Google Android

[bugzy]

http://code.google.com/android/

Anyone hear any latest news about it?

they have any release estimates?

[mirencor]

Fall 2008?
http://htcdream.com/
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/20/htcs-dream-again-rumored-to-be-first-android-phone/

[TOYr32]

I heard they were having set back.

[cynicalgeek]

From what I've read it's 2008 Q4/2009 Q1, due to missed deadlines on the part of the manufacturers and carriers. Probably see a few in Q4, but most will be released in Q1 I'm thinking.

[audiracer2002]

My understanding is that Google isn't building any device. Just the OS/API to allow other manufacturers to build devices. That said, I haven't seen any devices yet talking about using it other than the HTC and from the demos I've seen of Android, it looks like they are trying to mimic the iPhone but the UI isn't quite as nice. I'm sure it will do a lot of stuff but I'll be curious to see what the first devices look like and who builds them.

[ncttrnl]

My understanding is that Google isn't building any device. Just the OS/API to allow other manufacturers to build devices. That said, I haven't seen any devices yet talking about using it other than the HTC and from the demos I've seen of Android, it looks like they are trying to mimic the iPhone but the UI isn't quite as nice. I'm sure it will do a lot of stuff but I'll be curious to see what the first devices look like and who builds them.

I understood it the same way.

All google is doing is the software and the software is nothing more than a linux distribution with some special packages. Really, the cool thing about Android is that its going to be open source and people will be able to build cool apps for it. The demos are just the beginning. There is already a giant community of linux developers out there and the google name and prospects of programming for a cool new platform will hopefully lure them into development of Android apps.

[creanium]

I understood it the same way.

All google is doing is the software and the software is nothing more than a linux distribution with some special packages. Really, the cool thing about Android is that its going to be open source and people will be able to build cool apps for it. The demos are just the beginning. There is already a giant community of linux developers out there and the google name and prospects of programming for a cool new platform will hopefully lure them into development of Android apps.

The strength and weakness of Android is that it will be able to run on a multitude of devices, like Windows Mobile. It's being designed to be able to run on touch screen devices as well as smartphone devices that use only soft keys and d-pads.

So the concern is, like Windows Mobile, you'll have a platform and apps that are designed to accommodate both form factors, but not really excel in either one.

Granted this is all speculation at this point as what they do have so far and have demoed so far looks amazing (especially when you consider its Linux underpinnings ;) )

I was physically at the latest Google Android demonstration at the end of May and it was quite impressive. I talked with several Android developers as well and the way they were talking is they want people to develop apps that will work on Android phones across the board.

The biggest hurdle though is how do you create a great app when you can't and don't know the hardware it's going to run on. Hardware features, interface design, screen resolution, etc. All those constraints are unknown, and so I'm not quite convinced Android apps will be so much better than what's already available for Windows Mobile.

[socalrally]

http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=android

Then there is also OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner open source phone:
http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=openmoko

[ncttrnl]

Open Moko doesn't have the same brand appeal as google though. Not that what I've seen is a measure of market penetration but I've only seen one open moko device in the wild and it was a GPS unit.

[socalrally]

The new OpenMoko Neo FreeRunner only becomes available on Monday 7th, but at this stage it's really mainly an open-source dev platform (especially since the new Neo FreeRunner is only tri-band, and lacks EDGE or UMTS - probably to keep cost down for developers).

But there's no reason Google's Android SW API / platform couldn't be made to run on OpenMoko HW for a full open-source solution.

[BLACK 1.8T]

HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung are all members of the Open Handset Alliance and all will be able to run Android on their upcoming phones if, of course, they are developed to work with Android. Currently, HTC is the only phone manufacturer so far reported to already be developing a phone built for Android.

Here's more info on the Open Handset Alliance
http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/index.html