Joe

What is Android?

Posted by Joe on December 28, 2008 | 6 comments | Filed under : Anything Android

This is a guest post by Casadaro Shearrod of KwameShearrod.com

Android PoloroidI find myself in heated debate more often than not about the G1 and Android and what it can and cannot do compared to other hand sets.


I bring it to the streets in hope that the masses will fire back whether for or against.

I will begin with what Android is NOT:

  • Android is not perfect!
  • Android on the G1 is not cheap! Notice I said on the G1.
  • Android is not a Smartphone! It is what can loosely be described as an operating system.

The G1 IS  marking a new era in smart phones as it drives down costs and provides amazing functionality.

If you are new to the market or jumping ship from your mobile provider T-Mobile has cooked up the hottest deal in town for a two year contract and a G1.

Those of us that have the G1 have a lot to grumble about and at the same time we can relish in what it can do and what it is capable of.

On the other hand you don’t want your love locked down in case a competitor sweetens the pot and then you are left holding the bag and paying retail minus a T-Mobile Loyal customer discount.

In the end,the G1 isn’t as sexy as the iPhone or as business savvy as the Blackberry.

 

 What Android is, is open to suggestion in a figurative sense which may mean a lot more than many think right now.

Developers can shoot for the moon with the better chance of doing so than with any other major mobile software platform.

That being said Android will be on many different devices from many different mobile providers which could result in many failed moon landings if not addressed in due fashion.

Developing for the iPhone your app will work on every iPhone produced, but in the end it will ONLY work on the iPhone - which means you are missing a other large market spaces and opportunities on many levels.

While on the other hand if you develop for the G1 and then manufacturer A releases an Android device it might be  time to clear the calendar and cross your fingers in hopes they have not changed the game on you.

More importantly Android marks the future of smart phones, computing, and the way business’s and corporations operate and interact.

Android will force the hand of device makers, pushing standards for cross platform development and easy access to their devices hardware features, this will create an install and play software and hardware environment.

Many of us are familiar with this concept with Microsoft Windows as most Windows apps work on every machine running Windows whether its Dell Incorporated or your uncle Del built the machine, high or low end – this is where Android fits into the mobile world.

The same could be said for Windows Mobile devices right?

Well yes and no, developing for Windows Mobile is a complicated task, there is no Apps store or Market place and you feel quite lost at times.

Android shows us that mobile software can be open, versatile, functional, and improves the way we do things - even more so, it gives the general public a way to get their ideas out and into action by creating the chance to do amazing things.

So what is Android?

Android is the next logical step if supported in the way it was meant to be, it will turn things upside down.

  • If you love your Mac much like myself but you think $99 a year to sync your data to the Internet (which I have and pay for already) and to your phone (which must be an iPhone which I don’t have because I don’t have AT&T) is simply ludicrous then Android IS for you.

  • If you think being tethered to Microsoft Exchange or your paying for an Exchange server when there are servers all over the Internet that do the same thing for little to no cost is uncool, then Android IS for you.

  • If you support a future unparalleled interactivity and the ability to access, manipulate, and share you information at will from anywhere on any device at anytime with anyone via a global network then Android IS for you.

  • If you believe in forward thinking and global knowledge them Android IS for you.

NOT because of what it can do now but because of what it CAN make possible - it casts aside proprietary systems in hopes to link everyone and everything in a seamless manner.

If this all sounds crazy and contrived then take a pass on Android devices then let sales slump and send it the way of the Commodore 64.

Android in its current state on the G1 is capable of doing everything every other phone on market can do - so if you haven’t seen it, chances are someone is making for Android.

C.K.S
kwameshearrod.com

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1 Al Sutton December 29, 2008 at 2:05 am

At the moment I tend to tell people that Android is in beta.

Given the new feature additions for cupcake, the number of issues with apps on the ‘phone (restricted API usage, poor non-GMail Email client, etc.), I think it’s pretty clear that the project managers and their timelines beat the development managers and their coding plans whe it came to the release.

I think it’ll be a few months before I recommend Android to a non-techie, but for techies it’s in the same state as many of Googles other betas; it’s publicly available, it’s usable, but it’s lacking in some features when you compare it to competitors.

2 Col December 29, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Agree with Al that maybe Android and G1 arent 100% ready for prime, but has to be said they are not that far away, 90, maybe 95% of the way there…
but at least they got it out there, 80/20 rule and all that, and we can now give them feedback on what things work for us and what things dont.

Remember its only been out a few months, and they are looking to fix most of the issues that we have been complaining about already. Pretty good prospects for the future then I say

Cols last blog post..SMS Popup bring pop SMS messages to Android

3 convert December 30, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Thanks for doing the “what is Android ?” and on Android devices homework for me. If Google is in the Android software platform it’s for me too then. I am looking for smart phone just currently, using these days off from work, and perhaps it should be some Android-based smartphone. I was wondering, or, could you please give any practical advice on iSkoot application for Skype mobile VoIP, can this phone use android and wi-fi? I hope I make some sense …

converts last blog post..Dry volume units converter

4 Some User January 17, 2009 at 3:25 am

I am pretty certain that the android platform is going to be a huge success but this article is just plain crap!

What kind of marketing blub is that?

“That being said Android will be on many different devices from many different mobile providers which could result in many failed moon landings if not addressed in due fashion.”

“Android will force the hand of device makers, pushing standards for cross platform development and easy access to their devices hardware features, this will create an install and play software and hardware environment.”

Although some key idea might be behind sentences like that, it is just crappy formulated.

5 CKS January 17, 2009 at 11:05 am

Your right there are some key Ideas behind the statements made, I apologize for the cryptic wording.

The point I am making is that developing for android in the future could become a nightmare. Developers are doing fine right now (aiming for the moon) because all they have to worry about is what the G1 can do. You ever wonder why Windows s so bloated and MAC’s are not. because OSX runs on one set of devices they are all the same, just some go faster, they are also made by one company. Windows on the other hand runs on EVERYTHING. Android is able to run on ANY phone. but every phone will be different. So all apps wont function the same from phone to phone. which is going to create some confusion. The Iphone will get sexier and android just may become a pain in butt (failed moon landings) .

Development teams are being established from different manufactures and service providers to keep this from happening.
@Some User,

6 CKS January 17, 2009 at 11:09 am

@convert, Sorry the reply took so long. I have not tried the application myself. The G1 Does offer i skoot wich allows you to use your skype service, as well as one other app that allows you to make calls to any phone in the world for relatively cheap via voice over IP.

I hope that answered your question, if not please to let me know.

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