CODEWITHSUNDEEP
android
Sungwon Jeong
Sungwon Jeong

Reputation: 1267

Is it okay to modify Android's system files? (for device company)

I work for a company which is making device using the Android platform.

A UI designer asked me if it is possible to modify not just apps UI but whole Android's basic UI for example, status bar color, setting menu's font and so on.

I found a way to do this (editing services.jar... right?) but I wonder if it is okay to do it (release a device with modified Android framework code... does Google allow this or not).

Does anybody know about this issue?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 329

Answers (2)

CommonsWare
CommonsWare

Reputation: 1007330

I wonder is it okay to do it

So long as you are not allowing third-party apps on the device, you can do whatever you want. Android is (mostly) under the Apache License 2.0.

If you want to allow third-party applications on the device -- particularly via the Android Market -- you need to think about compatibility. Making UI changes that break third-party applications will make your device very unpopular.

Upvotes: 4

Falmarri
Falmarri

Reputation: 48577

Android is open source. You can do whatever you want

Upvotes: 0

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