Google further embraces custom Android with standalone clock app
Google released a standalone clock in the Play Store this week. While Mountain View has been keen on serving up pieces of the Nexus experience (read: unskinned Android) for a while now, this latest release provides more evidence that the company is going all-in on a la carte apps. For users of devices other than a Nexus or Moto X -- which also offers a nearly bloat-free OS -- this means they can take advantage of the core pieces of Android and the larger Google ecosystem. In other words, you can customize a Samsung or HTC device how you see fit. It's like Google is making what we commonly refer to as "stock" Android another skin, but in separate apps so that users can choose exactly what they want. Since last April, users have been able to install a standalone Camera app built by Google, while Gmail, Maps, Messenger andCalendar have their own individual software, too.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/19/g...customization/
