Why should anyone care about Android?

When I first heard about Android - Google's "iPhone killer" - I wondered how it would stand up to the leader in the innovative cell phone market. Would it be a best of breed? Would it be a total flop? I didn't know.

Until now.

After reading through the presentation Google made earlier this week, viewing the screenshots, and spending far too much time poring over the videos, I can't help but wonder why anyone would care. Sure, it's a great little device that uses some neat Google apps in new ways, but is it enough of an improvement over the iPhone that people would actually want this thing?

I don't think so.

In today's world of copycats and competition, I think most consumers are looking for something unique. After all, why did so many people buy an underpowered, anti-business, cell phone that's locked down worse than any other we've ever seen? Probably because it's easily the most unique and fresh cell phone on the market and all those all of those issues simply didn't matter.

But unfortunately for Google, it doesn't have that luxury. After looking at what the company and its partners have come up with so far, I'm left wondering why we should care. It has a touchscreen? So does the iPhone. It can make viewing webpages much easier? So can the iPhone. It has a neat little zoom feature? So does the iPhone. You can modify things, add software, and maybe even use 3G? So will the iPhone in a few months.

Do you see what I'm getting at here?

If there's nothing new about Android-based phones, I don't see why anyone would pick those over the iPhone. Now I'm sure some would claim that the carrier matters and that's partially true, but doesn't Android run the risk of looking like the second-class iPhone and thus, a piranha in the cell phone industry if it's just more of the same?

More often than not, people didn't buy the first-generation iPhone because it was too locked down, it was on AT&T, and it wasn't business-friendly. But if Apple and the latest rumors are to be believed, two of those issues will be solved in the next month or so and there's a possibility that the AT&T partnership could crumble as well. In other words, the three issues we're all witnessing with the iPhone may be negated in one month's time - much sooner than the launch of any Android-based phones.

But alas, all is not lost with Android. By its very nature, Google's foray into the mobile industry is customizable and allows vendors to use their imagination with their devices. And while I applaud Google for making that happen, I don't trust any other vendor to truly show us something special the way Apple did.

Android looks like it'll be the second-rate iPhone if Google doesn't up the ante soon. And although I was excited about Android for quite some time, I think it has lost its luster.

For more on what Don is up to, follow him on Twitter by clicking here!

[hawkeyeaz1]

1) It is cheaper.
2) It is the phone you want (and may already own).
3) You can completely review or replace all of the code for the phone if you wanted to (less any proprietary add-ins from your carrier--but those can be removed.
4) It helped push Apple to open the iPhone and SDK, as well as break the carrier lock in (rumored so far).

[cporpheus]

Don, I think you are predicting prematurely. There are no phones out yet with Android on it and this isn't even a phone, so comparing it to the iPhone is not quite correct. Android is a platform. History will decide whether this is a successful platform or not, so predicting Android's effect on the market will be more accurate after a couple of phones come out.

[Composer_1777]

International residents would definately jump to pick anything over the I phone, hell, they already do. As far as the U S market goes, i think something has to be percieved as a Holy Grail- in a sense that: Everyone will want it, you might not be able to get it for months after its release and also that it will impress everyone or make you seem hip without ever touching base on actual functionality. The Google Android might be able to accomplish this if it doesn't market itself to techies, who like to tweak programs and use linux, but focus on mainstream users whom prefer to use something just as good as i phone and not be subjected to using apple while still allowing those niche users to find this application integrated into unlocked phones.

[cephusj]

This is a pretty strange article although you may be playing devils advocate to get hits which I can understand for this type of site. Its as though you don't believe anything can be done better than anything thats been done before.

1) Last time I checked there were many operating systems out before Microsoft Windows. Yet, somehow, even though Windows is not the best it is still without a doubt, the most popular. Like I said, it is not the best and the company is a convicted monoplist but no one has been able to take their crown.

To make an even more relevant point.
2) There were tons of search engines before Google got into the market. Who's on top now? I will forgive you if its youth or editorial decisions that cause you to write articles that are borderline asinine but then again to be honest. It did get me to respond which is usually the goal of tabloid websites. To get a rise out of people. What's next, Elvis works at Microsoft and Google's CEO is an alien?

[TheGearbox]

It's Google! They know how to succeed and will find a way to do so.

[hornerj99]

Well said cephusj. There seems to be many articles like this- comparing iphone to android. How can you compare a device to an OS? You're either ignorant or disrespectful to the readers. I expect more from cnet truthfully.

[emeryjay]

Android will do well because with Google, you have a choice. Greedy phone companies will adopt it because it is free. And there will be trade-offs.

I love the iPhone, but Apple and a number of other companies on their level price their goods as if we give them the right to over charge. I believe in a fair market, but a lot of companies will lie cheat and steal to try to convince you that it's a good deal.

Android just may level the playng field and force many companies to use a common interface.

[theobstruction]

The difference between the iPhone and Android is that the iPhone will only ever be that, the iPhone. Android, being the product that it is, can be used and configured in any way necessary by phone manufacturers, so we can get flip phones, sliders, open keypad phones, and just about anything they dream up.

[phillyman128]

The iphone can only be an iphone? Why would you want anything else? I don't get it, last time i checked the iphone was one of the most coveted products on the market. You guys talk about it like its a useless overpriced ipod with a few features that ultimately just look good. Sure it doesnt have 3g, but you act like edge is unusable. Im aware that it may not be the best choice for a businessman over a blackberry for example, but its a great phone that will only become better. I think the only thing this has shown is the only people who bash iphones just don't want to drop the money for one. I cant wait for the 3g phone to come out and have everyone talk about how great it is. If the iphone wasn't as spectacular as it is, there wouldn't be a new spin off with a "fully functional touch screen" coming out every other day like there is now.

[sharonrw]

Android will be evolutionary with each new iteration by multiple manufacturers as well as a users own input, customization and app downloads. Evolutionary on the fly rather than dependent on a yearly upgrade cycle. Moreover, it will be zooming on WiMax long before Apple has a chance to upgrade to 4G. Unless Apple can squirm out of its exclusivity deal with AT&T, 3G is the best it will have for a couple years to come. I also suspect that AT&T will have to subsidize the iPhone to make it price competitive. Google has already offered up the concept of subsidizing some of its own phones (the gPhone brand is still a rumored possibility) via its advertising (a market-tested concept that did exceeding well with consumers).

One could also could make an apt comparison with the same sort of market share grab that the white box made over the Mac. Only this time users get an open OS versus being confined to a closed OS like Mr. Softies.

I saw the same Android videos out of IO and, frankly, I was wowed.

[chuckp123]

Come on, Don. It's not hard to see why someone would want to own and Android phone over an iPhone. The biggest thing: the ability to do what you want with a phone that you paid for. Android is exactly what we need to put Apple in it's place. Everyone thinks the iPhone is open now simply because of the SDK. Bull! The apps still have to be approved by Apple and only paid members can submit them to begin with. That's not open, that's just communism. God forbid you have the freedom to do what YOU want with a phone that YOU paid for. If people can be keen enough to pay attention, they will realize that Android is exactly what the market needs.