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Google android now available

engadget.com — A nice video showing the slick capabilities of Google's new android platform

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  • uzusan, on 11/14/2007, -1/+229Direct link to the sdk - http://code.google.com/android/
    The videos are also on that site.
    I hate engadgets link system. They have a sentence that reads "Pedal your steam-engine over to the Open Handset Alliance site" with open handset alliance as a link, which just takes you to engadgets tag for it rather than the page.
    • mmeow, on 11/13/2007, -24/+2You're supposed to click on the "Read" link. Besides, it's not like they cloak their links. Hover your mouse over the link, and you can see exactly where it'll take you.
      • uzusan, on 11/13/2007, -2/+17I know how to do it and i know that its in the status bar. That still doesn't make it good design.
        • mmeow, on 11/13/2007, -10/+0Fair enough. Don't really understand why my previous comment earned -10 diggs though. Did I sound like a engadget fanboy or something?
        • plantfood, on 11/13/2007, -4/+2buried for use of the word fanboy
    • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -17/+1I want 10million dollar
      • ShrimpCrackers, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4You can have 10 million dollars. Just code 25 of what Google decides are the best applications for Android by March 2008. If you manage to win all 50, you'll win 20 million. Enjoy!
    • frieddonuts, on 11/13/2007, -8/+2I also hate how Engadget seems to format as plain text in Opera- no background colors or anything.
    • psyjoniz, on 11/13/2007, -1/+17i have to agree with you here - the way they do links is infuriating.
    • profJohn, on 11/13/2007, -0/+11Dugg for the helpful link and for scorning Engadget's annoying self-referential links.
    • joegibes, on 11/13/2007, -1/+2The self-referencing links are sometimes useful, but I just want to RTFA.
    • LeftE, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2Yeah, I'll agree that wasn't a very useful link. Being an Engadget writer myself, I always try to tag-link useful terms, perhaps categories you might want to research further, but that one wasn't the best place for it. On most of our stories, you can be pretty sure the "Read" link is the one going out to "TFA." Good catch, uzusan.
  • troydoogle7, on 11/13/2007, -6/+14Wow, really amazing. This can only bring about some great things and some great apps with a positive side effect of getting apple to open up their platform more. I just hope android won't turn into a security nightmare.

    I also hope that they realise that users want to be able to sync their items with outlook and other desktop apps and since google doeasn't make a desktop client they will allow some aspect of the os to place nice with outlook, entourage, etc, out of the box!
    • freedomknight, on 11/13/2007, -5/+2Well its going to be open, It won't be hard to do that unless Microsoft chooses other way around.
    • ewjordan, on 11/13/2007, -1/+2Well, I've looked through in some detail, and it doesn't seem like at this stage syncing like that is built-in. However, the ability to provide and interact with developer defined services is one of the guiding principles of the API design, so all it would take is someone that knows how to deal with Outlook (for instance) data to set up a helper app that you could run on your desktop, and you'd be all set.

      Security-wise, I think they've taken a very nice approach - they use the usual Linux model for filesystem security, and when it comes to privileges for services, it appears at this stage that the user sets privileges when he/she installs each program. For instance, the user can decide on an app by app basis whether to allow access to SMS, automated calls, networking, etc. This means that security boxes don't pop up while you're using an application, they only pop up when you install it. Apart from that, everything is sandboxed, like most Java code, so I don't see the security nightmare that some people have predicted.

