Sep 04

RoMOS is Russia’s take on Android OS, shields users from Google’s prying eyes

Posted in: Today's Chili

RoMOS is Russia's take on Android OS, promises to shield users from Google's prying eyes

Whether it be Google’s penchant for collecting search and browsing histories or Street View WiFi information, the company is no stranger to concerns about its healthy appetite for user data. Apparently, Russia also shares those worries as the country has produced its own take on the Android operating system minus Google’s data collection. Unveiled at IFA in Berlin, the Russian Mobile Operating System or RoMOS reportedly mimics the look and feel of Android and works with Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System. The OS is scheduled to debut in tablet form by the end of the year, though RoMOS’ project manager says it can serve as a smartphone operating system, too. The main customers for RoMOS will reportedly be the country’s military, which has always had concerns about data collected by Google from Russian devices falling into US government hands. In addition to a military version of the RoMOS tablet, a consumer version will be launched as well. Just don’t expect the variant for the hoi polloi to have the same bells and whistles. The military version, for example, not only will be waterproof — it’ll be shock proof, too.

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RoMOS is Russia’s take on Android OS, shields users from Google’s prying eyes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 03

Russia Introduces A Google-Less Android

Posted in: Today's Chili


One of the key reasons for Android’s wild popularity and fame is that it is good, free and well-supported by Google. However, this is not to say that Google does not earn anything in return for it. Rather, the search giant collects personal as well as other information from Android users to provide it to the advertisers who then devise their ads accordingly. Google reportedly made more than a Billion dollars from Android last year.

However, some see Google’s act of collecting data as a significant threat. Russia, for instance, seems to think that its national security can be adversely affected if this kind of data becomes available to the U.S. government. That’s particularly true when Android is used for governmental purposes. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung reportedly looking to Microsoft to lessen their dependency on Google’s Android, Official Android Neon Lamp now available in the Google Store,

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