battle with Apple turns into a multi-front war.
The search giant's wishes may be at odds with those of major Asus partner Intel, whose Core-series processors power the device. Sales of such high-specced tablets would be good for Intel at a time when the pioneering chipmaker is struggling in the mobile space against devices running lower-power ARM processors.
Known as the Transformer Book Duet TD300, Asus unveiled the tablet at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Users could choose which operating system to boot into using a key on the attached keyboard or with a virtual button in the customized Android installation, and Intel is thought to have been ready to provide financial and marketing assistance for the tablet's launch alongside the rest of Asus's 2014 products.
If true, it may not be the first time Google has helped to quash such a product. South Korean electronics giant Samsung quietly canceled plans for its hybrid Ativ Q tablet last year, and Digitimes notes that Asus may not be the only company to bow to Google's wishes.
Comments
Do No Evil?
They chant the mantra, but they don't walk the walk.
And if the rumor *were* true, what would the headline be:
Google acts in Google's self interest?
In other news, iPads don't boot to Android or Windows.
Windows currently accounts for a minuscule fraction of the mobile device market...
Not that I'm surprised, but I find it interesting that AI insists that iPads be counted as computers when writing about Apple's share in the computer market, but leaves out Windows notebooks when writing about Microsoft's share in mobile devices.
Google doesn't manufacture the tablet. I think the Apple analogy is off the mark.
And if the rumor *were* true, what would the headline be:
But it can't be true. It's Digitimes.
AppleInsider got played yet again.
Google may have demanded the product's cancellation
By "demanded" they mean threatened not to contract upcoming Nexus devices to Asus.
If I were Asus I'd be like: Thanks for the advice guys, it will only run Windows.
Must be: don't think for a second that Google wants to have their Android OS be associated with the inferior Windows from Microploft¡
If true, it would be a black mark on Googs. Do no evil and openness. If Android is open, A third party can do what ever they want. Apple makes its own hardware and software.
AI also isn't counting MBAs or MBPs.
Google doesn't own Asus so they really have no right pressuring them to do anything. On top of that Android is supposed to be "open-sourced" so they should be allowed to use it however they want. Guess the Android fanboys forgot about that. It's more surprising Microsoft didn't threaten to pull licensing agreements to use windows if they went through with it. Apple may not allow Android to be booted on iPads, but they are pretty generous in giving people all the tools, short of software, to install windows on any Mac.
And if the rumor *were* true, what would the headline be:
Google acts in Google's self interest?
In other news, iPads don't boot to Android or Windows.
Google doesn't manufacture the tablet. I think the Apple analogy is off the mark.
Apple is happy to allow you to run Windows on their MBP though
Wonder why that is.
Android isn't open source, Android is open sores.
Google doesn't manufacture the tablet. I think the Apple analogy is off the mark.
It's not really an analogy so much as a paradigm at how this article is 'non-news' Obviously the goal is to get clicks by fomenting Google-haters 'Google is evil' mantra....
I don't view Apple as 'evil' for choosing not to include Windows or Android on their tablets or phones, because it would be shooting themselves in the foot. And "Apple doesn't add Windows or Android to the iPad!" would make a really dumb headline. An equally dumb headline would be "Google pressured Asus to cancel Android/Windows dual-boot devices"
Google works with partners. It is a different model. If one of those partners takes a step to shoot Google in the foot, I'd expect Google to tell them to stop. That's not really being evil or newsworthy. Cancelling business dealings with them wouldn't be out of order, certainly. If they threatened to cover them in honey and throw them on a fire ant nest, that would be a 'break out the popcorn' headline and newsworthy.
And if the rumor *were* true, what would the headline be:
Google acts in Google's self interest?
In other news, iPads don't boot to Android or Windows.
I think the big difference is Google is championing a "Open" OS, do with it what you like or at least that's what the are always saying. If this article is true then that's not very "open" to me.
A manufacturer can do what they want with Android, see Amazon and Nokia. Google has contracted Asus to build its line of Nexus tablets. Them building a tablet that runs Android and Windows is potentially a conflict of interest.
Their hand was forced.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1049883/xponmac.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4816520.stm