      I'm very excited about this project - I've posted some notes on the Android SDK over at http://www.ohadev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17 if you're interested in a longer summary of the even longer amount of documentation that Google has provided.
  • ScornForSega, on 11/13/2007, -37/+27I think this just might be the iPhone killr.
    • econoar, on 11/13/2007, -6/+16When will people stop saying this? The iPhone is just one phone who made a big improvement for the technology and competition for the phone industry. Companies are going to compete with it, but they aren't making a product with the idea of "iPhone killer (or killr)" on their mind. Get over it.
      • econoar, on 11/13/2007, -4/+23Not to mention it's an phone OS project and not even a phone.
    • FTLJohnson, on 11/13/2007, -11/+10Actually, I was wondering if I could wipe off apple's OS off the iphone and install this..... Apple would sell a LOT MORE iPhones, if one could immediately use a hacked sim card to free the iphone from ATT and then put Android on the device to free it from apple. After all, Apple is known for it's slick hardware... this wouldn't be a stretch...
      • KibibyteBrain, on 11/13/2007, -8/+5Apple is known for their slick hardware AND software. And mind you, The iPhone was a 1.0 product in 2007 which would make it a concept design in probably 2005 knowing Apple's dev cycles. Comparing iPhone 2007 to concept designs of just Android software is apples and oranges. Wait to compare what Google and Apple actually have in 2008 and then we will see if Apple ought to give up on competing with Google and buy their code.
    • ctrlfreak13, on 11/12/2007, -2/+5Could you have at least but the 'e' in 'killer' to give your statement some sense of mature thought?
    • br0ken1128, on 11/13/2007, -1/+20People aren't making a product with the idea of iPhone killer? .. I disagree .. if I'm a cell phone company and the iPhone has just stolen a large part of my market, my next product will be aimed at being an iPhone killer, though I certainly wouldn't market it as such .. it would be my goal however ;)
    • halobender, on 11/13/2007, -0/+6I'm killing your iPhone next chance I get.
    • algo, on 11/13/2007, -2/+9but apple should be paranoid about android..
  • rpgmaker, on 11/14/2007, -1/+83Wow, the platform seems to be GREAT! I can't wait to see on what Android will turn out in five or more years. FLOSS developers will do magic on it :)
    • br0ken1128, on 11/14/2007, -0/+33I some how don't think you'll have to wait 5 years to be amazed.. they already have prototype devices and a few cell manufacturers on board .. probably start seeing cool stuff really soon.. I'm sure they want this out there quickly before iPhone keeps shrinking everyone elses market share
    • webcrumb, on 11/13/2007, -1/+4I've just tried it. From downloading, installing the Eclipse plugin, setting up the SDK within Eclipse, to getting Hello World on the Android emulator: 20 minutes. (By the way, the emulator itself is damned nice. Telnet into a console to find out exactly what's going on? Alter the net speed and latency to reflect a GPRS connection? Ta very much.)

      Big? Hell yeah.

      I'd buy the reference platform /now/.
    • thetanman, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4I'm pretty computer savvy, but until recently I've never owned a smart phone. I've played with the iPhone quite a bit, so I'm aware of the new standard, positives and negatives. Anyways, I just joined t-mobile, got a blackberry all set up, and couldn't stand it. Took it back, got the new HTC Shadow (WIN MOB 6) the day it came out, and though it looked quite nice, ultimately it was just another ***** system underneath a pretty face.
      ANDROID is going to be a game-changer. It will royally f*ck Microsoft and ultimately be a boon to the Linux/Open Source community on a much wider level than has been seen before, and we'll all benefit. I'm freaking excited. Until then, I'm just going to unlock a damn iPhone.
    • DaffyDuck, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1I'm more impressed than I expected it to be. I have a WM phone and I have to say the 3rd party software for Windows Mobile has been lackluster. There's not a lot going on. If several carriers latch on to this and keep it open, it's going to be a big deal. It'll keep Apple on it's toes for sure.
      • Protoss, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2Yeah and the apps that do exist cost $20 for a simple alarm clock program or other simple programs.
  • leontes, on 11/13/2007, -13/+5I was hoping that this would be a version of google earth and google moon: Something that would let me plan out my next extra-satellite excursion.
    • CrushThemTorg, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1I was hoping it was a robot that could search Google for me.
  • TheMacThinker, on 11/15/2007, -76/+6Well first off, this will never surpass the iPhone... don't be fooled by that. Secondly who will build the hardware? Is this going to become the Linux of mobile phones or what? I see it become popular as an alternative to windows mobile crap....
    http://www.iPhoneUnlocked.MostOfMyMac.com
    • br0ken1128, on 11/13/2007, -2/+16"Well first off, this will never surpass the iPhone" .. you serious? I can't think you are so it must be some joke I don't get.. first of all they already have a lot of the top dogs onboard who've fallen from grace since the iPhone, more than ready to put some hardware behind the software... the software JUST CAME OUT and it's already impressive.. just imagine when it's opened up to the community.. I mean the iPhone is closed and the community keeps popping it open and enhancing it.. I'd be sick of my iPhone if it weren't for 3rd party apps ..

