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Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

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Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#11

Post by lemonysnicket »

jcl wrote: post #6
lemonysnicket wrote: post #2

iPhone has just lost a bit more if its luster with this release.

Really? I get the impression that this phone lacks a lot of the iPhone's polish... various sliding/pinching gestures, tilt to change orientation, sync with PCs... Of course, the G1 is playing catch-up, and not doing a terrible job -- it has some of the features the first generation iPhone lacked (and vice versa). The real thing the iPhone loses is exclusivity. Now that they have some semblance of a competitor, will A…

the real thing the iPhone loses is exclusivity

and thus has lost some of its luster -- its not the only player in the market anymore with an app store, touch screen, and all the other goodies

Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#12

Post by jcl »

nickb wrote: post #9
jcl wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FYI, Android Market apparently will have no review process -- anyone can list an application without approval. And you have heard about OpenMoko, right?

FYI, Android Market apparently will have no review process -- anyone can list an application without approval. I wonder how long this will last. All you need is one malicious app and the party will be over. If not Google, then the carriers themselves will demand the locking up of the store... all in the name of security.

My understanding is that Android apps are sandboxed (a la Java or Flash applets) and need to request permissions for sensitive operations. This may help prevent obvious abuses and allow carriers to restrict problematic operations post-launch.

And Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Palm devices (and PCs) allow users to install arbitrary applications that they get off the internet, and their world has not collapsed yet. The Android Market might even be considered an improvement over these software ecosystems because it provides a de facto central location for flagging problem apps.

Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#13

Post by jmtulloss »

quasimojo wrote: post #5

christ we are in the dark ages again i need a google account to use gphone i need itunes to use iphone i have to buy apps from approved channels it favors the vendors apps no thanks wake me when i can buy a device that runs apps i choose, connects to the network i want. i realize this is a pipe dream. the wireless world is a world of shit i might as well look for the smallest flash-based linux notebook possible that…

Palm just released the Treo Pro, which lets you run any WinMO app you want and connect to any GSM network you want. They have PalmOS and Windows Phones that connect to any network.

I feel they do nothing but demonstrate why a tightly integrated solution is better than a highly flexible one.

Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#14

Post by jcl »

lemonysnicket wrote: post #11
jcl wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I get the impression that this phone lacks a lot of the iPhone's polish... various sliding/pinching gestures, tilt to change orientation, sync with PCs... Of course, the G1 is playing catch-up, and not doing a terrible job -- it has some of the features the first generation iPhone lacked (and vice versa). The real thing the iPhone loses is exclusivity. Now that they have some semblance of a competitor, will A…

the real thing the iPhone loses is exclusivity and thus has lost some of its luster -- its not the only player in the market anymore with an app store, touch screen, and all the other goodies

Ah, I interpreted "luster" as "surface polish", not "appeal". Sorry.

Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#15

Post by nuclear_eclipse »

quasimojo wrote: post #5

christ we are in the dark ages again i need a google account to use gphone i need itunes to use iphone i have to buy apps from approved channels it favors the vendors apps no thanks wake me when i can buy a device that runs apps i choose, connects to the network i want. i realize this is a pipe dream. the wireless world is a world of shit i might as well look for the smallest flash-based linux notebook possible that…

I have an Openmoko Neo FreeRunner: it has GPS, accelerometers, WiFi G, high resolution 640x480px touch screen, Micro SD card slot, good quality speakers/headphone jack, and good battery life; it works with any GSM carrier; it can run just about any operating system compiled for its ARM CPU; you can run and compile programs on it in any language supported by GCC or an ARM-compiled interpreter; it can connect to the internet via GPRS, WiFi, or USB with a PC, to update it's software, install software packages, accept/initiate SSH sessions; it allows software to run that uses any windowing toolkit, including Gtk, Qt, and E.

It costs $399 direct from Openmoko and is available through multiple worldwide resellers ( http://openmoko.com/distributors.html ).

Any questions?

Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#16

Post by unalone »

nuclear_eclipse wrote: post #15
quasimojo wrote: post #5

christ we are in the dark ages again i need a google account to use gphone i need itunes to use iphone i have to buy apps from approved channels it favors the vendors apps no thanks wake me when i can buy a device that runs apps i choose, connects to the network i want. i realize this is a pipe dream. the wireless world is a world of shit i might as well look for the smallest flash-based linux notebook possible that…

I have an Openmoko Neo FreeRunner: it has GPS, accelerometers, WiFi G, high resolution 640x480px touch screen, Micro SD card slot, good quality speakers/headphone jack, and good battery life; it works with any GSM carrier; it can run just about any operating system compiled for its ARM CPU; you can run and compile programs on it in any language supported by GCC or an ARM-compiled interpreter; it can connect to the in…

I'm not a fan of Openmoko, but you make a good point. There ARE options for people who want them. The cell phone market is more open now than it ever has been in the past.

Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#18

Post by quasimojo »

nuclear_eclipse wrote: post #15
quasimojo wrote: post #5

christ we are in the dark ages again i need a google account to use gphone i need itunes to use iphone i have to buy apps from approved channels it favors the vendors apps no thanks wake me when i can buy a device that runs apps i choose, connects to the network i want. i realize this is a pipe dream. the wireless world is a world of shit i might as well look for the smallest flash-based linux notebook possible that…

I have an Openmoko Neo FreeRunner: it has GPS, accelerometers, WiFi G, high resolution 640x480px touch screen, Micro SD card slot, good quality speakers/headphone jack, and good battery life; it works with any GSM carrier; it can run just about any operating system compiled for its ARM CPU; you can run and compile programs on it in any language supported by GCC or an ARM-compiled interpreter; it can connect to the in…

Any questions?

yes. okay you have sold me on the hardware. can i get one, then contact a wireless vendor and get a service plan? or will they tell me that i have to use a authorized device? astoundingly i have never owned a cell phone

Re: Walt Mossberg - Google’s G1: First Impressions

#19

Post by mechanical_fish »

lemonysnicket wrote: post #11
jcl wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I get the impression that this phone lacks a lot of the iPhone's polish... various sliding/pinching gestures, tilt to change orientation, sync with PCs... Of course, the G1 is playing catch-up, and not doing a terrible job -- it has some of the features the first generation iPhone lacked (and vice versa). The real thing the iPhone loses is exclusivity. Now that they have some semblance of a competitor, will A…

the real thing the iPhone loses is exclusivity and thus has lost some of its luster -- its not the only player in the market anymore with an app store, touch screen, and all the other goodies

The iPhone doesn't lose luster when it acquires imitators. Far from it. The release of Android is a big, free benefit for Apple's marketing.

The release of Android will inspire approximately 3e5 articles comparing the new phone with existing phones. And which is the existing phone that will be featured in every single one of those articles, cast (once again) in the role of the current gold standard for smart phones? It'll be the iPhone. Because stories with Apple in them are exciting stories. And because, from the market's perspective, Android is an obvious derivative of the iPhone -- except for the parts that are derivative of the Blackberry instead, like the hardware keyboard. (If RIM is lucky they might rate a mention in the fifth paragraph of these articles.)

There will now be a big P.R. effort to define the entire smartphone industry as an epic battle between iPhone and Android. Which can only benefit both platforms, because the amount of downside to losing a bit of marketshare to your direct competitor is more than compensated by the enormous potential upside of growing the entire iPhone/Android niche of the industry. Remember, iPhone may be a hugely successful product, but it's still only a tiny percentage of the installed base of phones. There's a lot of potential customers still out there. Customers that might be drawn in now that they have a range of iPhone-like devices to choose from.

The only way that Android would be a terrible blow to Apple is if it clearly and obviously kicked the iPhone's butt. But it doesn't. There will be a lot of little details that will lead some people to prefer one phone over the other, but there's nothing game-changing here that would cause me to abandon the iPhone. The big difference that folks here on HN notice is the openness of the software platform, but that might not actually be a competitive advantage -- and, if it does prove to be a huge competitive advantage, it won't be one for long, because Apple could eliminate it in fifteen minutes if they really wanted to. All it takes is a policy change.

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