Android Gathers Steam Among Open Source Developers 176
svonkie writes "Despite launching on the T-Mobile G1 with little mainstream fanfare, Google Inc.'s Android OS appears to have gained strong interest in the open source development community. According to a survey of Black Duck Software's Knowledge Base, Apple Inc.'s iPhone led the industry with 266 open source project releases during 2008, while Android followed in second place with 191 releases. Black Duck compiled the data after scouring through over 185,000 of open source projects across 4,000 Internet sites."
Google Devs Best I've Ever Worked With (Score:2, Informative)
Of all the open source projects I've worked on or had interaction with the Google Android and Chrome teams have been by far the best. Most friendly, most competent, etc.
Not perfect of course, but an absolute pleasure. I can certainly see why Android would be popular with the rise of smartphones and the netbook and smaller category of devices.
Re:Friendly BSD Projects Vs. Hostile GPL Pricks (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Dumbass (Score:4, Insightful)
In short: if the code is BSD-licensed, the and you GPL it, you're saying "I will share these changes with my own community, not with the community who I got the code from in the first place". Which is just a bit of an asshole thing to do.
The most important difference between the BSD license and the GPL is that the BSD license doesn't require you to share your changes with anybody. If you've got a problem with someone not giving back to the community, then you shouldn't be using the BSD license in the first place.
Linus=idealistic, Theo=friendly, WTF??? (Score:2)
At the danger of YHBT-YHL-HAND, here goes:
GPL: Ideology first, technology and practicality second. Constant paranoia that someone is using the code base in violation of not only the spirit of the license but the 'spirit'.
You realize you're talking about Linux (the kernel) here, right? Linus approves of Tivo (have a look at http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0706.1/2939.html [indiana.edu])
BSD: Friendly environment
And here you're talking about Theo de Raadt. Whether you agree with him or not, whether you like him or not, you can't say he pulls his punches.
BSD: Focus on the code, not the license
That's why *BSD refuses to include the new bash licensed under GPLv3, right? Hint: it isn't ;-)
You may be right in the typical case. I just want to point
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Theo de Raadt is hardldy representative of the over-all BSD community. That said, even though he may not be the most likable of characters, he is eminently capable.
Besides, the GP didn't mention either Linus or Theo by name. Everyone knows that Linus is a practical kind of guy who has made some decisions that have been unpopular with the wider gnu-esque community, such as his choice of repository software, his comments about gplv3, etc.
But, again, if you put Stallman vs de Raadt, then you basically have H
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My armchair understanding of the GPL issue is that a certain company would like to break some of the GPLed apps.
If the code within an app breaks it's own license how can they enforce it on others.
Or protect if from external attack?
Though I should mention I don't deal with em, I just use em(their apps I mean.).
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BSD troll invades again...
OpenMoko (Score:4, Insightful)
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Minor point of interest - OpenMoko is the software company, AFAICT, and FIC are the hardware company. FIC span off OM about a year ago.
I have android running on my openmoko. Compared to the OM software it's a joy to use. The port is not yet complete but is in *very* active development by a number of different people, som part of OM, some part of Koolu and some independent. Already it's streets ahead of OM in terms of usability, UI responsiveness, UI completeness and ease of use (i.e. no command line for wif
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I don't know if that is an accurate statement.
FIC is definitely the hardware manufacturer, but OpenMoko seems to be responsible for a significant portion, if not all, of the hardware design for the OpenMoko phones. (At least, this is what I glean from mailing lists where OpenMoko employees discuss the development of hardware revisions.) This would put them squarely in the hardware company category.
Furtherm
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Android on FR is not a hack to install, if you've played with the Trimarchi images. Standard 2M kernel and rootfs.
Koolu I'm not so sure about. Michael's images are far more functional than any of the OM stuff, in my opinion.
What's more, android apps targeted at the G1 (AndNav2, text to speech engine) work on the FR due to the java nature of it all.
The FR is, IMHO, totally inadequate as a hardware platform after this year too. Something which they wwillnot be addressing in their next revision. The 1973 and t
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Most of all what I'd like from my Freerunner is a phone that works. Bells and whistles can come later.
Android has a well put together set of phone apps and has a great UI that was made for a phone. It *just works* a lot better than any of the FR stacks I've tried.
