It sounds interesting but I cannot connect the dots.
So, the Google-authored apps' use can become illegal in future on a specific ("bigger") fork of Android you say? But that's just the license terms of Google apps. I don't understand what would a manufacturer be afraid of, exactly? (Does Kindle need any Google apps?...)
Most big manufacturers currently sell Google approved Android with Google apps. Selling even one not approved Android device voids the license for Google apps on the manufacturers entire existing lineup as far as I understand. It is either all or nothing.
Imagine yourself convincing Samsung to dump entire warehouses filled with Google (TM) Android phones and any chance of future success in that market in the trash over a handful of ebook readers. That is what Amazon had to deal with.
> Selling even one not approved Android device voids the license [...] on the manufacturers entire existing lineup
Ummm, that is not how licenses work legally, so I had trouble believing that exact link in the reasoning chain.
But I went and check... And you are right. It turns out that Google Apps are services, by which I mean they are governed by ToS not the license. And with ToS anybody could be cut off, duh.
So, the Google-authored apps' use can become illegal in future on a specific ("bigger") fork of Android you say? But that's just the license terms of Google apps. I don't understand what would a manufacturer be afraid of, exactly? (Does Kindle need any Google apps?...)