Comments on: From Danger's realm come Android's makers

Google's Andy Rubin talks nuts and bolts about the Linux-based phone software, the lessons of Sidekick, and the beauty of the iPhone.
Google releases Android tools
Images: Software tools for Google Android

[jeromatron]

Please no more super adjectives

If something is important to Google, just let it be important - none of this - It's super important to Google - stuff.
I've had enough of that with Microsoft, everything is super or "I'm super-enthused about an upcoming product..."
Can't anyone think of better descriptors these days?

[Jacius Ceed]

How about no more useless comments? (after this one)

These TalkBack comments really should be talking about the info given in the interview not how the questions where answered.

Next time think before you post.
That way you may think "Wow this is stupid who cares? Best not to waste time on this." or "I am going to get flamed better save my own ass!"

"Thinking" it makes the internet a better place.

[anspn]

Can operators/handset vendors block APIs ?

The platform is open and so it seems like an operator or handset vendor could control which APIs are accesible to an Apps developer - kind of like done with JSR's today. They could also insist on certification. If this scenario is possible on Android enabled handsets we will still have a highly fragmented market from an App developers point of view.

[cary1]

Thankfully Verizon is not in the alliance

that's the first thing Verizon would do: lock it up so that people can't install anything on it without paying Verizon big bucks

[pugster]

32mb ram and 200mhz processor req?

Why do you need such a high hardware requirements for? Most of the small phones you buy nowadays probably have much smaller memory and lower power powered processor to conserve battery life.

Most people use phones for text messages, photos, mp3's, and maybe a web surfing. They should just make simple OS and simple applications that people can use. Android's Internet explorer and google maps take too much resource.

[emancipated]

32mb + 200 mhz, supports what?

Are 32mb and 200 mhz the minimum platform? Guess I better read sdk stuff.

"Most people use phones for text messages, photos, mp3's, and maybe a web surfing. They should just make simple OS and simple applications that people can use. Android's Internet explorer and google maps take too much resource. "

I want a portable internet device, but it doesn't have to be my phone. I don't listen to MP3's just news.

Think we need to wait for system resources and bandwidth high enough to run the droid s/w. Take a deep breath, it has been a while since this "repeated vision of future reality" will take effect, maybe I'm cynical from waiting.

I love the concept, no doubt, but does everyone has to spend the same amount for a "powerful phone" as they do for a Dell portable, or the laptops we get at Fry's. OK, next, ...

Texting on the numpads wastes my time, ~mpov. I call the person and at the worst leave voice mail? Am I nuts (sometimes yes, mpov) ?

[skrubol]

New Razr has 225-500MHz processor

The V9m has a 225MHz cpu and the V8 and V9 have 500MHz CPU's. Not sure about RAM. The V9 has 45MB memory (flash,) and the V8 has 420MB. The V9m is in between the other 2. I'm guessing none have 32MB of RAM though. Shouldn't be too much trouble to add to a medium to high-end phone, as PDA's have regularly had 64MB of RAM for years (some have 128.)

[cary1]

my two year old SDA has 200 MHz + 64MB

I think these minimum specs for Android phones are very nominal. Hardware with these specs is not very expensive to make and it will be even cheaper when the phones are released in second half of 2008.

if I am not wrong , iPhone has 600MHz processor, and looking at the sleek GUI and things it can do, it's worth it

[Norseman]

So---the design goal is...

...openness???

The OVERWHELMING majority of cell phone customers are non-techies who could give a rat zass if the phone they're using is open, closed, or ajar. All they care is if it looks good and--especially--if it's easy to use. If openness doesn't translate to that, it doesn't mean diddly doo!

[Shannon Michael]

Why Is Google Dangling a Carrot to Move a Cash Cow?

In response to Google's big-money
competition to attract developers
to make apps for Android,
answer me this...

Why Is Google Dangling a carrot to
move a Cash Cow... or is Android
really a donkey?

Why is Google offering financial
incentives in an open source initiative?

Why are they offering to pay for these apps
at such an early stage in the development of Android?

Who... & why would someone put Google into
such a disadvantageous position for negotiating future transactions with software app developers?

Seriously, why write open source apps for free when Google is telling us that there are revenue streams to be tapped?

To further wet your appetite, how does revenue-sharing sound? App developers receive a certain percentage of the revenues generated from the apps they write.

[LA Techie]

Open source doesn't mean free - Patent close doors

As far as I can tell, Openwave, Nokia, Wireless Science,
Motorola, Att and a few others control the bulk of patents
required to build the real "dream" phone - Open source or not.

Maybe Google's dreamed unwalled garden would open a bit
wider if they acquired and included the necessary key licenses
with their, so called, open source.