18 Android Phones, In 3 Flavors, By Year's End 152
Hugh Pickens writes "Andy Rubin, senior director for Mobile Platforms for Google, has announced that by the end of the year there will be 18 to 20 phones using the Android OS made by 8 or 9 different manufacturers. Google will offer three different versions of Android OS: a completely free and generic flavor with no pre-loaded Google applications; a slightly customized version that comes pre-loaded with Google apps like Gmail and Google Calendar; and a completely 'Google-fied' Android OS bearing all sorts of Google branding and integration with Google's services. Will Park reports that the expectation is that 12 to 14 of the upcoming Android phones will use the slightly-customized version of Google's Android OS requiring the manufacturer to agree to a distribution deal with Google that would allow the handsets to come pre-installed with Google-ware. The remaining 5 or 6 Android phones will come to market completely decked out with 'The Google Experience' and a Google logo on the phone. This third option provides risk and reward opportunities because the openness of the store could be a hit with consumers, but could also lead to poorly constructed or offensive applications that could give Google a taint. When it comes to apps, Rubin says: 'We want to abide by the law, but not rule with an open fist.'" Yes, it seems he really said "open fist," though he probably meant "iron fist."
Competition brings Innovation (Score:4, Insightful)
Alternatives to Apple's store are looking better and better. Sure, the company-branded software will be there, but being able to compete(!) gives Google a significant incentive to provide continually more functionality in its own software.
Comparing Apple(s) to (google) Oranges isn't always easy though... mostly because the gphones haven't been made publicly available. Time will tell, and it's my opinion that Google is going about this in a fairly well thought out manner.
Baby shaker app in 3, 2, 1... (Score:0, Insightful)
No doubt "baby shaker apps" and their ilk are in bad taste but deeming black humour immoral is a step too far. I thought it was funny and the reaction to it even more so. For me, the removal of that app and the NiN one from Apple's app store tainted Apple more than allowing them would have done.
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
No, I think what the article is saying is that Google is offering scaled-back versions of Android, I'm guessing, so that more carriers will snap them up. Some carriers don't and won't want to offer phones with Google branding, pre-loaded Google applications, etc., since they want more 'control' over handsets than what Google was previously providing.
Re:Competition brings Innovation (Score:5, Insightful)
Read closely... (Score:2, Insightful)
Rubin says: 'We want to abide by the law, but not rule with an open fist.'
I think he does mean to rule with an iron fist.
Re:A Suggestion (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:A Suggestion (Score:4, Insightful)
The world's a bit bigger than just the USA. Plenty of us have phones that can do VOIP already.
Re:A Suggestion (Score:5, Insightful)
One thing I see as very important is making sure not all of the phones are smartphones.
Every phone is a smartphone. At this point, the distinction is as meaningless as the distinction between smartphone and PDA five years ago, when people were making noise about the supposed "death" of the PDA. It is all marketing gibberish. And in another five years, you'll have to go out of your way to not get a data plan.
What matters now is what platform the phone runs, and whether it allows the installation of applications from anywhere, or only from a centralized store and blessed by the manufacturer, or only from a centralized store and blessed by the carrier, or not at all. Google is putting a stake in the ground for the first category, the open category, the one that resembles computers as we all know them. Apple and the carriers want to turn phones into consoles.
Sprint? (Score:4, Insightful)
Now if only Sprint would get off their butt and release their phone. I really want an Android phone but not willing to switch over to T-Mobile just for the phone.
Re:If updates are free, why buy new phones? (Score:2, Insightful)
For me, I upgraded when WinMo devices moved to having built-in GPS, and I will upgrade my HTC Magic when my contract runs out to get a faster, lighter device with a longer-lasting battery, better (OLED?) screen, 3D projector, built in zero-gravity travel device, etc etc etc.
People upgrade because they want new shiny toys. A new OS gives that 'new coin' buzz but isn't half as exciting as videoing a box opening and playing with a sparkling new device.
Re:Competition brings Innovation (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not apple's "lock-in" that drives innovation.. it's apples success in a certain new area of the market, that makes other players want their share of the pie.
The whole "open" and "free" talk from google is mostly marketing. I won't believe for a second that google went into the phone market out of ideology or the urge to make a "free" and "open" phone platform. They have a business model behind every move they make - and they are moving one step closer to having complete surveillance over their users.
Re:A Suggestion (Score:3, Insightful)
Can't be, he made a negative comment about Obama. I don't know of any Apple freaks that speak ill of Obama.