> Google did a similar calculus, with a different set of values (if not an entirely different set of variables altogether) and came up with a different answer.
Their answer isn't openness, it's surveillance. Google is a surveillance driven ad company.
I'm not sure I understand how FDroid makes it easier for Google to survey me.
I don't see how Google, which controls the default apps, which can give them whatever privileges it wants at an OS-level, needs an Open platform to monitor me. If anything, wouldn't Google have more incentive than iOS to lock the platform down, since it doesn't want the competition from apps like Facebook that are competing in the same data-driven ad space?
Edit: Not sure why people are taking offense at this. Google doesn't need the web to be open, that's a talking point that comes up every time we talk about Chrome -- Google only needs its own ad network to function. Android is the same; why does Google need Android to be Open? They don't need the ability to sideload apps. Google Maps is installed by default, all of their apps are contractually required to be installed by default if you want access to the Play Store. If Google removed the ability to sideload today, none of their apps would get removed from your phone.
Their answer isn't openness, it's surveillance. Google is a surveillance driven ad company.