Google Announces 'Android' Mobile Platform (Google Phones?)
Welcome to the Open Handset Alliance, a group of more than 30 technology and mobile companies who have come together to accelerate innovation in mobile and offer consumers a richer, less expensive, and better mobile experience. Together we have developed Android, the first complete, open, and free mobile platform.
The core of the platform will be a Linux-based system alongside Java and is said to deliver a complete set of software for mobile devices: the operating system, middleware and key mobile applications. An early look at the Android software development kit will be provided on November 12th. Android's developer's kit is open and does not differentiate between core phone applications vs third party applications. All applications are said to be created equally with full access to the phone's capabilities. User customization is featured as a big feature:
With devices built on the Android Platform, users will be able to fully tailor the phone to their interests. They can swap out the phone's homescreen, the style of the dialer, or any of the applications. They can even instruct their phones to use their favorite photo viewing application to handle the viewing of all photos.
The aliiance consists of over 30 companies, including T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel, Motorola, and Samsung. Notably absent are Apple, Palm and AT&T.
Commercial handsets based on the Android platform are not expected to come to market until the second half of 2008.
Some relevant details from Engadget's transcript of the press event:
- "minimum reqs is about a 200MHz ARM9, software is compatible with small screens, large screens, QWERTY, non-QWERTY..." so apparently it's hardware flexible"
- "This one is open. In two ways: devs can put apps on top of it, and the whole OS is open source, so anyone can take it and modify it to their needs."
- Q: "Eric, I want to go back to the Gphone -- what's the deal?" Eric: "The deal is we don't pre-announce products... if there WERE to be a Gphone, it would run Android."
In all, many details remain unanswered, but more information should be coming on November 12th.
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Google will be holding a conference call at noon eastern to unveil the details of its long-rumored Android mobile operating system. Joining CEO Eric Schmidt will be other members of the 34-member Open Handset Alliance, including the chief executives of Deutche Telekom, HTC, Qualcomm, and Motorola. According to the press release, the "Android platform will be made available under one of the most progressive, developer-friendly open-source licenses," and will be composed of a "fully integrated mobile 'software stack' that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications." Pictured above is simply a concept, and is not officially from Google. More details to follow.
Engadget | Press Release | Google Blog | Android Official
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2007-11-04-google-phone_N.htm
But if I'm able to give or sell an app to zillions of phones, plus my own, without hassles, then I'm for a global OS.
Also, I like their emphasis on a customizable UI.
With devices built on the Android Platform, users will be able to fully tailor the phone to their interests. They can swap out the phone's homescreen, the style of the dialer, or any of the applications. They can even instruct their phones to use their favorite photo viewing application to handle the viewing of all photos.
(Gee, sounds like WM.)
I think the biggest deal of any phone OS is the ability for personalization. Everyone has their own idea of what's important to them. This is Apple's giant mistake so far... and a good reason why so many jailbreak their phone... people want to customize their phone, and arrange things to their liking.
This is Apple's giant mistake so far... and a good reason why so many jailbreak their phone...
I could not disagree more. A Consistant UI is king. Just look at say the past 24 years.
What you mention about customizing is fine for a small percentage of people. Most just want it to work as easily as possible.
This phone and the customization will actually be a hinderance because you just know what verizon will do to this. Will a person be able to undo the verizon interface to make it more like them? Sounds like yes. But the vast majority will not.
This phone so far sounds like openmoko backed by bigger and more companies.
Openmoko and this phone will appeal to those that like to tweak out their phone. But an emphasis on a customziable interface will be the thing makes it only slightly more easier to use then the moto POS out there now. And not demonstrably better like the iphone and its consistan UI has brought us.
edit: And i would like to add that come Feb. Apple's 3rd party support will prob. take care of a good chunk of those that like to customize without buying a phone from the Android platform.
Sounds like this might be a true open platform phone.
I could not disagree more. A Consistant UI is king. Just look at say the past 24 years.
A consistent UI is Verizon's stance, and why their browser is still three menu levels down.
What you mention about customizing is fine for a small percentage of people. Most just want it to work as easily as possible.
I disagree. I think a ton of iPhone users would love to get rid of the Stock icon, for simple example. Heck, even Apple included a way to change the wallpaper and ringtones. It's the first thing anyone does with even POS phones.
This phone so far sounds like openmoko backed by bigger and more companies.
That was my first thought too. However, as I said, I'm for a more universal OS. Today you have to know BREW, Symbian, WM, OSX, MIDP, etc to hit all the phones.
edit: And i would like to add that come Feb. Apple's 3rd party support will prob. take care of a good chunk of those that like to customize without buying a phone from the Android platform.
So it sounds like customization ability is a desirable feature.
So, it's up to Motorola, HTC, etc to create a compelling user interface with a bundled application set. It doesn't sound all that exciting other than the fact that third-party applications will be portable from one Android-based phone to another.
At the most, an Android-based phone will interface and sync with Google's desktop software (Gears) and web-based services (Gmail, Calendar, Docs and Spreadsheets). Meh.
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