[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] MartinFick:
Update, here is the new google spreadsheet.

I would like to propose that we document the "openess" state of various Android devices, so that those who are in the market for a new device can potentially get a better picture of which devices might suit them if they are concerned about such things. I have read through countless posts in the last few months, across several forums, to attempt to figure out much of this info myself, for many of the existing devices. Naturally, the state of a device can change as developers figure out how to do things with devices, or as manufacturers release more info, source, or tools. I suspect that at least a few other people would like to share in the fruits of my searches. I also suspect/hope that a few others might be willing to add their own conclusions and references to my research. Let's join together in a common place to do this. Thanks.

I propose to do that with respect to the Open Libre Device guidelines (Specification 0.0) listed below:

Open Libre Device Level 0: Functionally Open

Freedom 0.0: The ability to load software on the device unimpeded.

Freedom 0.1: The ability to access all the intended device's hardware functionality via free/libre software running on the main (non auxiliary) processors. A free/libre software reference implementation must exist to do this.

Freedom 0.2: The ability to use all the device's intended functionality (except for any device communication functionality) without the device communicating with any other device. The reference software implementation must not require external activation of any sorts.

Open Libre Device Level 1: Completely Open

Freedom 1.0: All of the freedoms of level 0

Freedom 1.1: The ability to interact with the device externally with only free/libre software. A free/libre software reference implementation must exist which implements any protocols required to communicate with the device to exercise all the freedoms of level 0. This includes loading software or accessing its functionality such as communications protocols.

Note: the likely currently precludes any cell phones from being level 1 open devices since there are no complete free/libre software stacks for cell networks (yet).

Freedom 1.2: The ability to access the entire device's intended functionality with entirely free/libre software, including all device peripherals (auxiliary processors) running only free/libre software. Free/libre software reference implementations must exist for all device peripherals.

These are guidelines which I came up with a while ago. They are not perfect, and I welcome comments and improvements in both the intent and clarity of these guidelines. I will stipulate however, that I do not ever intend to amend this specification to be in the spirit of Open Source Hardware. The spirit here is about the software that runs on, and interacts with the devices, not about designing the hardware.

So, I am looking for:

A good place to put our list (it could be here in this thread)

A good way to keep track of this info a (table format, a db somewhere, a google spreadsheet?)

Info about devices:

Brand/Device Name/Model #, version (if it matters)

Pass or Fail with respect to any specific point in the guidelines above

A description or reference which (dis)proves 3B

Well, thanks for any support, I look forward to sharing my results with others.