      I personally can't wait to get an android enabled phone.. the hack I'd like to see is someone replacing the iPhone software with android ;) I'd flash my phone right now if someone pulled that hack off ..
    • canthraxp, on 11/15/2007, -4/+65Apple-fan level:
      [x] insults a microsoft's product? ("windows mobile crap")
      [x] puts any apple product as the pinnacle of creation? ("will never surpass the iPhone").
      [x] posts a link to an apple, or apple-related website?
      [ ] names steve jobs as a God/Religion/Mantra/Sex-idealization.
      3/4. Good job. Print your diploma and get the ***** away.
      • akkibaba, on 11/13/2007, -1/+12Well played, sir. +1 thumb to you.
      • u8myfoood, on 11/13/2007, -0/+8You forgot:
        [x] has a digg username with or related to the word "Mac"
    • noots, on 11/13/2007, -1/+11what about andriod....on the iphone?
    • merwin, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3Did you read the article? They're partnering with lots of different technology companies... Just a hunch, but maybe one of them will build it?
    • psyjoniz, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2did you even bother to read the article or did you just look at the pictures and formulate your failure of a post?
    • Konstantino, on 11/13/2007, -1/+3No one said it was even directly competing with the iPhone. If my spider-senses are correct, though, I'm thinking free is a lot more attractive than $400-$600.
    • dcsr, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4Looks like someone just came from the stone age. HTC announced months ago that it WILL BUILD HARDWARE FOR ANDROID along with tons of other makers.
    • Deffcom, on 11/13/2007, -0/+6anything can surpass an unhacked iphone
    • ShinRaTDR, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1You make me hate my Mac Pro. How could you do such a thing?
  • dTOWNbaby, on 11/14/2007, -7/+142Sergey's hair is way too puffy in this video.
    • freedomknight, on 11/13/2007, -2/+28Does it matter when you have B's of $.
    • muppethouse, on 11/13/2007, -2/+16Seriously! I was wondering if that was Sergey or Kramer.
      • dragon76, on 11/14/2007, -4/+12Just yell, "Hey, ***** Guy!" and see if he turns around.
    • DMCer, on 11/13/2007, -1/+3It looks like he just woke up from a nap. I need that job.
    • spargett, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3The guy is dripping with the virility of rich. That's what he looks like.
  • zephc, on 11/14/2007, -4/+103Sergey sounds like Christopher Walken.
    • skim1420, on 11/13/2007, -2/+11More like Raymond Romano.
    • Nathansvo, on 11/13/2007, -1/+19"I'm speaking to you today from 'oogle's' headquarters"
    • AndrewDB, on 01/10/2008, -0/+5Wow.. You're right. Close your eyes and it's like Walken is talking to you in technobabble. It's awesome.
    • TaylorSmythe, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4Maybe a Walken/Romano mix. You two were right.
    • scully32, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4More cowbell.
  • Roger, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3That guy in the first video looks like a young Harold Ramis.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJHYqE0RDg
  • dcbebop, on 11/13/2007, -11/+13Well, I'm not terribly impressed but it is first glimpse of it. I think the power is actually that google is giving the development to the community and not taking an Apple approach and closing the SDK (originally), so kudos to them.

    I can't wait to see where the development community takes this.
    • noahhoward, on 11/15/2007, -15/+5Open source and closed source both have their advantages. Please stop acting like something must be open to be good, it's bull.
      • shakin, on 11/12/2007, -2/+3He didn't even mentioned open or closed source. He's talking about the open software development kit so anybody can write programs for Android, unlike the iPhone's closed development kit. Android will have a lot more software available for it because of this.
        • cphoover, on 11/12/2007, -0/+4no but if a program is able to be open source it is more secure and more adaptable. almost anything can be opensource it just takes more time on the part of the developer
      • rpgmaker, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1Can you tell me the advantages of the closed source software for the consumer?
    • RearNakedChoke, on 11/13/2007, -4/+9In case you hadn't noticed, noahhoward, Apple is at war with some of its iPhone customers - customers who want 3rd party applications on their phone. Apple has bricked their phones and continues to disable 3rd party software in firmware updates...

