Why is it that Android still can't be installed as regular OS? Are there any technical or others reasons why Android is still a firmware and not an OS which can be just installed without a lot of hassle?

Why there is no universal image which could detect appropriate drivers (kernel modules), partition NAND in some standard way and configure boot loader to boot updated OS version?

What stops Google from making a real (less firmware-like) OS (an OS for small ARM, x86 etc. devices)?
What stops Google from making a real OS (an OS for small ARM, x86 etc devices)?


It is a "real" OS.


  Why there is no universal image which could detect appropriate drivers


How do you detect drivers that don't exist?  Someone has to write them.  Unlike PCs, phone hardware varies wildly, largely because it isn't feasible for end users to construct their own from parts and size constraints.  Customized parts instead of interchangeable ones and special chipsets mean very specific drivers are needed, and an OS can't just ship default ones.  Imagine the bloat as well &mdash; someone with a cheap HTC phone with 20 MB for apps doesn't have room to host drivers they don't need.


  and configure boot loader to boot updated OS version


Bootloaders also vary wildly between devices; you'd have to get all the manufacturers on board in order to use a single one, and manufacturers are unlikely to want to give up their power in that area.