Google Promises One Android for All Screen Sizes--As it Should Be

There have been many reports that Google wants to "supercharge" its Android efforts through its purchase of Motorola Mobility, which puts Google squarely in the handset and hardware mobile business. That has caused some concern among some of the hardware manufacturers who rely on getting the latest and greatest version of Android to deliver on their devices. How do they know Google won't keep brand new Android versions under wraps while Google itself delivers the latest and greatest Android phones? After all, Google has been accused of playing favorites with certain makers of Android tablets before. The good news is that Google has finally tipped its hand, and said it will deliver unified new versions of Android for tablets as well as phones, and for all screen sizes.

As we noted in this post, Google took some criticism earlier this year when, with Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the company seemed to be aiming targeted features at tablet developers, while other versions of Android would be more appropriate for smartphones and other devices. Google was also criticized for delaying delivery of Honeycomb to select hardware makers, a strategy that seemed to ring of playing favorites with Android. 

Now, though, the Android Developer blog reports this:

"Early this year, Honeycomb (Android 3.0) launched for tablets. Although Honeycomb remains tablets-only, the upcoming Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) release will support big screens, small screens, and everything in between. This is the way Android will stay from now on: the same version runs on all screen sizes."

That's the way it should be. Android marched to very quick success by being open and easy for hardware manufacturers to leverage in delivering innovative devices. A one-size-fits-all version of Android will continue these trends, and it is to Google's benefit anyway to keep makers of Android devices happy, because they help steer users into Google's lucrative search/ad ecosystem, where the company really makes its money.