      Closed source in the phone world is horrible. Carriers impose artificial technical limitations in order to make money on certain services. Verizon disables bluetooth because bluetooth allows for easy transfer of music, ringtones, games, etc onto the phone.
      • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -2/+3anyone who diggs RearNaked down is a moron. and the "you can do anything on a hacked iphone" argument is bull ***** too. i can do anything on a hacked toaster if i really wanted to, but id rather just develop a program on a platform that gives me the means to do so.
  • chris9902, on 11/13/2007, -2/+4very nice.
  • robme, on 11/13/2007, -10/+0Does anybody else think the first guy talking on the video sounds like he's doing a bad Christopher Walken impression?
  • PirateFSM, on 11/13/2007, -2/+10Do you know if they'll port this to existing phones (I'm hoping for an Android PPC 6700!)
    • Xinex, on 11/13/2007, -0/+5Aw man, if this can be loaded onto the razr my life would me complete. The razr software sucks so hard.
      • Wrathernaut, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Not likely.
        RAZR2? Maybe, if Motorola helped.
      • azurepalm, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1i agree, razr and razr2 OS sucks. but it seems that they are pushing their MOTOMAGX platform (Java/Linux combo) and will be releasing an SDK in 2008. I'm not sure if they are so quick to abandon it.
  • CLShortFuse, on 11/13/2007, -1/+35The guy looks like he just woke up and they made him read from cue cards. I wish I could work for Google.
    $10million should be just about right to get a strong following.
    But as a consumer, I'm just going to hope that HTC releases an Android firmware for their Kaiser model.
  • kedohmen, on 11/14/2007, -8/+7So could I put this on my MotoQ right now?
    • noahhoward, on 11/13/2007, -1/+12It'd be interesting to see.
    • blackjack75, on 11/13/2007, -1/+7Of course you can put it on your MotoQ. Just buy a memory card. Of course just having an archive called android-sdk.zip on your memory card won't be very useful.
      • kedohmen, on 11/13/2007, -0/+8I meant replace the Windows Mobile OS with this. Just a random question, sorry Im no 1337 HAXOR
  • caesar0801, on 11/13/2007, -4/+5is it just me or does the guy giving the tour look a lot like a Apple employee who's explaining about the functions in iPhone?
    check the hands...
  • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -15/+2GPS or no??
    • noahhoward, on 11/13/2007, -1/+13It's software. It's not a phone.
      • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -7/+2no the google maps program is software. does it have gps integration?
        • shakin, on 11/13/2007, -0/+6Seeing as the Google Maps software on my Blackberry has GPS integration I think it's safe to assume so does this version.
        • EtherGnat, on 11/13/2007, -0/+6Considering that Google Maps will integrate with a GPS on other phones, I'm sure it will support GPS if it's available (either integrated or via Bluetooth) on a given Android phone.
        • cphoover, on 11/12/2007, -1/+2nice
          noahhoward noone wants to have a seperate program for gps and google maps, that is why i asked.
        • noahhoward, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1cphoover, Google Android is an OS for phones it is not a phone itself. In order to have GPS you have to have GPS hardware.
        • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -2/+1u dont understand what i was asking. i was asking is there gps functionality in this software version of google maps, as there is none on the iphone. i havent seen other versions. clearly android is an os i would have to be ass retarted not to have picked up on that. I realize it depends on the hardware, my questions was ambiguous so i clarified. I asked because i want gps overlayed on my sattelite imagery and i dont want to use some lousy thirdparty that costs a *****.

          why do people digg things down they dont understand?
    • jackyyll, on 11/13/2007, -1/+10I'd assume if the phone you put the OS on has a build-in gps than someone could code a GPS system for it.
      • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -3/+1who wants that tho in addition to google maps. and trust me noone is going to develop that for free like google.
        • Dested, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1haha no one is going to develop that for free, THATS THE DEFINITION OF OPEN SOURCE. Aiding the masses with your knowledge.
    • spyder91, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4Though SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. is one of the alliance companies, so expect awesome hardware/software integration down the road. I'm excited.
  • slapded, on 11/13/2007, -1/+7kick ass if they can get this on all the phones
  • reversekilled, on 11/13/2007, -11/+88I hear it will analyze your conversations and insert appropriate audio ads into your phone calls..
    • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -1/+37develop that and 10million will be yours easy.
      • roystgnr, on 11/13/2007, -1/+2Ten million dollars? Ten million angry consumers with torches and pitchforks, more likely.
        • DaffyDuck, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3Move to the Caribbean with your 10mil until things cool down.
    • rogerbly, on 11/13/2007, -1/+16In the name of prior art, the obvious approach is to insert audio ads during the ringing. Ads can be targeted based on the phone number dialed, your current geographic location, your calling pattern, etc. You can still hear the ringing under the AdSoundBites and the ads terminate with a distinctive tone when the call in answered.