And as for the App store... well I haven't used it, as it's not available. But if/when it works that gives you access to a whole load of apps, FOSS or commercial, developed by a wider set of folks than just OM.
Thinking about it, I'd be happiest if
Re:FOSS / GPL / GNU/Linux - What Did You Expect (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't think there is anything wrong with those ideas above. The problem seems to me is a lack of focus. The only thing that stopped me from buying one is from reading the forums and seeing how unstable it was. I don't care about 99% of features, the only important thing is that it can make calls. Unfortunately this appears to be its main failing, with the handset falling over regularly and failing to lock onto carrier cells. I quote the following from the CEO:
"We tried to refocus the company around these ideas. This led to an application called Diversity. The basic idea is the following:
Neos talk to other Neos using a self-creating, self-healing, global free (WiFi) network. The software system, code named Diversity, consists of many clients (Neos) talking to servers and, at a later time, self-connecting, using mesh-like interactions."
http://lists.openmoko.org/nabble.html#nabble-td2103754|a2103754
It seems to me their priorities aren't really in order.
Philip.
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They aren't. I'd go further and say that management have proven themselves to be less than competent.
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Well, and obviously they did not put nearly as many resources as needed to get this thing going right. And they went ahead and sold faulty hardware to those that were hoping they would get something that at least would turn into something decent (i.e. me). They really pissed me off. Can ya tell?
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It's the constant changing direction that got to me.
Were you affected by the GSM buzz problem (when you say faulty hardware) ?
I was lucky enough not to get that. Only hardware problem I have is that they screwed up the cap values on the headphone output so there's zero bass.
If you still have the phone then you might want to check out android, in a few weeks/couple of months when the port gets more stable.
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OpenMoko did the Frerrunner on a shoestring budget, and had to create their own production workflow within other workflows. That's unlike everyone else with million to used and even fabs (with mass production workflows) to tap. Hence in order to get something out the door, they made a compromise on parts--no 3G, cheap graphics chip, cheap GSM module. If they were going state
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First that's a pretty poor and petty reason to hate the OpenMoko. Why do I need originality when I just want a mobile phone to make calls from? The less original a phone is, the more usable it is from a UI viewpoint.
Second, who cares? My phone is on 24/7 and is only off if I accidentally run out of battery (in which case there is no turning it on to make a 911 call).
Phillip.
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Why would I, when I own one?
Now, you're statements are based off a fairly old "lets get this hardware in the hands of developers with most of the hardware working" software stack, so indulge with me a little bit as I dispel some misconceptions, and explain what has brought me to love my freerunner. First and foremost: my intentions for this phone when I am done with it is to use it as a small, rather general purpose microcontroller (what are your plans for you
steam? (Score:4, Funny)
Android X Now Runnnig (Score:5, Interesting)
As reported this week on Slashdot [slashdot.org], some hackers have got X desktops (Gnome, KDE, LXDE, IceWM), "All Working On Android".
If I can have an Android "phone" and seamlessly use "Android" apps alongside Linux apps (and use a Debian-style APT for installation/maintenance), I've got the first real 21st Century platform.
If someone hooks up Android with X features that let me "grab" my session from a desktop (or other PC with a big display), keep using it (but scaled/arranged for Android) as I leave with my "phone", then pop it over to a nearby PC (scaled back up) intact, I've finally got "mobile computing". If my VoIP phonecalls remain intact throughout the transfer, the "computer" will eventually disappear unnoticed, with only me and my "computing" session really mattering. We're going to have to come up with new words for these things, once they're just our constant virtualized telecoms companion.
Re:Android X Now Runnnig (Score:5, Funny)
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I agree that the HW will probably develop the way that you describe. In fact I've posted on Slashdot some brainstorms about a netbook running iPhone OS/SW.
But what I described is all SW. It's the kind of thing that could be developed right now, by a moderately capable X programmer. That's what's so exciting about true Android/Linux convergence by localhost interop. Such a system as I describe uses only the existing HW all around us (if you've got an Android, which many do). Rather than all the overhead and
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What he's saying isn't far fetched, it's just not well thought out. Why would I want a miniature version of my word processor or video editor open on my phone? I don't want a "session" that follows me around everywhere I go. I want my work computer to be my work computer, my phone to be my phone, and my laptop to be my laptop. I want a bike OR a motorcycle, not a bloody moped.
