DISQUS

juliancooling · 1 year ago

I think you have put your finger on it exactly - but got it wrong.I was working as a low level systems programmer on a competing search engine in the mid 90s (yes, there was a time when the search market was dynamic). Then Google had the very best IP from Stanford Uni as its starting point -they knew more about search before they started than any of the established players did (or us at the time - we knew this because they published widely in the Comp Sci research journals in the early years). Email too, is a well established published protocol: mxing web and mail is a naural fix.

Operating systems and mobile are not similar to their re-applications of their brilliantly concieved existing technology stack into a new protocol (like mail). They are fundamentally different: both in terms of market and techology.

Apple is not a model here. Apple kept their market static (sonsumer electronics running a 30 years in development in-house consumer OS) and simply adjusted their technology to include a new wireless stack for GSM along side bluetooth, WiFi(a,b,g), ethernet etc.

The only thing Apple and Google have in common is they both appeal to 20/30 somethings with pots of cash who like Zen influenced interfaces.

Colin_M · 1 year ago

I think the GPhone is by far the most intriguing device to hit the mobile market in years, far more so than the iPhone because everyone had a pretty good idea what the iPhone would be, look like, feel like, etc. The GPhone is a total mystery by comparison.

My suspicion on it is this (crystal ball time) - it'll look hellaciously sexy. It'll have to, the iPhone has raised the bar in terms of what a phone's meant to look like. Now, Google themselves obviously won't be handling the hardware side of things, that'll be left to more experienced hands, and HTC, Samsung, et al I'm sure can come up with glossy enough bits of plastic - HTC already did a nice job designing the iPhone for Apple... oh, sorry, it's a completely original design, eh Steve? ;-)

But leaving the looks aside, the real killer (or what'll get it killed) is what it does. My gut feeling here is that I think Android v1 may be a disappointment, and it'll be v2 before we see its true power. Why? Because although Google can obviously give it best-in-class webapps, that won't be enough. We don't all live in 3G jungles, which means the device is going to have to have a solid OS and Apps that can stand alone without a fast connection. That's reality, even more so in the US than the UK, where huge swathes of the country are still waiting for EDGE, far less 3G. Google's experience in those areas is much more ropy (if it were otherwise, dear Google, then why haven't you gone for the Mother of All Battles with MS and tried to kill Windows once and for all?)

Let's wait and see, but my feeling is that Android 1 will be rough-cut. Google's webapps work brilliantly, but let's face it, they doesn't win any beauty prizes either, and when you're selling phones, how cool the interface is is FAR more important than what your webmail looks like on a screen. I also worry that while Google's willingness to embrace 3rd party developers might be a refershing change from Apple's "our way or no way" approach, that could bite them in this game too. To be blunt - geeks create great software, but they've never been big on the UI side of things because they get too excited about the tech and forget to make it easy to use. Lemme guess... Android will have a command line interface option? OK, probably not, but I'll bet there's a million and one geeks who wish it did.

Mac Morrison · 1 year ago

i think its more a case of google knowing F-ALL about how operators like to control things

see apples recent bitch-slapping.

but apple have no operator mods, no portal links and direct music/app sales that
bypass the operator. its operator hell.

trsills · 1 year ago

Unfortunately what can't be overlooked is the Apple culture and love for all that is Apple (hence the fever). Even if an Android phone was given away with every feasible bell and whistle, it'll have a tough time overcoming iPhone's momentum anytime soon. While I'm not a MAC user, I too am pretty enamored with my iPhone given it's incredible user interface and have been willing to overlook its various flaws...although the frustration is starting to mount. Still, until I can find the large screen-web surfing experience elsewhere I'll be drinking the Apple kool-aid (maybe I need to get out more).

Giff Gfroerer, i2SMS · 1 year ago

Without an app store like Apple has, with programmers having an easy way to develop and then market their new creative wares, it will be tough for any other phone to generate the excitement and use that the iPhone has generated. 60 million downloads already! From a past non-believer, this is absolutely something to take note of.