      If your near Bob's Veggie House around Noon, you might hear an ad like "Bob's Veggie House on Main St. has $1.99 Veggie Burgers for lunch".
      • hinmanj, on 11/13/2007, -0/+5Great! Now people won't want to call each other to avoid the ads, and then lower cell phone bills will come of it.
    • chedabob, on 11/12/2007, -0/+2Nothing can be worse than Orange's incessant "You didn't top-up last month, so you miss out on your bonus calls" SMS messages that I've been getting for the last 5 months.
    • JamesTorrence, on 11/13/2007, -2/+1I'm glad were getting to these boring and redundant "google will advertise to you by blah blah blah" jokes so quickly. That way when google changes everything about our technological lives for the better we can all look back and pretend we were all on board to begin with.
  • musicfreak21, on 11/14/2007, -0/+42Big push for third-party development...and they will give you reward money for the awesomeness of the applications. I love Google!
    • cphoover, on 11/13/2007, -3/+1anyone want to develop a program with me i was thinking mp3 player send me a message.
  • rivalius13, on 11/13/2007, -16/+1Wonder how long before it's hac....oh wait...it just was.
  • rivalius13, on 11/13/2007, -2/+45Threaded text messaging? That's a bag full of win right there. Really hope Nokia get aboard with this. I already have 20 Nokia chargers, wanna put them to good use.
    • neodorian, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Threaded text messaging was one of those little things that I've totally gotten used to since I had a Treo. I know other devices have it now but for me it has made it a lot nicer. Also it makes me use up text messages at a ridiculous rate because I feel like I am just IM'ing.
      • rivalius13, on 11/13/2007, -0/+9Unlimited plans are your friends. Unless it's Verizon unlimited.....
    • signal15, on 11/13/2007, -1/+12I have 60 Nokia Chargers. And a cake.
    • psyjoniz, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2threaded text messaging is the ONLY reason i miss my palm powered phone. i simply cannot understand why anyone in their right mind ever thought text messages should be single shot deals.
    • azurepalm, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Nokia's threaded SMS app: http://www.nokia.com/A4568203
      i'm using it and it works great.
  • DarkDx, on 11/15/2007, -22/+4Is it me or 80% of the icons are iphone/even-mac'ish? Also the borders that you can see in the little popups are iphoneish.
    The menu that appeared in the browser looks a lot like an color-inverted mac os x tiger context menu (hell, even the fonts)
    • EtherGnat, on 11/15/2007, -1/+24Dear God Apple fans are obsessed with finding any shred of resemblance in other products.
      • DarkDx, on 11/13/2007, -4/+2Lol I'm not an apple fan, and I actually tought that I was going to be buried by apple fans, how ironic? Just pointing some ***** similarities and BUM buried. Inmatures.
        • locojones, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Of course, because if it uses pleasant colors and has shiny corners, it must've been invented by Apple *rolls eyes*
    • psyjoniz, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3sorry - that bandwagon fell apart a loooong long time ago

