“Google is working on an overhaul of its Android mobile software for a new generation of smartphones mimicking Apple Inc.’s controversial new ‘notch’ at the top of the iPhone X, according to people familiar with the situation,” Mark Gurman and Mark Bergen report for Bloomberg. “A key goal of this year’s update to the Google mobile operating system is to persuade more iPhone users to switch to Android devices by improving the look of the software, the people said.”
MacDailyNews Take: Good luck with that. Not all smartphone users are stupid, Google. It’s not about “looks,” it’s about “works,” as in: ease-of-use, features, ecosystem, continuity, security, and privacy, to name just six things of the many with which fragmandroid simply cannot compete.
“While Android dominates the middle and low-end of the global smartphone market, Apple controls much of the high-end with users who spend more on apps and other services,” Gurman and Bergen report. “Embracing the notch may help change that. The design will mean more new Android phones with cutouts at the top of their screens to fit cameras and other sensors. That will likely support new features, helping Android device makers keep up with similar Apple technology.”
“Building notch capabilities into Android suggests Google expects the iPhone X look to catch on more broadly,” Gurman and Bergen report. “”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Derivative Google. Forever copying Apple.
And, by the time Google and their “partners” manage to get it onto 3% of fragmandroid phones, Apple will have eliminated that inelegant kludge.
“Holy crap! I guess we’re not going to ship that phone.” – Google’s Android chief Andy Rubin, moments after Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone on January 9, 2007
Here’s what Google’s Android looked like before and after Apple’s iPhone:
Here’s what cellphones looked like before and after Apple’s iPhone:
SEE ALSO:
Former Android head Andy Rubin leaving Google – October 31, 2014
Why Google really, truly, deeply hates Apple – May 30, 2014
Prior to Steve Jobs unveiling of Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android didn’t support touchscreen input – April 14, 2014
Before iPhone, Google’s plan was a Java button phone, Android docs reveal – April 14, 2014
How Google reacted when Steve Jobs revealed the revolutionary iPhone – December 19, 2013
Apple to ITC: Android started at Apple while Andy Rubin worked for us – September 2, 2011
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
How utterly predictable. In fact I did predict that Android phone manufacturers would copy this idea when iPhone X came out, despite the fact that they were criticising the notch.
I’m sure it can be done without a notch, OR a chin/forehead. BUT if accomplishing that means a much more complex/expensive display, then the question becomes notch or forehead? Add to that that notch is new and forehead is old, it’s easy to understand the form factor we’ll see more of in the future.
I feel for the OCD sufferers!
Don’t know. Apple is the top notch phone maker.
“Building notch capabilities…”
???
Oh, noes… another dreaded notch. Oh, wait… It’s going to be made by Google, the company that offers free services, so it’s OK. Only Apple is doomed because they put a notch on the iPhone X. It’s perfectly fine if another company does it. I’m fairly certain a notch on some Android smartphone wouldn’t draw the furor Apple draws from all the whining critics who claim, “If there’s something about a product I don’t like, then it must be completely wrong.” Jeez, such narrow-minded reasoning.
Google needs to enable the iPhone counterfeiters who sell cheap knockoffs to tightwads who want people to mistake their Android phones for a prestigious iPhone X
So Samsung is going all out to announce up front they are mimicking (copying) iPhoneX kludge design. Then turn around with marketing and say hey, we are better than the iPhone that did it first and now Apple customers, buy us?!?!?
This can only happen in looney tunes Hollywood. Ahhh, obviously not …
“Controversial?” The last quarter sales figures for iPhones would seem to suggest that for tens of millions of people, the notch was not much of a deal.
I actually like the distinctive notch, but that is beside the point. I find it interesting that, as mentioned by another, Apple gets roundly criticized for actual and possible features others include and receive no criticism. When it was suggested that Apple might move TouchID to the back of the phone all hell broke out. This would be the ultimate disaster, the phone would be rendered near useless. Of course, all small bezel Android devices do precisely that and no one seems to mind. Some minor complaints about smudging the camera lens are voiced, but the criticism is muted. The success of FaceID shows Apple does not resort to such “design flaws” and deserves our admiration and accolades.
Watch out, behind the “Notch” will be a load of hidden cameras and microphones, recording everything possible to pass on to Google business partners ….. remember you are the product, be fearful, very fearful!!
The next version of the iPhone 11 will have no notch….
Let’s hope so, then this first world ‘problem’ can be put to rest. 🙂
Reading the source article all I get is that Google is making sure Android will be able to handle displays with a notch should OEMs decide to use such displays in future devices. There is no mention of Google itself building such a device. This is more likely a preemptive modification so that OEMs don’t go off on their own and muck with the UI and developers have a way to ensure that their Apps look good regardless of whether or not the device it will run on has a notch.