Android: Show Me The CC&P!
First LIVE images of FULLSCREEN Android demo!
Ever since I learned that Google’s Android OS is in the hands of former BeOS programmers (who were also former PalmSource people), I’ve stopped totally ignoring it.
That’s not to say I’ve actually thought about the OS. But I have at least made it a point to check into AndroidGuys several times a week.
Now comes a whole bunch of big news at the above link, showing off a dramatic improvement of the Android UI (go see the videos!).
However …
… what did you guys do that wasn’t influenced by Apple?
All I’m seeing here is basically Hey We Can Do That Too! stuff.
You Be, Inc. people really did some pioneering unimitative work with the BeOS.
I’m not seeing the same thing here with Android.
Yeah, the Unlock dots are neat and new.
But whatcha got after that?
It’s beginning to sink into my head now that Android might be a viable alternative to Apple’s iPhone. It already kills Windows Mobile and PalmOS.
But show me:
* the Copy, Cut, and Paste!
* an Android phone paired with a Bluetooth keyboard (any BT keyboard)
* the text editing/word processing application
* the photo editing program (basically Photo Toolkit on a phone)
* the offline blogging client (see BlogDesk)
* the filesystem!
Show me that what you’re doing is something that isn’t reminiscent of Apple’s pioneering work. Show me something that isn’t giving me flashbacks to the failed Saguaro for PalmOS!
Who the hell wants an analog clock on a digital device?!!?
And that Pac-Man demo that was given? Please! Were you actually using physical buttons to play? How 1980s can you get? We’re in the Age of the Accelerometer. Please join us here in the 21st century.
I will wait for the next iteration to be demoed.
Put me on your flack list so I won’t miss it.
Explore posts in the same categories: Tech - Apple, Tech - Other, Tech - Palm
Mike Cane 2008 
May 28, 2008 at 8:04 pm
[…] all looks quite impressive, but like a fly in the punchbowl Mike Cane asks … what did you guys do that wasn’t influenced by […]
May 29, 2008 at 5:59 am
Pacman with an accelerometer would totally suck. Why is the iControlPad being developed for the iPhone if accelerometer control is so great?
May 29, 2008 at 8:26 am
Your handle cracks me up. OK, fine, use buttons. I’m not much for playing games anyway.
May 29, 2008 at 8:39 am
Your a wanker mate.
Its still a great alternative the strip you dwon and F you up the A iPhone restrictive experieance.
May 29, 2008 at 9:37 am
Your are completely and utterly wrong. Im not even going to tell you why, but if you knew what the f*** you were talking about, you’d know what i mean.
May 29, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hey, that’s as good as “If you knew how to hear, I would speak to you.”
Next!
PS: You starred that word. I would have allowed fuck.
May 29, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I have to agree that Pacman with buttons is the only way to play it. However, I also agree that demoing Pacman is retarded. My toaster can run pacman.
May 29, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hmmmm… Akismet strikes again. That Comment by anon way up there was delayed by the spam filter. I mean *delayed*. It didn’t show up there for hours and hours and hours.
I de-spammed it because I thought it was just sooo funny.
May 31, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Some excellent questions. Didn’t realize the BeOS connection but it does make it even more disappointing.
One thing they could do is run through the OpenMoko wishlist. Or make sure third-party developers are working on mind-melting stuff.
May 31, 2008 at 11:51 pm
This is going to be open source infact you can already get the programing tools and there was a contest look at the winners of that so if you want a program and you dont see it…. make it. That is what makes it so great.
June 1, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I’ve been playing with the early Android SDK. It’s pretty intriguing, but for now, I’m sticking with the iPhone SDK.
There are a number of situations where Google is putting up openness against time-honored consumer-oriented principles. For example:
– They say all the ‘factory built’ apps — i.e. email, web, etc. can be replaced. On the surface, this is a good thing. But what it means is that there won’t be a consistent baseline application suite and handset manufacturers are each going to choose a different set of apps to load on their product. Open apps vs. consistent UI design and usability.
– They’re going to have an ‘App-Store’ where you can download and buy third-party software. Good idea. But there’s no requirement for digital signatures (yet). This means that anyone can load up an app up to the store and consumers can just click and download it. Without digital signatures, there’s no way to track the application back to the person who wrote it, so there’s no consequence for writing malware. Great for openness. Terrible for security.
– Hardware consistency. Android is more like the PC model, where the handset manufacturer can decide what hardware to support based on certain abstract specifications. You’re going to end up with a mix of hardware designs and potential issues with driver compatibility (i.e. the interface glue between the OS and the HW). Nice that we’ll have choices. Bad that some of them may not work as expected.
I’m not putting Android down. I think it’s a decent platform for experimentation. In this case, it’s mainly going to appeal to tech-heads and hobbyist types — the sort of people who run Linux and tinker with it endlessly. But as a mainstream consumer device, they’ll have tough going convincing the plain consumer to switch over — especially since most people don’t care about the operating system in their phones.
June 1, 2008 at 7:42 pm
>>>You’re going to end up with a mix of hardware designs and potential issues with driver compatibility (i.e. the interface glue between the OS and the HW).
Oh yeah. I made that point the day it was announced and samples of it were shown. Let’s see how they handle being on cheapie pre-pay phones with few features as well as that alleged HTC Dream phone (ie, iPhone-like). That’s a Gordian knot I’d like to see them untie! Still, I think they’ve already beaten Palm and WinMob.
July 22, 2008 at 5:31 am
Hi
Please can some one tell me how to start writing small applications in Linux, prerequisites, software, debugging tools required and how to test them. Also is there a way to port the software and get certification to ensure i can run on the Android when released..
2. What is the difference between company sponsored linux platforms like Android, Meomo, Neo, Qtopia and community based linux like CE, GNOME, LIMO etc..
If it is really opensource why companies coming with packages of their own?
Tell me if i have to start to LEARN and WRITE applications on linux where and how to start?
July 22, 2008 at 7:59 am
You’re in the wrong blog entirely. There are plenty of blogs for Linux and other coding tongues.