The Google hardware battle may be approaching its zenith, according to a new report that claims the tech giant is requiring that all handset partners include a "powered by Android" message on their splash screens.
The logo was first spotted on Samsung's newly revealed Galaxy S5, but has since materialized on devices from other Android manufacturers. According to Geek, Google has mandated that all companies using its operating system make that known via a banner that appears during the boot-up phase. Per the report, the branding is a mandatory change for new devices that wish to have access to the Google Play store.
As Google forges deeper into its quest to retain control over the smartphone market, which some believe it is quickly ceding to the hardware superpower that is Samsung, it's easy to understand the rationale behind the power move.
[via The Verge]
