Ex-Google SVP: Android's open system makes it difficult to compete with Apple

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"If you truly care about great photography, you own an iPhone. If you don't mind being a few years behind, buy an Android," said Google's former senior vice president of engineering, Vic Gundotra, who praised Apple for its camera on the iPhone 7 Plus recently.

In his Facebook account, Gundotra said that the quality of iPhone 7 is good enough for him to bring "the end of the DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera."

The reason why other smartphones cannot level with iPhone's technology when it comes to photography? Gundotra says Android might be to blame.

In a detailed response to a comment claiming Samsung's Galaxy S8 has a better photography camera than the iPhone 7, Gundotra said that, in his opinions, Android's open source system makes it difficult for Google to release latest hardware and software innovation at the same time.

Vic Gundotra's Facebook Post. /CGTN Photo

"It's because when Samsung innovates with the underlying hardware (like a better camera), they have to convince Google to allow that innovation to be surfaced to other applications via the appropriate API. That can take YEARS."

According to the former Google's executive, Android's need to be "neutral to all parties," is dragging on the innovation promotion of Google. By contract, Apple doesn't have "all these constraints," said Gundotra, who praised Apple's closed ecosystem.

Vic Gundotra's comments in his Facbook. /CGTN Photo

In his view, Apple could give innovation in the underlying hardware and rapidly "update the software with their latest innovations (like portrait mode) and ship it."

Google declined to comment, though it is indeed surprising to hear such criticism from a staff who was ever responsible for Google's open source programs —specifically Android.