“Google and Australian mobile telecommunications company Telstra opened the first ever brick-and-mortar Android-themed storefront in Melbourne on Thursday, a move to consolidate the Android brand and associated devices under one big, wide, Googly roof,” Mike Isaac reports for Wired.
“Created in collaboration with Android device manufacturers, ‘Androidland’ showcases the many different devices that run Google’s operating system in a fun, Android-themed environment,” Isaac reports. “And rather than merely hawking the devices, special displays and gaming kiosks aim to inform potential buyers about how Android works, and what devices may be best for them.”
Isaac reports, “Yes, it all sounds identical to Apple’s retail storefront strategy, an initiative that met early criticism but quickly proved successful… It’s possible that the Australian market opening could serve as a test case for Google. If the Androidland project takes off, it would make sense for the company to expand its storefront presence to other more popular markets like Japan, Europe and, of course, the United States.”
More info, and photos of the very green (with envy) store, in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Next up, Larry Page plans to change his name to “Steve Jobs.” (For now, Sergey’s still resisting “Woz.”)
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Rudi” for the heads up.]
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Google needs to hire someone to name Android crap better that they have thus far. Androidland, Ice Cream Sandwich, Pumpkin Spice Latte etc…
How about “Pleasure Island” like in Pinocchio and similarly after you buy or take anything Android you feel like or turn into an ass.
Cue the music: “When you wish upon a store …”
So true indeed.
I’m serious when I say this, I want to puke every time I hear the names of new android releases and android phones. Legend, Wildfire, Droid, Epic, Nexus? Are these phones aimed kids 14? It’s incredible. And the childish people at google who name android releases… Grow up???
I had the misfortune to spend Thanksgiving in the presence of a 15 year old Android fan and now I understand. This is their customer base. Their fragile identities are defined by being able to hack their electronics and to be able to expound on tidbits of obscure information that no one else cares about. They are obsessed with jumping through undocumented hoops to procure free services and software. The end product is important only in the sense that it justifies the quest. There is no profit to be made here.
BetaWorld
Totally awesome. I think they’re also testing the market for their version of Pixar. You can’t wait.
Let’s hope they don’t have any little green trashcans around.
From the picture in the article, it would appear that they have many green trashcans, in all sizes.
After extensive studies, my team and I have discovered why Google does the things it does: They are twats.
You mean they can’t even get twats.
Hmmmm – Telstra & Google – take a bucket or paper bag when visiting this store!
You know, they could have opened it in someplace even more out of the way, like Perth.
(With apologies to all my friends in Melbourne.)
I wonder if they have an empty space set aside for Scamdung tablets, if and when they are ever allowed in the country.
Steady on cupcake, Melbourne may be “south of the border” … but it’s only 869 km / 539 miles (by road) from Sydney, which IS at the centre of the universe!
–
Not does Telstra sucks donkey balls, it is possibly the most hated corporation in Australia.
Copy copy copy copy copycat!
It seems there are two times more sales personnel than clients in the store… that is, about 6 to 3 plus maybe one journalist.
They need that many employees to dust… the displays will be gathering dust as they won’t be touched and the employees will have to dust them. They know this from the experience gained from talking to the employees of the Microsoft stores
Been there – forget it. A disappointment.
Disappointment? That seems pretty difficult to accomplish considering nobody reading this expects anything from such a place.
He expected nothing and was disappointed.
Many of the Telstra stores are direct copies of Apple stores in layout and operation. There is one big difference though. The Apple stores are filled with customers and shoppers.
So when customers leave the AstroTurfLand Store have they transformed into the robotic techndroid alien monster after touching all their devices like their commercials?
This isn’t Google copying Apple. It’s Google copying Microsoft copying Apple. How sad…
wow.
I think a retail store from a technology company should now be the sign they have “made it” and have more money than original ideas.
I wonder if a Samsung rep showed up with a box of Apple swag to decorate their corner of this bad idea.
First glance: The store is designed to appeal to prepubescent and early adolescent boys. It looks like a toy kiosk.
Apple stores are designed to make intelligent adults feel comfortable.
Androidland will be a short and painful lesson for Google.
Beleaguered.
Made for stoners & Australian surfer dudes.
Nemo’s dad: “Hey is this the EAC – East Australian Current?”
Turtle: “Dude, you’re riding it. I’ll tell you where to turn off for Sydney.”
Nemo’s dad: “Thanks, Mr Turtle.”
Turtle: “Dude, don’t call me Mr Turtle. That’s what they call my dad.”
Dude…..Androidland is for pussies…
Well done! You managed to get every line of that wrong.
I wasn’t trying to be 100% accurate. If I wanted to I could have copied & pasted the lines from IMDB. But I decided to put my own spin on it and use my head. Would copying salved your need to be another Samsung?
Or should I say would copying badly have gotten an A+ in my performance evaluation sheet with Jeff Bezos seeing how he knocked off Steve Jobs’ presentation during the Kindle launch and the Kindle Fire being a bad copy of the iPad?
I hate green :oP
Arndreadland, where you get all the spyware you desire, hooked right up your keester.
Biaatch!
LOOOL!!!
Beautiful store. Hope that they do well and create jobs.
The Android store will be a riot of confusion, filled with craps and green trashcans. New Androids newly introduced today will be obsolete the next week. The amount of choice that Android offers will be no choice at all because customers will be overwhelmed with confusion and feel cheated with short-lived run-of-the-mill, trite copycats. Google would be well-advised not to accentuate such sleazy image with the opening of Android stores.
It’ll do well.
The Aussies (much like the Brits) queue up to kiss American Mega Corps azzes.
Sorry, that’s just how it is.
Welcome to Androidland – we have more shitty products on display than the other guys!
++++++1 omg i’m LMFAO.
Wow, what a tacky looking store.
I guess that means it is perfect for the intended target audience.
This is Google….so who did they copy the store design from (and why?).
I was thinking “Hello Kitty” with a bit of Fisher Price tossed in…
Melbourne has a significant alternative culture with many young people (look up Bedroom Philosopher!). While some of my friends have got android phones because they can “hack” them, others have got them because android seems different and fresh.
Let’s see how this one plays out, but I suspect it’ll do well.