“The company’s Vic Gundotra said Android was necessary as, without it, too much control would be put into the hands of Steve Jobs and the iPhone platform,” Electronista reports. “Gundotra didn’t mention Jobs by name but left little mystery that he was being blamed for creating a dystopic mobile environment not unlike the ‘1984’ Apple once criticized. ‘If we did not act, we faced a draconian future where one man, one phone, one carrier was the future,’ he said. ‘That’s a future we don’t want.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Because then we wouldn’t be able to run our ads on it; especially as mobile device users seem predisposed to chose to use dedicated apps over random Web search.
Electronista reports, “Direct jabs at Apple were also strewn throughout the keynote, pointing out either policy or technical limitations in the iPhone and iPad that Android 2.2 would overcome.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’ve used Android phones. They’re all poor imitations of an iPhone. Using an Android phone after you’ve used an iPhone is both frustrating and humorous. The day Apple flips the switch on Verizon, is the day Google dreads. In countries where iPhone is available on multiple carriers, people don’t settle for Android-based fake iPhones.
Remember when people thought Google was innovative?
DRMSSDB:
Because Apple is breaking all the monopolizing and business strongholds and models of almost all the industries that milk consumers and stifle/control innovation by doing so.
I don’t like Google anymore, so I switched to alternative search engines such as Ask, Yahoo, and Bing.
I got the opportunity to see an Android 2.2 presentation with a friend on a Sprint EVO (a gorgeous piece of hardware by the way). It was scary to note how often Apple and Microsoft were put in the same category, while Google comes off as the great innovator.
The OS is extremely good. I know we love Apple and I have no intention of switching… but this demo was the first time I seriously thought about it.
I recommend taking a look at http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/05/speedy-android-22-hits-with-tethering-push-framework-morespeedy-android-22-hits-with-tethering-push-framework-more.ars .
Some of the features of Android 2.2 are exciting. There’s the WiFi hotspot ability (while we basically get nothing in the way of tethering from AT&T;). iPhone OS 4.0 is old style bluetooth tethering from what I understand, not the WiFi hotspot style.
There’s a neat cloud push notification feature that can open applications on the phone. “…During a demo of the cloud messaging feature, Google showed how it can be used to push directions from Google Maps in Chrome on a desktop computer directly onto an Android device. The Android map application on the handset opened and displayed the same directions that the user was viewing in the browser on the desktop….”
Apple has their work cut out for them like it or not.
One iPhone update a year ain’t gonna do it no more. Google is cranking out “dot releases” that contain as much new stuff as Apple major releases.
The multiple hardware vendors methodology is apparently working for Google. “… In the past 18 months, Android has attracted 21 hardware makers and 60 carriers in 40 countries. There are now over 60 compatible Android devices, which are rapidly increasing in popularity. Google says that over 100,000 new Android devices are activated every day….”
Comparing Google to Microsoft has one major flaw. Windows Mobile always just plain sucked. Android doesn’t suck. Android is at least as compelling an OS as the iPhone OS. Apple will have to really work to differentiate themselves.
And yes, there are problems with those devices, for instance in my experience not every device is capable of running every application, or every release of Android. If you buy a phone from vendor X and Google comes out with Android 2.2, there’s no general announcement of when you will be able to upgrade. It depends on your vendor, and whether or not they intend to support the new release. You may be stuck on 2.1 unless you buy another device.
Nonetheless, with the iPhone “nanny store” and slow speed of updates, AT&T;limitations, Goggle is coming off like the global leader in mobile innovation. They will easily become the standard mobile OS, as they erode pent up iPhone desire and mindshare.
All I can say is, I hope iPhone OS 4.0 is more than just the catch up features already mentioned. Multitasking and folders are great yes, but Jobs spent a long time talking about iAds.
Are any of you excited about innovative ads?
Developers Conference, and developers are excited about iAds.
As long as every one plays straight, fair and ethically, consumers will benefit and may the best company win. Apple didn’t just acquire its DNA and get to where it is overnight though, and it’s life philosophy and esthetics are reflected in everything it does.
I doubt a leopard can change it’s spots (pun intended) and that anyone can catch up to all Apple’s achievements and even come close to having a loyal trusting and enthusiastically able customer base. Friends and relationships take time and proven trust to cultivate – They aren’t instant.
Google…the new MSFT
@theloniousMAC
“Are any of you excited about innovative ads?”
Perhaps an innovative iYad? Not being Jewish, I have no idea what I just wrote, but I think it made sense. Now I am off to draw my picture of Mohammad and celebrate free speech…
http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2010/05/20/the-new-free-speech-movement/
Although…for all his faults..and they are Legion…at least Gates/Ballmer didn’t sit on the board of a company and steal their ip while under the paid guise of an advisor.
Snake…meet grass….oh, sorry Eric seems you’ve already made a home here.
Great post, theloniousMac. Even if it is worrisome how Google transgress on other’s patents and concepts and pioneering…
About iAds, yes, I actually thought that was the most interesting part of Steve’s presentation. I think it’s potentially revolutionary. It will improve the quality of ads and the approach to ads and it should enhance the platform and the iPhone OS experience, even if you don’t like ads.
