Google Android- more open for some
The Google Android platform that is gestating has intrigued many who watch the smartphone space. The thought of Google throwing their mighty weight behind building the next generation smartphone operating system captured the imagination of a lot of us who could see the next great phone coming out of it. Google knows how to make things that people like to use so how could the search giant make Android even more appealing? Why make it open source, of course. The world went wild when Google announced their platform would be open source, thus providing an equal opportunity for developers to jump on the Android train and get cracking building new applications that we could only imagine how good they’d be.
The dream came crashing down this week as developers discovered that Google had indeed kept Android open to everyone. Well, let’s just say it’s open more to some than others. Yes, Google has been making current versions of the SDK available to a few hand-selected developers and leaving everyone else struggling with a much older version of the SDK. Why, that’s kind of like tying developers hands behind their backs, isn’t it? Or more directly it’s like giving a HUGE advantage to a few friends. Let me tell you, the last thing Google needs with all the other delays and problems they have been having getting Android to a working state is to have the bulk of the developers pulling out of the race. And if I was one of those offended I’d be gone already. Fool me once…
(via PC World)
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So much for Android being really open.
Oooo, what a shock. Ok, hands up for everyone who didn’t see this coming. Want another one I’d put money on? Anyone who thinks they’re getting some hippie OS on a phone they can use to screw with a carrier is in for a rude awakening. Carriers do NOT like being screwed with. Any carrier. That’s why they generally go to great lengths to lock or disable features. Android will amount to a marketting gimmick to those who want something better than a free Nokia but either can’t afford or think they’re too good for a real smartphone. Of course, if Google takes much longer pinching this one off, it might be more of a case of “what if they gave an OS and nobody came?”
hm…thanks god we complain when something is free and are happy when we can pay for it. nobody complains that everything “apple” costs, but linux and android (nearly) are open source…and there we go..it’s bad…
wow…