I think that's been true up until now, but Cyanogen has recently announce intentions to move away from dependence on Google.[0]

[0] http://www.androidauthority.com/cyanogen-google-kirt-mcmaste...

I cant help but think of Amazon's FireOS and that's not a good thing.

If you want an ecosystem completely controlled by only one company, there's always Apple.

If that means updates and security patches in a timely manner, and a roadmap for support for older devices, then that's good, surely???

And I say this running my XPeria S with Android 4.1.1 and my Motorola Xoom on 4.1, with my wife's Samsung S4 Mini running some 4.1 or 4.2 (and no notification light, it's stupid). Let's hope nobody finds out where my devices are on the Internet because they're likely full of security holes that will never ever be plugged.

Just because both vanilla Android and Cyanogen follow AOSP doesn't mean they can't compete. Just look at Samsung and Touchwiz.

> despite MS actions Nokia, the other part MS did not buy is going ahead with an android fork.

Can you provide a source for this please? I remember reading about the new Nokia N1 tablet but it was built and designed by foxconn and just branded by Nokia so I am not aware of any Android fork there...

Hi I'm a Nokia PM on this project. It's not an Android fork. Z Launcher is running on top of vanilla Android on the N1.

The "Android fork stuff" was part of Nokia Mobile Phones, so it ended up at Microsoft.

Nokia has the "Z Launcher" product which also the N1 tablet is running.

https://www.zlauncher.com

I think you're mixing up AOSP and Google Apps / Play Services.

AOSP is available under a standard open source license, and can be used by anyone under those terms. It's the use of Play Services and Google's Apps that requires specific permission and has relatively onerous terms. CyanogenMod can use Play Services, but it doesn't have to, and seems to be moving away from it entirely.