First, the ads will be a lot more interesting, you may actually find you like viewing some of them, and first part B, they will be much closer linked to the content of your interest / activity. Second, it should strengthen the platform for Apple, in many ways.. more on that as we see it in action. Third, there should be a way to decline / ignore the ads so you won’t have to view them or be bothered by constant pop ups, etc so those who don’t want to be bothered by any ads, won’t be.
Of course, Google will find a way to copy everything… as they are generally doing with the whole Android platform.
I also noted that Android advertising presents a more edgy hard core techie cyberpunk style, which is appealing to both gear heads and non-techies alike.
iPhone ads are relatively boring and seem to be targeted at the young couple in the mini-van in comparison… the Toyota Sienna couple.
Just an observation.
vs. more baby pics from Apple.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/gallery/ads/
“Family Man” is in current rotation.
“It’s actually my iphone, but everyone in the family loves it. Grandma always wants to see the latest movies of the kids. My wife finds a new app every week. This week its recipies!”
I’m really just saying, Google isn’t as lame as many of the posts here make them out to be. They are fighting hard to deliver an exciting product and I want Apple to fight back as hard, and not take our loyalty for granted.
You guys may be right about the Ads being interesting but from an IT guy/Consumer perspective (me) I couldn’t care less about them.
One, isn’t Gundotra a former Microsoftian? Two, didn’t Google buy Android before the launch of the iPhone? Can Vic really see into the future, or is he trying to rewrite the past?
Apple should just start selling iPhone on Verizon, AT&T;is holding iPhone back. I hope Apple announces in June that iPhone is coming on Verizon also…
>There’s a neat cloud push notification feature that can open >applications on the phone. “…During a demo of the cloud >messaging feature, Google showed how it can be used to push >directions from Google Maps in Chrome on a desktop computer >directly onto an Android device. The Android map application on >the handset opened and displayed the same directions that the >user was viewing in the browser on the desktop….”
Mmgh, I’m not excited about that from a Virus point of view.
The other thing is Google’s dependence on the web. It’s not available everywhere and what happens when it goes down?
Competition is good, but I think that the SEC and other government organizations need to take a look at Google’s Eric Schmidt, A VERY GOOD LOOK! This stuff is in direct competition with a leg up from someone sitting on the Board.
I’m not sure why people think that a company controlling it’s own product also forces everyone to buy that product. If Apple decided to make all future iPhones weigh 20 pounds… that would be their choice. At that point I would no longer buy the iPhone… That simple. Them controlling their own product doesn’t force me to own it.
Hmm, so as opposed to the Google vision:
You write documents with Google Docs, get your email from Google Mail, run your apps on Google servers, and you do it all via Google Android device or via Google Chrome OS netbook getting your internet from Google Fiber or Google Wifi while you’re watching your Google TV. All while Google watches everything you do and feeds you ads.
Hello Pot, I’m Kettle, hey we’re both black!
Wow. I think I just OD’d on faux altruism from Google.
Didn’t Google get the memo that emulating Microsoft’s strategy “pointing out either policy or technical limitations in the iPhone and iPad that Android 2.2 would overcome” doesn’t work anymore. Many consumers are now able to see the “wait for what we’er going to do” as the scared vapor it is…
Ah yes. Google; synonymous with Altruism. I see it now!
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When the iPhone comes to Verizon, Android will be over. I live in Switzerland and Japan, and I have never seen an Android device.
@ theloniousMac,
You are falling into the PC users trap of counting features in Android 2.2 instead of comparing the User Interfaces.
Google has flunked their UI exam every year since they started. I’m sure Android 2.2 will be no exception.
So, again a major corporation is riding on Apple’s coat tails, badly copying everything Apple does. May the monumental failure of Microsoft afflict Google for their dishonesty and deceitfulness. They have lost the plot.
Reaction is not a sound business strategy.
Google’s Android will eventually have just enough of the smartphone market to protect Apple from an anti-trust case.
Being a long time Mac user who never owned a windoze box and has been forced to use xp at work for the last 10 years, I still think that the Mac’s (and by extension the iPhone’s and iPad’s) greatest usability and capability advantage is the fact that one company designs both the OS and the hardware, thereby allowing it to optimize the experience according to its vision. This is why I think Android, like Microsoft’s phone OSes, will never equal the iPhone in user satisfaction.
@theloniusMac: “Sprint EVO (a gorgeous piece of hardware by the way)”
…with very poor battery life. Hmm…maybe not so “gorgeous.”
“Google is cranking out ‘dot releases’ that contain as much new stuff as Apple major releases”
Useless for most Android device owners.
“Android is at least as compelling an OS as the iPhone OS”
Nonsense.
Did you hear the one about Page blaming users and developers for Android devices bad battery life? No? Well there’s lots more where that came from…
“You may be stuck on 2.1 unless you buy another device.”
Ah–there you go!