Google now requires "Powered by Android" branding on all new smartphones

Upon its release, observant fans of Samsung's Galaxy S5 noticed that a "Powered by Android" logo had been added to the startup screen, something that hadn't been around on previous Samsung devices. That trend continued last week when the new HTC One M8 was found sporting the same logo, and it looks like it'll continue with all new devices.

According to Geek.com, Google is now mandating that all new smartphones include the "Powered by Android" logo and branding on the bottom of the start screen. Instructions dictating the specific size, location and font of this branding have also been uncovered in the Google Mobile Services agreement and it is now a requirement for devices hoping to access Google services.

The move is a clear attempt on Google's part to increase awareness of their OS, especially with the advent of many popular UIs that fail to make any mention of Android. Of course, some devices such as Nokia's Android X don't require access to Google Play or Gmail, and we'll have to see whether these same rules apply to them or not.

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