I just noticed on the Roon site release note for their latest version
If they’re likely to similarly update the requirements for the Roon Ready software then this should be the trigger for Rose to look at updating the Android version on their equipment.
And these are connected exactly how?
Because IF Google are setting new minimum requirements for applications running on Android then that may apply to the Rose software.
And that’s a big IF, and the answer is “no.” Google isn’t setting any new requirements for something running on “Android.” They are adding new APIs (and deprecating old APIs) in new releases of Android, and they are changing what user-installed software is able to do in newer versions (some things that could be done by user applications previously now are disallowed… for security reasons, as Google puts it). They also make it so some things must be built against reasonably recent SDK version to be allowed to run on the latest Android version. This is applicable for something like Roon, which needs to run on the multitude of currently available non-dedicated user devices. At some point they look at how many different ways they have to do the same thing, depending on the Android version, and whether supporting an older version will even allow Roon client to run on the most recent version of Android.
This is all fine and well and makes sense when you are targeting user devices in the wild. But it hjas absolutely nothing to do with Rose’s situation, where HiFi Rose controls both the OS and any application you can install on it. There is no way for Google say that “oh, and RoseTube now won’t work on RoseOS.” That’s not how it works.
The only reasons why the Android version in RoseOS would have to be updated would be either if there were some glaring security flaw found in the current version, which could not be patched, or if the SDKs Rose uses to integrate with external services were deprecated, and newer versions were to require a newer Android version. Could that happen? Sure. Is it going to happen in some near future? Quite unlikely.
Is there truly a reason HIFI Rose keeps itself to their own priority/closed Android OS?
I’m considering streamers and HIFI Rose looks like the top shelf brand. What is holding me back is the closed Android OS. FIIO is offering their model F15 with open Android OS. The open system seems from my view a better approach meaning I can load any form of apps from the Google Play Store.
Comments?
Personal view: this is a spectacularly bad idea which would result in an explosion of support issues.
Yeah, because running a banking app, a game, or some random malware from the Play Store is so important on a music streamer.
Besides, most store apps would not even work on Rose screen anyway.
Take a look to eversolo: There you’ve the option for sideloading apps.
Since the beginning the eversolo streamer have a bug (some developers are not willing, that’s a bug…) in the screen saver (you can’t disable it and it starts also while playing music).
So after installing a global android setup app, you can disable it.
Or you can install here a squeezelite over the terminal, which isn’t needed anymore.
Sure, the user must know, what she/he is doing, but for some personal issues it can be an option.
You’ve never worked in support have you?
Sure, I’m a developer for complex PSIM solutions and in here the users (mostly our technicians) are able to write their own workflows, with which you’re able to destroy the whole system and so I’m always in contact with customers 
.
But the openess from our systems are also their strength and so we’re in Europe in this area the number three and it seems that we’re coming closer to the number one…
And: I don’t would prefer an open android on the Rose devices, but the option for sideloading, which is a complete different thing.
Eversolo also has a more common aspect ratio for the screen, so sideloaded apps might even work.
I didn’t mean that to sound quite so snarky.
As I’m sure you know, you have to be incredibly careful when you open these things up even a fraction. To quote from Douglas Adams
“A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.”
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I read there are merits to a closed system.
I possibly am asking for the HIFI Rose 151 to be more app focused than I should be.