Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#1

Post by nickb » Wed, Jul 16, 2008, 11:46 PM UTC

Google's Android platform: not so open after all
arstechnica.com

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#2

Post by azharcs » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 12:10 AM UTC

I hate when Google acts democratic about web and its technologies when it clearly shows they are getting ready to be autocratic.

All Warfare is based on Deception - Sun Tzu, Art of War

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#3

Post by wave » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 12:23 AM UTC

I don't know if Google is trying to test the new SDK on few developers before releasing it, but their development platform is not as open as they stated to be. Example: once I started developing and getting into details, I noticed applications are prevented from getting the current outgoing and incoming call data (http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thr...) This data is already available on other platforms.

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#4

Post by ardit33 » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 12:39 AM UTC

azharcs wrote: post #2

I hate when Google acts democratic about web and its technologies when it clearly shows they are getting ready to be autocratic. All Warfare is based on Deception - Sun Tzu, Art of War

Google = Microsoft 2.0

(same tactics)

I wonder in how many of those 50 finalists is google investing on, therefore giving them a huge leg up while the rest is left with outdated SDKs.

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#5

Post by tx » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 1:00 AM UTC

Why would you even want to develop on someone's corporate platform to begin with? Apple or Adobe or Microsoft or Google or whoever... In the end, you always get fucked, either by your "patron" or by market forces, when your "platform" loses out.

This ain't 90s anymore.

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#6

Post by elai » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 1:33 AM UTC

tx wrote: post #5

Why would you even want to develop on someone's corporate platform to begin with? Apple or Adobe or Microsoft or Google or whoever... In the end, you always get fucked, either by your "patron" or by market forces, when your "platform" loses out. This ain't 90s anymore.

Other than openmoko, that platform is???

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#7

Post by trenchfever » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 1:54 AM UTC

ardit33 wrote: post #4

azharcs wrote: post #2

I hate when Google acts democratic about web and its technologies when it clearly shows they are getting ready to be autocratic. All Warfare is based on Deception - Sun Tzu, Art of War

Google = Microsoft 2.0 (same tactics) I wonder in how many of those 50 finalists is google investing on, therefore giving them a huge leg up while the rest is left with outdated SDKs.

Google obviously values the market more than the ethics. As any self respecting company should. Playing in the mobile arena is better for Google than not playing at all. We chose to allow service providers to arbitrate the network and it's not as if our loyalty has anything to do with Google's success?

Consumers are swines. The pile of crap that this world is today is testament enough.

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#8

Post by mechanical_fish » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 1:54 AM UTC

elai wrote: post #6

tx wrote: post #5

Why would you even want to develop on someone's corporate platform to begin with? Apple or Adobe or Microsoft or Google or whoever... In the end, you always get fucked, either by your "patron" or by market forces, when your "platform" loses out. This ain't 90s anymore.

Other than openmoko, that platform is???

Whatever happened to openmoko? They appear to have released actual hardware while I wasn't looking! Does anybody have one, and how do they like it?

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#9

Post by sharksandwich » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 2:28 AM UTC

mechanical_fish wrote: post #8

elai wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other than openmoko, that platform is???

Whatever happened to openmoko? They appear to have released actual hardware while I wasn't looking! Does anybody have one, and how do they like it?

I ran across this review the other day

http://blog.wolfman.com/articles/2008/07/11/openmoko-freerun...

Sounds like it's got a lot of promise, but a long way to go before it's ready for mainstream use

Re: Google's Android platform: not so open after all

#10

Post by gamble » Thu, Jul 17, 2008, 5:40 AM UTC

'Openness' has always seemed like a fragile foundation for a mobile platform. Mobile operators are the least 'open' companies out there, and they hold all the keys in this market.

If Android apps really are going to be unrestricted, then the first applications everyone will download are VOIP and SMS gateways. Are mobile operators really going to tolerate a platform that circumvents long-distance and SMS surcharges?

If they don't allow applications like this, Android doesn't really have much going for it relative to the iPhone.