Mobile Tech Minutes: Android Isn’t About the Hardware
http://www.youtube.com/v/_ZARCVcZw58&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01
We’re kicking around some new ideas for 2009 and wanted to bounce one off you today. We’ll be doing more of our ten-minute “geek session” videos, but we’re considering some daily news, tips and opinion pieces on hot topics or devices. Take today, for example: everyone’s buzzing over possible spy shots of the Android G2 handset. That’s all well and good, but I have a slightly different take to offer. That’s what today’s “Mobile Tech Minutes” test episode is all about. I say “test episode” because I wasn’t planning to publish this; you can tell by my casual wardrobe and poor camera angle, but you get the idea of the concept-in-progress.
We’ll keep these to under five minutes, simply because we value your time. And your feedback, as always. :) Interested in a higher quality version? You can find it here.
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I agree that the software is and will be vital to all phone platforms. The hardware still has to work, calls have to be made, surfing the web has to be a fairly good experience; but without a strong ecosystem of new, interesting and useful applications its really just another phone.
As a G1 owner I have been pretty disappointed in the array of choices in the Android Market. The entire Market needs work in my opinion: the comments are continually childish and offensive, there is no place ‘official’ online to see what apps are available, and the software being created and put on the Market is generally half-baked and of questionable use. In fact it is mainly the sad state of the Market that has ever made me question my decision to go with the G1 instead an iPhone. Here’s hoping for a better 2009.
That’s interesting… Really! I emailed James yesterday, because I am torn between a Win Mobile smartphone or the G1. His answer was: “It’s very personal”. Sure it is. But there’s no way for us, the consumers, to actually test Android on the G1. Most T-Mobile shops have dummies instead of the real thing.
Now obviously I could read many reviews. Unfortunately they are all based on a previous version of the software that has “an abysmal battery life”. Great… so how’s the phone on a day-to-day basis?
Finally the hardware issue. Actually if the phone was only software, it would loose a lot of appeal… sex appeal. While people reading this blog enjoy sexy lines and love software that can be modified, tweaked, updated, etc, the vast majority of the consumers like the easiness and sexiness of a device. The G1 is not great looking… and people complain about it. The G2 is not better and Engadget’s comments are only negative.
So all-in-all 1) bad advertisement for the G1 thanks to the lack of real test units 2) Lack of people having quality time with the units and posting their opinion online (aside fan forums…) 3) software is a no-go without nice looking hardware for the targeted population of buyers.
Geee… sorry for that long comment :)
indeed, as the mobile phone networks become more and more a generic data carrier, the features available will be software based, making software very important when it comes to bringing out new features.
this however also will mean that devices that can support a diverse software collection will have to become cheaper. that is, the “smartphone” will have to become no more expensive then the “featurephone”.
that is unless some other brand then apple can capture some media blitz. so far, only palm have come close with its pre. but to really be more then just a flash in the pan, the platform has to become as available as windows mobile based phones are. and unless palm feels like licensing out their webos, only android is really in the right position to go against windows mobile. apple will not go that route as apple makes “the whole widget”, aiming for exclusivity and boutique prices over market share (not everyone will want to tie themselves to operator x for a iphone, no matter how good it is).
I would agree that it is becoming more about the experience and less about the hardware, but I think I would nuance it slightly further. The crucial qualifier is its becoming more and more about the hardware getting out of the way of a intuitive user experience. I believe I’ve heard the term invisible interface thrown around to describe it. Things like battery life and multi-touch screens are still things people are very interested in from a hardware perspective, but not simply because they are there. I would contend that its the extent to which the hardware facilitates a excellent user experience. The same I feel goes for software, as you pointed out. Software must meld seamlessly with the hardware and be about facilitating the needs of the user, and not about the needs of the device.
I don’t really see how the Android developer network would be as large as the iPhone network. The iPhone launched 6/2007 and the app store launched 6/2008. So we’re 18 months into the iPhone era. The G1 launched 11/2008 and we’re only about 90 days later… Let’s see how many apps and developers are out there in 16 months (say March 2010).
the pay store will open the end of march. the phone is ugly… yuo forgot that. my nokia n82 or n85 puts it to shame! as far as usability. i know because i own the android and cannot do anything! i can;t even save an email from a new person to my contact list!
Hi Kevin. Just to say I liked this new Mobile Tech Minutes, very interesting and nice to see you talking. Hope to see some more from you and James.
Next time I’ll edit before i post…please delete my last post.
It is all about how the hardware and the software interact. Before the iphone came out, people complained about software being user UNfriendly and all handset manufacturers set out to do was create shiny new phones often to give users more choice.
The first time someone views a photo album on an iphone – its always the same response…WOW…even from my grandmother who doesnt know what the internet is. They combined the hardware (touchscreen) with the software perfectly.
Blackberries, while not sexy per se, are extremely comfortable to use, especially the keyboard. They messed up with the Storm flubbing the software while designing a nice phone.
People are so excited about the Palm because it is one step close to integrating beautiful software with a functional handset. Touchscreen that works with a hopefully nice keyboard.
These days you cant have one without the other.
Also, give developers some time to get up and running on the G1, its only January.
Apple sold tons of phones because of extensive marketing and brand name. While google sure has a brand name, they arent associated with mobile. and HTC, how many people buying phones have ever heard of the company let alone know that the G1 was made by them.
More phones need to come out for android and they will and the software will continue to evolve.
I think the Mobile Tech Minutes are an excellent idea. I often don’t have enough time to watch the longer videos, but am impressed with how much useful information people can fit into a four- or five-minute video. Please keep them coming.