Here at the Gadget Helpline we like to keep you up to date with the latest developments in the mobile world, bringing you the latest info on tweaks hacks and mods for your mobiles and tablets alike.
This week we are going to start with a little application that has been developed to run on our android devices, it’s an app that will activate Dolby mobile on all Android apps, not just HTC Music. At the moment the app is only for the HTC Desire HD but the developer is working on an update zip to install the feature on any Android device bringing some Dolby goodness to us all.
What is Dolby Mobile you ask? Basically it is an audio enhancement app that will give the idea of virtual surround sound on our mobile devices. The App will bring the features of being able to switch between headset and speaker mode at the press of a button. It’s a simple concept but sometimes the simple ones are the best. You can check out the app here
Like me, some of you may do some basic modifications to your mobiles and tablets. This could include rooting your Android device, unlocking your WP7 handset using Chevron un-locker or jail breaking your IOS device. Well if you are the owner of an Android device and you would like to learn a little bit more about Android development head over to Free your Android. This is a new site designed by the recognized XDA Team VillainRom, responsible for bringing some brilliant custom Roms to multiple Android devices. What the team did was do some research into the most common searches and info looked at when trying to improve the knowledge of development.
If you were to look through XDA it could potentially take hours or even hours to find what you are looking for. Well not anymore the Free your Android site has been designed specifically to help teach newcomers how to get into developing their Android devices.
Taking us nicely onto the next part of this week’s blog, Part of developing with Android, is that certain things need to stay open source. Failure to stick to these strict rules result in GPL violation. Basically the rules of GPL are that if a product is Shopped with Android, the source code and kernel for the Rom running on the device needs to be made public, failure to do this will then result in the GPL violation.
There is evidence that the four known Touchpad devices purchased running Android 2.2 came directly from HP’s production line. Since then, Green, a kernel developer for the Cyanogenmod Touchpad team, has been working with Ben Maskell of the law firm Roetzel & Andress. Maskell has contacted us with a copy of the letter sent on Monday, 8 November to HP’s Open Source Program Director, Philip Robb. Here is the short hand version, but I encourage you to read the full letter.
… We request that Hewlett Packard provide Mr. Drokin with a copy of the source code for the Android operating system that came factory-installed on a number of HP TouchPads.
Mr. Drokin is… the author of many copyrighted contributions which have been integrated into the Linux / Android kernel and licensed version 2 of the General Public License (“GPL”)…
We have recently become aware that Hewlett Packard has utilized Mr. Drokin’s code in a version of the Android operating system which was custom tailored for the HP Touchpad…
… Hewlett Packard’s use of the Linux kernel and Mr. Drokin’s code was subject to the license requirements set forth in the GPL… It is apparent Hewlett Packard has modified and publically distributed the Linux Kernel under the license granted in GPL § 2. Therefore, Hewlett Packard has a legal duty to release this source code at least under GPL § 3…
We are fully prepared to enforce Mr. Drokin’s rights. However, to avoid unnecessary costs to both parties, we kindly request that Hewlett Packard voluntary release the requested source code. We request your timely response to this letter, but in any event, no later than Wednesday, November 23, 2011…
So keep that date in your calendar. Ben Maskell has been asked to find out more. In specific, to find out the legal argument that establishes four Touchpads as distribution, and asked if there were any legal precedents they planned to rely upon. He said it’s a little early in the process to go digging through case histories and at this point they only refer to the plain language of the GPL. To clarify:
HP has used the code, and they are therefore bound by the terms. See section 5. Under sections 1 and 2 of the license, HP is generally allowed to modify, adapt, distribute, and copy Mr. Drokin’s code so long as they also comply with section 3. Section 3 provides that any copies or distributions are accompanied by the source (3a) or a written offer to provide the source (3b). HP has not complied with section 3 and is therefore in violation of the GPL.
We hope that HP will respond to our letter and that the parties reach an out-of-court resolution to this matter.
So its just about playing a waiting game, HP tend to try and get around these things, but there is clear case to be answered. Lets hope that they crack under pressure and release the code for Android on the touch pad.
Check in next week for another dose of Development weekly.
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