Granted, for people who do a small set of things (e-mail, web browsing, and IM) the "session" paradigm is fine. But those people
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No, it's well thought out, at least the basic scenario. What you're not thinking through well is your attachment to "using my computer" or "using my word processor", as opposed to just "communicating with my people", which is what we really want to do.
Your bike/motorcycle/moped comparison is a good start, though you don't think through the conclusion well. Because I am not asking for a moped - quite the contrary. I am asking to use my bike to get between my car and subway, because there's no good parking ne
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Yes, because in the 20th Century you had nothing.
So many people who can't imagine what I spelled out for them, which is nothing like "using your phone as your desktop". It's clearly an idea way ahead of its time.
What about Nokia and PyS60 ? (Score:4, Informative)
There has been so much focus on iPhone, Android and Windows application development in the media the last few years. And yet no one as far as I can remember has ever mentioned that Nokia has a great open source development platform for their phones which runs on newer Symbian 60 called PyS60(Python for Symbian 60) http://wiki.opensource.nokia.com/projects/Installing_PyS60 [nokia.com]
With PyS60you have access to about every feature in the phone. Everything from SMS, to the accelerometer. Not to mention that programming in Python is fun, and if speed is an issue, you still have access to several Python C++ Extensions http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/C%2B%2B_Python_Extensions [nokia.com] and there is support for developing your own c++ extensions. On the Nokia wiki there are several small easy to read examples of how to use all the technology in their phones http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Category:Python [nokia.com]
Yet I don't understand why developers and media ignore this development platform. Isn't powerful applications that can be coded in less than hundred lines pure joy for a developer? There is a lot of people with Symbian 60 phones out there, more than Android and iPhone together(not sure about Windows though).
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I think it's a case of too little too late. They didn't open it up until they saw the headlight of the train that was the iPhone and Google coming out of the tunnel.
If you're an upstart with funding for 1, maybe 2 platforms which do you choose? You choose the hot ones.
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The difference is mainly that of hype. Apple and Google both were new to the whole mobile phone market, while Nokia is the incumbent. It's not sexy to develop something for a phone everyone and his dog has.
PyS60 was out there long ago, and the S60 as a development platform isn't that bad. I've written a few scripts for my N95, but I use my phone for calling people and reading email
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Read reviews of Symbian devices: they have great hardware, but their user interface is hard to use and outdated. The OS is also aging. Python doesn't fix any of that.
Nokia makes great hardware; they should switch to Android. They don't stand a chance with S60.
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The user interface is just fine. It's based on the common '1 menu button and two action buttons (OK and Cancel)' paradigm that has been used in cell phones for decades. Every cell phone user is acquainted with that UI paradigm. It's the PC users that expect a mobile computing device instead of a phone that have the hardest time coping, but they're a minority (at least here in Europe).
Mart
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Most of the new phones with the Symbian 60 OS support PyS60. I found an outdated list for older phones -> http://pythonlinks.blogspot.com/2008/01/python-programming-with-pys60-and-nokia.html [blogspot.com]
I have a Nokia N79, and in my opinion I think it's more advanced than both the G1 and iPhone. It's not as fast when it comes to pure speed. But in functionality it delivers "everything". Especially the camera and video recording quality is better done.
The other problem with Nokias is... (Score:3, Interesting)
That the US carriers often seem to cripple the phones. Nokia have phones that are available in Europe and elsewhere but when they come to the US, the carriers have made them remove/disable features (front facing cameras for video calls since the US carriers seem to hate video calls for some reason, GPS functionality because US carriers want to charge thru the nose for navigation, WiFi etc) either because the carriers dont like those features or possibly (as in the case of removing actual hardware) because r
This is something I've known was going to happen. (Score:2)
There is a reason why the G1 felt incomplete.
Google was smart to skip development of certain applications and features.
Let the OSS community do it for free.
This is why there was no video player built-in and also why we have yet to see the infamous cupcake.
There is still no video recording and no bluetooth tethering support unless your phone is rooted.
Little mainstream fanfare? (Score:2, Interesting)
"Despite launching on the T-Mobile G1 with little mainstream fanfare..."