      *fail*
  • br0ken1128, on 11/15/2007, -5/+62So what are the chances of android running on the iPhone hardware? ..
    • kris33, on 11/13/2007, -1/+22Huge. Developers are already working like crazy to get linux running.
      • br0ken1128, on 11/13/2007, -1/+14I'd flash my iPhone in a second if it meant running android on there.. it'd be awesome to watch this thing grow.. as long as I have my basic functionality I don't really care.. text messaging, e-mail and phone.. e-mail not important to me necessarily, if I gained MMS I'd be happy...
        • ShrimpCrackers, on 11/12/2007, -0/+1Agreed, the idea of being able to have my iPhone be truly free, has my heart pumping already. I'm sick and tired of Apple's proprietary BS and if I could begin with my phone then I can't wait. (My Mac's it won't even work with half my plotters and other devices).
    • DarkDx, on 11/13/2007, -3/+1Only if they ompile a ARM version and of course optimize it for the hardware. But considering it is open source and the iphone already got full read/write acces it's possible that someone could port it, adapt it and release it. Get a time travel machine if you want to know hehe.
      • n0c0ntr0l, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2Most phones use arm, so I would take that as a given.
        • PhireN, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4I think 'most' is a slight understatement, 'all' would be a better word. but if you can find a single phone, on sale now that doen't use a arm processor, then I'll retract this message.
    • nphase, on 11/13/2007, -4/+2Why? I know it's no open source, but it seems like the iphone software is so much sexier than android's.
    • psylence, on 11/13/2007, -2/+1I'm going with a -10% chance.
    • 68024, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3...and here I was 2 weeks ago getting dugg down deep for even suggesting that possibility...
  • smurfz, on 11/13/2007, -7/+89Anyone else think that Sergey guy is completely stoned out of his mind?
    • ycohain, on 11/13/2007, -10/+1"that Sergey guy" happens to be one of the richest guys in the world...he might be stoned out of his mind, but at least know who he is, ass.
      • GliTCH82, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3I know who he is, now quit sucking his balls.
    • hoovcluck, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1It must be the accent.
  • SirZRX, on 11/12/2007, -1/+4oh my, looks very very promising!!!!
  • Kenzan, on 11/15/2007, -10/+3What phone is that in the photo?
    Or it is just a photoshop?
    • spargett, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2Give the photoshop ***** a rest for god's sake.
      • anthonylitz, on 11/13/2007, -2/+2lol :)
      • Kenzan, on 11/15/2007, -0/+1I was seriously asking what model phone that was because it look great. i wasn't commenting on it being a 'shopped' image, you flaming douchebag.
  • H2Glitch2007, on 11/15/2007, -3/+67I'm glad Ray Romano found work.
  • wilhoitm, on 11/13/2007, -20/+3Too similar to the iPhone! Google's CEO is on Apple's Board of Directors. Coincidence, I think not! You just might see part of this API in the iPhone SDK in February.
  • linkin2, on 11/13/2007, -13/+8LINUX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • cphoover, on 11/12/2007, -0/+6your a little late, thats old news.
    • ShrimpCrackers, on 11/12/2007, -0/+3ITS NOT JUST LINUX! ITS GOOGLE GOODNESS!!!!!!

      /Okay digg me down now.
  • kris33, on 11/13/2007, -8/+1Well, it looks great, but it also seems kinda slow. The browser doesn't look that good either, it should copy some of the methods the iPhone use when interacting with web sites (double tap = zoom in on selected content, pinch, etc..).

    Hope this is still in beta. If that is the speed of the final OS, they should seriously consider delaying it.
    • br0ken1128, on 11/12/2007, -1/+5I think it's probably more the fact that it's prototype hardware .. we have no idea how fast the processor is in that device..
  • Mayfoev, on 11/13/2007, -1/+18At the same time, on an other page of the Google Code project, Google is announcing a developper challenge with a total of $10 million in awards :
    http://code.google.com/android/adc.html
    And besides Linux that everyone had guessed, Google has chosen the WebKit engine for the browser, SQLite, Jabber and a BSD libc amongst the free software technologies that Android uses.
    http://code.google.com/android/what-is-android.htm
  • wilhoitm, on 11/13/2007, -3/+13Wow, you code Android in Java. I wasn't expecting that!
  • nomoreink, on 11/13/2007, -7/+17That's coverflow!
  • cphoover, on 11/15/2007, -9/+59possibilities are limitless. revolutionary. they have done for cellphones what web 2 has done for the net. iphone fanboys suck my balls.
    • chambana, on 11/13/2007, -6/+12iPhone is still way more thought out in terms of user experience. Desktop Linux has never found a way to mature beyond OS X for the normal consumer, hopefully Google will guide Android enough so that it can effectively counter the iPhone. Open is so much better than proprietary, but there still needs to be direction.
      • annoia, on 11/13/2007, -1/+2The fact that desktop Linux is even being compared to OSX is incredible in itself! I think for the normal consumer, OSX is probably the leader in maturity. The only problems with OSX are the whole no programs, evil empire, we're better than you stuff... The problems with Linux are probably the no programs, not entirely consistent, I'm a geek stuff.

