Google Android: The Least You Need to Know
Well the GPhone is here … kind of. As with any announcement from the big-G, there is a buzz around the media and the blogosphere but strangely the reaction to this news is quite muted. Is the Google magic fading? Could it be expectations were raised too high?
This is a high profile endeavor for the company, especially as they are going up against the current darling of the telephone market, Apple.
Many people have been disappointed to hear that it is not quite the iPhone-killer they were hoping for, but rather something quite different, and still quite exciting.
What is it? Read on to find out everything you need to know!
- It’s not a phone … yet – While the demonstrations and developers obviously have their hands on real hardware, you won’t be able to get your sweaty palms on any of the gadgets for quite a while.
- Multiple Vendors – Rather than being “a phone”, it is a platform and alliance bringing together technology and several vendors, lead by Google. You can see more at the Open Handset Alliance pages.
- Operating System and SDK – Google has developed an operating system based on Linux, and a software development kit. $10million up for grabs for developers, so get thinking of your best application ideas!
- Java -Unlike the iPhone, this baby will come with Java, allowing familiar developer access for a whole existing community of programmers.
Webkit Web Browser with Zoom – As you could expect from Google, a browser features prominently, along with a nifty “coverflow-esque” way of browsing your history. The browser is based on the same code used to create Safari on the Mac, so it is a capable and standards compliant real web browser.- Touch Screen – In a post-iPhone world you would have to expect it to have a touch interface and of course it does. How much of the innovative gesture-play they will be allowed to ape is probably a matter for their legal team ..
Video and Accelerated 3D Graphics – One of the sexiest aspects of the device is the 2d and 3d graphics capabilities. The demonstration makes a point of showing off a familiar first person shooter game.- iPhone + – A few of the things they seem to have right that Apple missed, at least from initial impressions from the publicity materials, is 3G rather than iPhones lame 2.5G EDGE, GPS and compass (to integrate with Google Maps I am sure), and intriguingly an accelerometer (Wii style control anyone?)
See more and watch it working in the Youtube Video.
So there it is, lots of interesting geek-toys but as yet nothing tangible to put money down for. Even if this does not turn out to be the market disrupting product people were wishing for, it should put a fire under the Apple team and create some competition.
More coverage: Engadget Techcrunch Gigaom Scoble
What do you think? Something to give iPhone a run for their money or is it too little too late? Let us know in the comments …
Related posts:
- Google Paranoia and the Tin Foil Hat Club
- The Alternative Google Chrome Comic
- Is Google Toolbar Hijacking 404 Pages?
- An apology and some Google news
- Google Trends for Websites for Checking Competitors
Posted on November 13, 2007 by Chris Garrett
Filed Under Google
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6 Responses to “Google Android: The Least You Need to Know”
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Marek Pawlowski gives an excellent in-depth analysis of Google’s mobile strategy and their motives in this post: http://www.mobileuserexperience.com/?p=448
I am of a similar mind to Marek, that Google is less concerned with creating a winning technology, and is more interested in galvanising the mobile industry to produce a better mobile web browsing experience (I think the iPhone will also act as a catalyst here), to speed up adoption of the mobile web and increase Google’s ad revenues.
That’s a good thought, I hadn’t considered that. I do think their technology looks cool though
[...] Google Android: The Least You Need to Know Android is kind of a yawn so far but I think it could be huge. [...]
[...] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG Google Android]Well the GPhone is here … kind of. As with any announcement from the big-G, there is a buzz around the media and the blogosphere but strangely the reaction to this news is quite muted. Is the Google magic fading? Could it be expectations were raised too high? This is a high profile endeavor for the company, especially as they are going up against the current darling of the telephone market, Apple. Many people have been disappointed to hear that it is not quite the iPhone-k [...]
Yawn…it is only newsworthy because Google has come up with yet another beta.
Well I would agree with you but I actually like the look of this. I rely on my HTC based pocket pc but the operating system basically sucks. iPhone isn’t quite there so I hope this puts some fire in the market