Waddyamean little mainstream fanfare? Big coverage by the BBC on TV and Radio news (and news website) on it's launch as the 'iPhone killer'
Developer-friendly Verizon phone? (Score:2, Interesting)
I've been using my trusty StarTAC on Verizon for many a year now (motto: if it's still working, keep using it) but now I want to take the plunge into mobile development. Does Verizon support any platforms that have geek cred i.e. open source, large developer base, few restrictions, decent tools, goddamn-this-is-a-great-phone etc. etc. Verizon's network has been 5x5 in my experience so I'm reluctant to switch. ("Perhaps the other networks are just as good, we don't know. Frankly, we don't
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It's because Verizon does it's damnest to take an otherwise decent phone, put their crapware that is vcast on the phone, and cripple any and every feature that could be useful to a third party developer.
The only people they've not been able to play this game with is Blackberry as far as I can tell. They've got a great network, but cripple the phones. I left Cingular a couple years ago because connection down here sucked. Went to Verizon, put up with their crap for two year, then got an iPhone.
.
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Verizon will let anything on its network so long as you can get the proper PRL file. That is pretty cool and not a lot of people know about it. Then again, its difficult to work with CDMA phones. Sprint has more hackable phones on the market than Verizon, and Sprint doesn't cripple their devices as much as Verizon does. ATT/T-Mobile Samsung phones you could unlock and hack *from the keypad* without even needing the unlock code from the carrier.
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Good luck with that. With the exception of certain expensive fancy Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices (which can be hacked to remove the restrictions and allow you to write your own apps), essentially ALL CDMA phones sold use BREW and wont let you run stuff without carrier approval.
As for Linux, I doubt you could even MAKE a phone running the linux kernel with a CDMA radio and still comply with both the GPL and the Qualcomm NDAs
Re:Google needs more US Providers (Score:5, Informative)
What's wrong with T-Mobile? (Score:2)
I've been with them for about 8 years and they are consistently a solid performer. I get a really strong signal at work, at home and really anywhere i visit frequently.
Their customer service leaves verizon sitting in the dust.
Sure there are places that don't have a strong signal, but that's true of any cellular network.
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I live in Atlanta and have been over the northeast, the midwest through Ohio, Indiana, Missouri. I've been through C
Re:Google needs more US Providers (Score:5, Informative)
Honestly, I thought T-mobile was a plus. They seem to be a little less prone to some of the anti-consumer schemes common among providers. They'll even unlock your phone after 90 days if your account remains in good standing. The G1 data plan cost was about what I otherwise saved switching over all my lines from Verizon. They also don't try to hit you with per-MB fees if you go over some cap and you don't need some expensive plan to do this.
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True. I'm stuck on EDGE as well (but I'm only a few miles from 3G land so I'm hoping that will change soon enough).
In any case, they certainly aren't exclusive to T-mobile by design. T-mobile is just the only company who has picked them up so far. Sprint is apparently working on an android-based phone (granted Sprint isn't really any better than T-mobile). I think the other companies just don't quite know how to handle a phone that isn't 100% locked into selling add-on services.
The open platform will ha
Re:Google needs more US Providers (Score:4, Informative)
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Thats great, but when? Im very hesistant to switch to t-mobile. Years ago I had the original sidekick and found their coverage to be lacking, at least here in Chicago. I also have a minute/data deal with Sprint that no other carrier can come close to. Its incredible what AT&T and TMobile want for data nowadays.
Im probably just going to wait it out and get the G2 on Sprint, but its a real shame the industry has moved so slowly on android. I understand that the product was released prematurely. Hopefull
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It's a joke in your region, maybe... But here, it's awesome. When everyone else was complaining about 'dropped calls' 5-10 years ago, I had none.
On the other hand, AT&T had the worst customer service -ever-. It was so bad that my entire family swore to never use them again.
So I could say the same about the iPhone that you said about Android.
Also, I guess you aren't aware, but there are more Android phones coming soon from other hardware makers. Like 5 or 6 of them. Just have a little tiny bit of pa
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Like 5 or 6 of them. Just have a little tiny bit of patience and the products will come to market. 1 year isn't really a long time in the grand scheme of things.
There are as many as 20-android phones slated for release between now and Q1-2010. The phones are for many different carriers. In the near future you should have your choice of Android form factor.