        Oh, I use Linux everywhere possible, and have been for several years, so don't flame me for not knowing anything (You may flame me for this msg instead though :))
    • psyjoniz, on 11/13/2007, -3/+2lmao - dugg
    • locojones, on 11/13/2007, -3/+5We all know how open source applications are going to work. This will be just another landscape littered with abandoned orphans of programs who haven't been updated in years and years.
  • one2gamble, on 11/13/2007, -5/+13blackberry support asap
  • n00854180t, on 11/13/2007, -1/+18GoogleMaps and GTalk (and thus Jabber) from the home screen == win. Wouldn't mind Google Earth there either, that could be fun.
    • TheNik, on 11/13/2007, -1/+10There's 3D acceleration so that's a huge possibility. :)
    • krische, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1Wait, people actually use GTalk?
      • twrife, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2It's very nice to use when you have someone else with gmail.. The chat client is integrated into your browser so it makes it that much easier.
  • samalter, on 11/13/2007, -7/+1so what are the odds that this will be able to run on the iphone hardware platform? seems like it has a good shot since apple/google already have high connections, plus the fact that apple might realize they are dealing with constant hackers trying to unlock the newest firmware.
    Personally, i'd love to use android on my iphone, but then again, a LOT of the stuff shown there can be available in future updates from apple, we just hh ave to rely on apple to come up with them.
  • zapa, on 11/13/2007, -2/+11linux(android) + nokia+ google's services = perfect phone
  • TheNik, on 11/13/2007, -12/+5Eclipse is god-annoying to use (in my opinion). Custom IDE or Xcode (for OS X) for the win.
  • DickInyerhole, on 11/13/2007, -2/+19I have the AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser 8925) and I can not ***** wait to get rid of this bs windows mobile 6 operating system
    Android is going to be amazing for the tilt, and I suggest people looking into it more now that this is starting to unfold
    • locojones, on 11/13/2007, -0/+5If you don't like WM6, then why did you buy the phone?
      • Darth_tater, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2the Tilt has some very nice features that totally make the burden of WM6 worth it.
  • rogerbly, on 11/13/2007, -8/+1For audio ads, how about: insert audio ads during the ringing. Ads can be targeted based on the phone number dialed, your current geographic location, your calling pattern, etc. You can still hear the ringing under the AdSoundBites and the ads terminate with a distinctive tone when the call in answered.

    If you're near Bob's Veggie House around Noon, you might hear an ad like "Bob's Veggie House on Main St. has $1.99 Veggie Burgers for lunch".

    Since that will be worth Billions, we consumers should get a piece... phone bill credits for every ad presented, etc.
  • ahpro, on 11/13/2007, -15/+4Hmm.. the internet isn't as smooth as on an iPhone.
    • neodorian, on 11/13/2007, -2/+13So you're saying that the web browser on a prototype isn't as fast as the one on a production device? Imagine that!
      • ShrimpCrackers, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2Doesn't matter, in a few weeks after release we'll have all the features on Android that the iPhone has and then some. It'll be more intuitive, faster, and more attractive. This is because its open, the SDK is rather simple, and the huge army of open source programmers will make sure of that. Even if Apple hired 1000 more programmers for the iPhone, it won't change. The iPhone software, as intuitive as it was, is already destined to be a relic of the past, and everyone rational sees that.
        • unit101, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1You have to remember though, that an iPhone SDK is coming in February. So Android won't have much of an advantage there.
    • dn11, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2it will sure be nice to actually be able to use the internet with 3G rather than wait 3 minutes for a page to load with your iPhone
  • MrBogard, on 11/13/2007, -4/+3I actually enjoy my WM6 phone.. but this is full of win for the open source community. I expect MS will stay in this game for years to come--but where is Palm in all of this? Can they keep up?
    • jhuebel, on 11/13/2007, -1/+6WM6 is a mobile platform without direction. It's confusing, difficult to use and not at all user friendly. I've got an AT&T Tilt (HTC "Kaiser") that is a great piece of hardware. But it was (almost) completely ruined by putting WM6 on it.
      • locojones, on 11/13/2007, -2/+2WM6 is not confusing, not is it user-unfriendly. Everything is an icon in the start menu, how much simpler could it get?
        • GliTCH82, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1The problem with Windows Mobile is that it aims to do too much without considering the fact that you're staring at a 320 x 240 screen and don't always feel like pulling out a stylus to tap on a virtual keyboard. Everything is always accomplished by tapping, and most of the time you have to tap with a stylus, navigating with a built-in keyboard and arrow keys, if your device even has one, takes too long for it to be a viable solution for being on the road. There are times when it seems like to get to something you would consider useful, you need to tap, tap, tap, then scroll and tap. I really had no idea I was putting myself through all this misery till I got an iPhone, then I realized how much simpler using just your fingers can be. Swiping and sliding make nice alternatives to constantly tapping, and instead of always trying to hunt for the scrollbar you just flick your finger up or down to scroll on almost every screen.

