From the official GNU Web site:

No, he did not actually say this, it's a joke.

Summary: We need to strive for Software Freedom, which Android mostly denies, but if Android makes Windows more extinct (on the client side) and Linux more widespread, then we can get closer to mass adoption of GNU/Linux worldwide, with Free software rather than just proprietary "apps" on top

5 days ago we published the post "About Two-Thirds of the World's Surface Now Android (or Linux) Dominated" because, in case it's not obvious, Android continues to grow (not just in terms of usage worldwide). Some avid iPhone fans are on the record as saying Android (or its OEMs) has surpassed -- technically leapfrogged -- Apple's offerings; even some high-profile Apple enthusiasts who are quoted in the media this month shylessly say this.

"Android is on about 3 out of 4 Internet-connected devices in Libya, at least as measured by one firm over the Web. It has a similar relative share in Pakistan and Afghanistan."In terms of market share, Android is very widespread in the developing nations. Among the examples we've not highlighted yet, consider how widespread Android became in Muslim-majority nations. Android is on about 3 out of 4 Internet-connected devices in Libya, at least as measured by one firm over the Web. It has a similar relative share in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Android is so widepsread that even most Microsoft employees use it. Maybe even the managers.

Windows is rapidly becoming extinct in the device space.

As we noted the other night, ChromeOS and Android both push DRM into Linux (yes, kernel space too, not just Web browsers). This is becoming a very real -- and rapidly-growing -- problem. Even the FSF has just lashed out at Google.

"We're generally hoping that eventually ChromeOS and Android users will realise they need not be prisoners of Google."While people in IRC stress the need for more emphasis on Android not being freedom, we need to look at a broader picture. psydruid says conflating the two is disingenuous; "Android hasn't become "critical infrastructure" in the IT sphere although often authentication malware has to be installed on it even when logging in on desktops and laptops but none of the critical computing is done on phones [..] when Windows is done we can start working on putting Android out of the picture."

We're generally hoping that eventually ChromeOS and Android users will realise they need not be prisoners of Google. Given the similarities to GNU/Linux, migrating them over to computing freedom will be simpler than doing so when they transition from Windows. ⬆