Yeah, Google needs to make this move on Android. If they're just say "okay, if you want Android 10, you need to provide your drivers in this exact ABI way, no more custom software crap, we push the updates", that'd be awesome - basically, use the Windows model.
I believe the only reason they didn't do this out of the gate is because device manufacturers wouldn't have signed on for it. Android is establish enough at this point that it's not like many device manufacturers could really step back from it at this point.
Treble is a strong step in this direction - but they need to take it farther, open up customization APIs and drop the garbage manufacturers pump into devices. The way Treble is right now it only benefits power users who have their devices rooted - who could update without the manufacturers permission anyways.
I wonder if their only hesitation at this point is the mess they're making with ChromeOS and all their other garbage... I think the Android roof was the right one to bet on, massive numbers of users with primary devices running it, but I fear they've done significant damage with their other offerings.
There were some statements that they were updating the Play Store contracts to impose this, specially after GSI.
Because the uptake from IO to IO has been diminishing, as Android is already good enough for the purpose of selling phones, so most OEMs aren't even bothering with Treble (Android 7+) for new devices, other than flagship ones.
So Google is now forced to do exactly that if they want OEM to actually care about new versions.
I believe the only reason they didn't do this out of the gate is because device manufacturers wouldn't have signed on for it. Android is establish enough at this point that it's not like many device manufacturers could really step back from it at this point.
Treble is a strong step in this direction - but they need to take it farther, open up customization APIs and drop the garbage manufacturers pump into devices. The way Treble is right now it only benefits power users who have their devices rooted - who could update without the manufacturers permission anyways.
I wonder if their only hesitation at this point is the mess they're making with ChromeOS and all their other garbage... I think the Android roof was the right one to bet on, massive numbers of users with primary devices running it, but I fear they've done significant damage with their other offerings.