Android

Ballmer dismisses Google's Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:10:11 -0500

Microsoft's chief executive has dismissed Google's Android operating system as financially unsound. Speaking at a conference in Australia, Steve Ballmer drew parallels to himself going into a meeting with Microsoft shareholders, and announcing a new product that has no revenue model. He noted, "I'm not sure that my investors would take that very well," before claiming that this was precisely what Google is telling their investors when it comes to Android.

In addition, the Microsoft executive also pointed out that since Android was Google's first phone operating system, it is inevitable that they start out way behind. He was probably drawing upon his own experience, with Microsoft's development of its Windows Mobile operating system, when he noted that designing a phone operating system wasn't easy. Ballmer is known for his outspoken nature: Just last month, Ballmer was reported to have made uncomplimentary remarks about its partner Intel.

To read more about this story:
- check out this article from CIO.com

T-Mobile reports heavy presales for G1 Android phone

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:46:12 -0400

It seems that T-Mobile has quickly run out of its initial batch of HTC G1 Android smartphones. This comes just after it began taking preorders on the heels of its late September announcement for the company's first ever Android-based phone. The carrier is now claiming that due to G1 sales being better than expected, HTC has since tripled production for launch days. Preorders will continue to be taken through October 21 to be delivered at a later date. T-Mobile has its sight set on selling between 400,000 and 500,000 devices during Q4 of this year, with plans to order as many as two million of the G1s "in the near future."

For more about this article:
- check out this article from Ars Technica

Motorola building up its team to launch into Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:12:25 -0400

Motorola could be readying for a major move into Google's Android platform according to reports from an Android developer approached by a headhunter to join the team. While Motorola already has 50 people on its Android team, it is working to grow that number to 350. This is a huge commitment by any measure, and shows the seriousness with which Motorola is putting on this new mobile platform. As pointed out by The Channel Wire, Motorola never managed to recapture the excitement that devices like RAZR V3 phones caused in 2004. Android, with its open sourced nature and superior web capabilities--other than the iPhone that is--might just be the ticket to really getting things moving for its mobile division again.

To read more about Motorola and Android:
- check out this TechCrunch article

Google's first Android phone debuts

Paul Mah — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:46:56 -0400

The first Android phone was unveiled at its launch in New York on Tuesday, as its specifications, availability and bundled applications were revealed in full for the first time. The G1 comes with a touch screen much like the iPhone's, as well as a full slide-out keyboard. Software-wise, a plethora of Google applications could be found, including Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Flickr and GTalk. As would be expected, the G1 also packs the ability to read Microsoft Word, Excel and PDF documents. A "Chrome-light" browser has been included for surfing. Missing, however, would be the ability to sync with Exchange. Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms at Google noted that "That's a perfect opportunity for a third-party developer."

To read more about the HTC G1 Android phone:
- check out this article from Computerworld

First Android phone to debut next week

Paul Mah — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:21:51 -0400

After months of intense speculation and rumors of delays, T-Mobile is poised to unveil the very first Android device next week. HTC Dream will debut just shy of a year from the date that Google announced the creation of its Android open-source mobile phone platform. Google says that the idea behind Android is to spur innovation in the development of mobile phone applications. Indeed, Google set aside $10 million in prizes for the most innovative and useful applications for the platform. The application contest winners were announced by Google last month. It remains to be seen how popular Android will be, and how it will be able to compete with Apple's iPhone.

To read more about the first Android phone:
- check out this article from NetworkWorld

Google drops Bluetooth and GTalkService APIs from Android 1.0

Paul Mah — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:57:57 -0400

According to the Android Developers Blog, Google has dropped the Bluetooth and GTalkService instant messaging Application Programming Interface (APIs) from the first version of the Android phone operating system. What this means is that developers will be unable to build third-party applications that interface with or utilize Bluetooth on an Android phone. Handsets based on the Android OS will still be able to work with other Bluetooth devices, with the programmatic interface the only aspect affected. While the Bluetooth API was "pretty far along," some clean up was still necessary. Unfortunately, the team "plain ran out of time" noted Android engineer Nick Pelly. In addition, GTalkService in its current iteration might have resulted in privacy breech, or even a device hijack, and was also pulled as a result.

For more on the story:
- check out this article at the Android Developers Blog

Android-based devices to debut this year

Paul Mah — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:48:59 -0400

HTC's CFO Hui-ming Cheng has confirmed that its first device based on the Android operating system will debut in the fourth quarter of this year. The HTC Dream was originally scheduled to be released in the third quarter, and the initial rumors of its delay added fuel to concerns by some that Android-based devices will not be out before the end of 2008. Cheng's comments will certainly put a stop to them now.

Putting a new mobile operating system out is certainly no small task, especially given that Google's Android operating system was unveiled less than a year ago. Indeed, the delay in releasing the HTC Dream is due to the Android team putting the finishing touches on it--not due to problems with the hardware.

For more on this Android-based Smartphone:
- check out this article from Brighthand

Developers growing impatient over lack of Android updates

Paul Mah — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:31:02 -0400

It appears that third-party software developers are becoming increasingly frustrated over the lack of information pertaining to the status of the platform. Nicolas Gramlich, who runs the independent Android Development Community message boards, lamented about the unresolved bugs in the existing SDK, as well as the lack of information on future developments. For some unfathomable reason, it appears that a new and improved SDK is being shared only with the 50 finalists in the Android Developer Challenge instead of being publicly released. To rub salt on the wound, an email congratulating the 50 finalists on their access to the private download site was accidentally sent to everyone who have entered the contest. Whatever it is, Google surely doesn't expect to capture the extremely competitive smartphone segment with the same take-it-slow approach as with Gmail, does it?

For more on Google's Android:
- check out the Ars Technica article

Android phones faces delay

Paul Mah — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:35:07 -0400

Smartphones designed to run Google's new Android operating system are facing potential delays that could push arrival dates to late 2008. To be fair, there is technically no slippage yet, though it is certainly unusual for products to be shipped at the tail end of any furnished timeframe. Google initially set the arrival date at the second half of 2008.

Strategically, the implications here would be that any splash made by the entrance of the new mobile operating system will not be noticed until 2009 or later. More urgently, however, is the impending release of the 3G iPhone as well as new 3G versions of RIM's BlackBerry. These events are certain to shift the competitive landscape against Android somewhat.

For more about the Android delay:
- check out this InformationWeek blog

HTC will unveil Android device in Q4

Paul Mah — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:20:02 -0400

HTC confirmed that a phone that runs Google's Android operating system will be unveiled by Q4 this year. This transpired in a conversation that general manager of HTC for MEA and CIS Kevin Chen had with blogger Meraj Chhaya at the launch of the South African HTC Touch Diamond. When quizzed whether it will be possible for the one company to make smartphones that can run on competing operating system, the response was that "they (HTC) are not going to dump anyone." So there you go. HTC will continue making Windows Mobile-based devices, and you will, in all likelihood, be able to buy the first Android-based smartphone before the year is out.

For more on Google Android on a HTC device:
- check out this PhoneReport v2.0 blog