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Uh, what? You just made a broad and inaccurate generalization, near flamebait-y. There's some good and bad coverage in general and that's smack dab in the midwest. Did you even bother to look at their coverage map? [t-mobile.com] As with any coverage, rural areas have worse and cities have better. You know, logical buildouts, etc. Verizon, Sprint, I don't care who you have. If you live in farmland, you're just not going to be priority for cellphones nor for internet. This style of building is typical of all service provid
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I was going to get a G1 until... "Damn, it's on T-Mobile, I won't be able to call or text anyone"
Then a new Android on Vodefone, yay until .... "damn, no keyboard"
Paying an extra $300 to get an unlocked one form ebay seems a bit expensive/risky
damn you all to hell
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I don't understand. Can't you change your service provider to whoever you want? Isn't that half the point of having an open platform?
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The G1 isn't much of an open platform.
Android itself, sure, and I have it on my freerunner. But I really doubt that they'd get many of the networks on board if they couldn't SIM-lock it.
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you can buy a unlocked G1 right now. I'm getting one in a couple of weeks. just go sign up for the dev program and buy your G1 at the same priced a locked one is.
The G1 kicks the arse of the iPhone hard for developing because you can get a uncrippled one easily. Butt hen not being hamstrung with the idiots that run AT&T wireless is always a benefit.
My Nokia E62 is considered junk by many because of the crappy at&t crippled firmware. re-flash it with the firmware they shipped with from Nokia and
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The hell there isn't coverage in the midwest.
I'm currently in a large, concrete and steel tower office building in Kansas. Looking at my blackberry 7290 that is connected to T-Mobile, I have four bars of signal strength.
40 miles west of here at home in the middle of nowhere, its just as good. Oh, and the service is that good even though we're in Sprint HQ's freakin back yard.
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I'm guessing there are legal implications. I would love to see blackberry suite/equivalent on my G1, my work would too. However, I'm guessing that in general blackberry is not very open-source friendly among other things.
Re:Blackberry love (Score:5, Funny)
There still seems to be a serious lack of Blackberry love from Android.
Android hasn't gotten its emotion chip yet.
Now, why it would need an old CPU from a Playstation 2 to understand love is beyond me, but I guess that's just how it works...
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To quote Bender: " I have it, it just has not descended yet".
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1967 "The Miracles" reference, very nice. =)
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The G1 was released in October of 2008, yet they still had 70% of the number of project releases that the iPhone had in 2008. 70% as many OSS projects in a quarter the number of months.
(Granted, the SDK was available for longer, but still very few people, developers included, actually had a phone; they were excited enough about it to develop apps solely on the emulator, without being able to actually use them until October.)
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(Granted, the SDK was available for longer
More damning going on.
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To answer my own question, the G1, and lack of non-htc handsets on the horizon.
Or spend less than five bucks and get a dongle which allows for standard headset use. Checkout Amazon or other online stores - there are tons of options and form factors. You can even get a combo which allows for standard headset, charging, and USB connections all at the same time.
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Verizon has one more Android phones coming this year. Several more slated for 2010.
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Even ignoring the bit where Apple can veto your app with no recourse, the development platform costs a minimum of $1,500 or so, as you have to buy their hardware to use it.
You realize you need a computer with Windows to do Windows development too, and that isn't free either. You even need a computer with Linux to do Linux development... and while linux is at least free the PC still isn't. I don't hear you moaning about the hundreds of dollars you need to spend on your linux or G1 development platform.
Also,
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The Android devel kit will run on whatever hardware you already have. They don't force you to buy anything new.
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The Android devel kit will run on whatever hardware you already have. They don't force you to buy anything new.
So if I don't own a computer but want to do G1 development... oh wait I have to buy a computer.
Look, I concede that the G1 dev kit runs on any computer vs the iPhone dev kit which only runs on OSX or the Windows Mobile dev kit which runs on Windows... and yes that makes the G1 dev kit a little more attractive.
But it is absurd to call the iPhone 'developer hostile' simply because you need a computer
But you already do own a computer (Score:2)
Even with Windows Mobile, I could just run Windows in a VM on my Linux or OS X desktop. No need for new hardware.
There's absolutely no technical reason Apple couldn't release a multiplatform devel kit, even if it were just OS X in a VM.
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But you already do own a computer Or you wouldn't be posting here in the first place.
I post from my Android G1 you insensitive clod. My Android G1 that I'd like to develop for but its 'developer hostile' because I have to buy an expensive PC to do it. :)
Even with Windows Mobile, I could just run Windows in a VM on my Linux or OS X desktop. No need for new hardware.