          Really the list is endless. There are things you can do on a Windows Mobile device that you can't do on an iPhone, but I imagine that come February, with 3rd party applications and an SDK, anything's possible.

          Google's Android platform looks equally amazing and has some serious potential, especially because it's not only open source but it's also being directed by Google who seem to understand that minimalistic yet feature filled interfaces with aesthetic navigation are key to a successful GUI. I can't wait to see what Microsoft has planned next for mobile devices, especially after prototyping that big ass table.
        • felchdonkey, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1And that's why you don't work in the fields of HCI or usability.


          Sounds like you could have gotten a job on the WM design team, though.
  • jondayz, on 11/13/2007, -9/+2Is 3G a hardware or software issue?
    e.g. if you put android on a EDGE iphone, would it be 3G?
    I figure it's hardware, so when's the 3g iphone coming out?
    • p0tent1al, on 11/13/2007, -0/+4Hardware issue, otherwise it would be readily available on the iPhone. The 3g iphone comes out whenever Steve Jobs and co. get off their couches to make it.
      • tackle, on 11/13/2007, -1/+1It is not just a hardware issue. It also depends on the network. If I'm right, one of the reasons why iPhone didn't debut with 3G is because ATT/Cingular does not have a 3G compliant network (I think).
    • webcrumb, on 11/13/2007, -0/+3It should be hardware, as it should be handled by an abstraction layer. All the application needs to know is "get the page." The API takes care of the rest.
    • ssttuu, on 11/12/2007, -2/+1Is it a software issue? Are you aware your on Digg? Or just thick?
      • jondayz, on 11/13/2007, -0/+1Oh my, I'm terribly sorry ssttuu. I thought this was a discussion and comment area, not just a place to battle out who has the best "witty comment." Questions are forbidden!
  • monsterofNone, on 11/13/2007, -10/+2vaporPhone
  • colincornaby, on 11/15/2007, -23/+8Dear Google: Buttons are clunky. Learn from Apple's Google maps implementation. Also Android seems to use Safari for it's web browser. They said that Android is based on webkit. And 3D acceleration? Meh. The iPhone also has 3D acceleration.
    • over90000, on 11/13/2007, -2/+1if buttons are clunky why does the iphone still have a button?
    • noseeme, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2So, by your rationale, if the feature exists on another phone (like 3D acceleration), it had better not be in an Android based phone.
    • dn11, on 11/13/2007, -0/+2dear commentator: google isn't making a phone they are making a software platform that will no doubt work with touch screen as well as traditional smart phones - the video shows it being used with both types. unlike apple google realizes that users like freedom of choice and one phone isn't the answer for everyone
  • SiSePuede, on 11/15/2007, -3/+33I thought Sergei was going to say "Hi, I'm Sergei and I just discovered something amazing, HAIRCUTS!" but instead he just talked about Android. Still cool though.
  • nobody2k, on 11/12/2007, -1/+1Sergey really looks like butthead.
  • postalblowfish7, on 11/13/2007, -7/+5wow, you can pull up a map of someone in your contacts... i'm so blown away.
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