You have an OSX desktop? Then what are you complaining about. You don't need to buy anything.
There's absolutely no technical reason Apple couldn'
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I post from my Android G1 you insensitive clod. My Android G1 that I'd like to develop for but its 'developer hostile' because I have to buy an expensive PC to do it. :)
Uh, you do realize that you can install Debian on it, and install the SDK on Debian, and consequently do all the development you'd like right from your phone, right? :)
If you have an ADP you could even develop a new kernel on the phone and flash it without needing another computer. If you have a G1 you'd probably need a computer to help you
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Uh, you do realize that you can install Debian on it, and install the SDK on Debian, and consequently do all the development you'd like right from your phone, right? :)
Touche. Not that I'd ever want to do development right on the phone. :)
Sure, it isn't COMPLETELY perfect, but I'm not aware of any other phone-like device that comes close to this level of flexibility.
Oh I agree. The Android stuff is way more open and flexible than anything else out there. I just don't think its justified to call the iphone '
It's certainly hostile to me (Score:2)
There's no valid reason couldn't release a dev kit for Linux at least if not Windows. The only reasonable explanation for not doing so is hostility to non-Mac developers.
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Therefor Apple won't let me develop for the iPhone.
Your refusal to buy the readily available and very inexpensive tools you need is not apple's refusal to let you develop.
What's next? Refusing to buy a philips screwdriver when you already have a flathead represents Fisher Prices refusal to let you change the batteries in your toy robot.
Buy a used G4 tower or Mac Mini for a couple hundred bucks and you are good to go. Get over yourself.
If you think Apple requiring you to supply yourself with a mac running OS
Try to stay on topic (Score:2)
$10 Windows license vs $600 fantasy OS X licence? (Score:2)
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$10 Windows license vs $600 fantasy OS X licence?
Where can I get a $10 windows license in the US?
Or did you mean, if I spend several hundreds of dollars I can get a Windows license bundled (and per the EULA tied to that specific bundled hardware) for $10 more than the same machine with no OS... (although that doesn't factor in the shovelware 3rd parties pay to have pre-installed on the windows licenced hardware (effectively partially subsidizing it).
Its you that are having a fantasy. A copy of windows at fu
I've never had a problem (Score:2)
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Just grab the sticker off an old, dead laptop. I've never had trouble using those licenses for VMs.
Yes, it works, and I've done it too, but its not within the terms of the EULA.
(Note I'm not saying its illegal, nor am I defending the validity of the EULA, I'm just pointing out that its not within the terms of the EULA.)
Besides, that approach applies to Mac's also. You can buy an old dead Apple G4/G5 tower with fried guts for next to nothing too. It came with OSX so your good to go. And when you stick your h
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Apple does care, and they're definitely hostile to hackintoshes.
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I don't know if you're right or not. I don't care, and I doubt Microsoft does either.
Apple does care, and they're definitely hostile to hackintoshes.
Neither goes after home users over it.
I'd bet both would call either invalid if they ever audited your licenses 'BSA style'.
I'm really not concerned about that (Score:2)
More Apple Hater bullshit (Score:2)
Even ignoring the bit where Apple can veto your app with no recourse
You always have recourse, it's called releasing to the jailbreak market. And of course you can deploy apps to your own phone all day long if you are in the program... but of course the truth is the people getting blocked are a small percentage of the apps going out. And as noted, there are more open source projects for the iPhone than Android.
the development platform costs a minimum of $1,500 or so
Ahh, the Apple Hater Inflation factor -
Jailbreaking is not a real answer (Score:2)
$1,500 is a fair, even low ball price point for a decent development system. Mac minis are toys.
I won't be upgrading any time soon, but even if I were Apple simply isn't interested in my business. I spent $1,200 a year ago on a workstation, and the closest comparable thing Apple has available comes in at $3,000.
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If it were, we could just say using a hackintosh solves the issue.
Which it does. Why dismiss reality?
$1,500 is a fair, even low ball price point for a decent development system. Mac minis are toys.
I have a number of friends using a mini, it's totally usable for development - especially iPhone development. You can easily run everything from the IDE to the performance monitoring tools with no lag or delay... I guess you must be used to Windows development where you need 4GB of RAM and the latest system at
There's no valid reason for that (Score:2)
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The G1 has received little fanfare because it's not a good product.
Bullshit. The G1 actually has superior hardware to that of the iPhone. To say the G1 sucks is to say all smart phones suck.
It's about as good as other smartphones from 5 years ago.
Then it seems the iPhone 3G is "as good as other smartphones from 6 years ago." Bullshit.
It's not revolutionary as far as a typical user is concerned.
Please name any phone on the market which is "revolutionary.". There are none. Even the iPhone is evolutionary. So
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Too bad you never touched one.
I know many people with that phone that go days between charging it.
everything you speak of means you never even touched one. the ONLY thing I cant stand about the G1 is that it feels like a toy. It really needs to be built of metal instead of plastic. It's actually a remarkable phone, you should actually touch and use one.
Re:No mainstream fanfare because the G1 is not goo (Score:4, Informative)
It really depends on how you use it. If you use it to make occassional phone calls, and to check your email once in a while, then you'll easily get a full day or more out of the battery.
If you sit down and use it like a laptop, browing the web, playing games, etc - well, then it will be dead in two hours.
I had a lot of trouble with mine when it was new - but that was because I'd just tinker with it all day on a weekend. Once I settled down to real life use I haven't had any problems with it.
Sure, I'd like more battery life. It is still weaker than I'd like it to be. However, it isn't a reason not to get the phone.
Re:No mainstream fanfare because the G1 is not goo (Score:5, Interesting)
I owned the iPhone for a year and now the G1 for a couple of months, the G1 is comparable to the iPhone as far as being "good".
The battery life is worse, but the battery life doesn't drain in 7 hours of standby either.
The GUI is fine. Very intuitive, doesn't crash. I like the visual front phone LED that flashes on notifications as well as the notification top bar in the GUI interface. Works very well.
PF Voicemail is a great visual voicemail app.
The Marketplace lets you return apps within 24 hours for a full refund if you don't like them.
Google Apps integration is heads above what's available on the iPhone. I update my calendar and contacts on the web, it pushes to my phone. I never need to sync with a desktop.
The SD card is upgradeable. 16 gig ones cost, what, 50 bucks?
And the mini-USB slot looks like is going to be the standard on phones now for everything.
That doesn't mean the phone doesn't need some polish. I really think the new ones coming out will be more to be excited about. But the G1 is a solid product.
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G1 needs a firmware update on the WiFi module. WiFi is sucking too much power. Backgrounding apps don't help too. Guess what? the iPhone has similar problems.
Solution for now: get the 1380mah battery.
And the mini-USB slot looks like is going to be the standard on phones now for everything. Yep. EVERYONE is going to mini-USB charging. Well except the proprietary iPhone...
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The old-Palm-ish i/f is there cause it'
usability (Score:2)
The G1 is probably the most easy to use phone around: you turn it on, you enter your Google account info, and it all just works after that.
The G1 has some minor hardware and software issues, but for the first release, it's great.
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Three words: Steam punk sucks.
Yeah, that's right, I said it. Bring it Doctorow.
Disagree (Score:2)
I've used a lot of different IDE's before, but I find XCode is actually really good when you get used to it - it's nice to have a powerful GUI wrapped around GDB but have GDB there when I need something advanced. I really like the way the interface builder GUI development integration is done, to me that is the best model I have seen for how GUI development tools should work in the whole application development cycle.
And, I also really like the myriad ways you can quickly get to the documentation for someth
Re:Disagree Disagree (Score:2)
.
And from that note, I disagree to the disagree. It's more efficient to just program in vim/emacs and have the C99 tool at your finger tips. The way objective-C is laid out just becomes cumbersome to do simple things. Compared to Java IDEs, Eclipse, and VS.NET--Xcode doesn't come close.
Lay it out then (Score:2)
Compared to Java IDEs, Eclipse, and VS.NET--Xcode doesn't come close.
Having used all sorts of IDE's (mostly Eclipse/VS.Net/Netbeans), I am dubious of this claim. What exactly are you thinking of here? Again, I think you are just not familiar with the full extent of just what XCode can do. I also heartily disagree that Visual Studio has a better GUI development approach than XCode.
I do agree that I find typing in Emacs to be faster sometimes which is why I break out to that editor here and there.