The Competition: Google Unveils Android 2.0 Eclair -- Target Set on Windows Mobile?
Google has just posted the above video tour of Android 2.0 Eclair, but does it look as yummy to you as its namesake? Android Central has already dished the specs, but it's nice to see them in motion and all official.
Meanwhile, talk sure seems to be shifting from the initial Droid ad's "iPhone killer" aura to scuttlebutt that Google is really targeting Microsoft and Windows Mobile with this OS. The New York Times, TechCrunch, and Daring Fireball (twice), all bring up great points, Gruber especially:
Microsoft’s angle is that because Android is freely available to handset makers, that Google has no business model for Android. But they do: search advertising. (Another case where I wonder whether Microsoft says this because they think people are stupid and will believe whatever Microsoft says, or, worse, if their executives actually believe this.) What Google wants are lots of mobile search queries. The one angle Hansell misses, which further makes the point that Android is not targeted against the iPhone, is that the iPhone generates a ton of mobile search queries for Google. Apple may see Android as a competitor, but Google loves the iPhone.
So, what do you think of Android 2.0, and should Apple worry, or Microsoft, or both?
[Daniel Sandler via Daring Fireball]
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Target set on WM. Lol first btw
Interesting last few lines of the quote
LAME
Yeah I noticed that too. Pertaining to per click revenue maybe?? People buying from the phone??
Honestly it still looks confusing and hard to use, Thats why apple is stomping them. But if Apple doesn't wow me in june, i may have to pick android =/
Damn why isn't video playable on iPhone?
It's youtube Gregg, it plays on my iPhone just fine.
RON JEREMY IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ON HIS 2G YOUTUBE NOT LINKING UP.
No YouTube video either Obama the Communist
Engadget says that Android 2.o provides "Support for multiple Google and Exchange accounts"
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/android-2-0-support-officially-added-to-sdk/
Is this a licensing issue or does it mean that Apple should now be capable of supporting multiple exchange accounts to the iPhone mail app?
Google really stepped up their game with Android 2.0, I still don't think it's enough to make me want to give up my iPhone for an Android device yet...but Apple definitely needs to do something in order to keep their customers happy. These "minor" upgrades to the hardware & software of the iPhone can only take them so far.
Dear HTC:
The day you make an HD2 with Android 2.0 is the day my 3GS goes on Ebay . . .
Could apple easily implement that "different screen sizes" binary for the iphone for a lager screen iphone/ an iTablet ?? or would it be something difficult for them?
having Multiple exchange accounts Is one of those "no real reason why I don't have it"0 things. I'm convinced we can't have them now just so they'll have something to give us in the next update, just like cut and paste was for 2.2 and a flash will be for the new hardware.
I love Google and iPhone. The new android OS has stepped up to the plate, I think it's time for the iPhone OS developers to innovate a new UI. What you guys think? Anyone want a new look to your phones with more options? More social options more control over your device
@Rudy
It's no use. Apple won't change anything anytime soon. It's going to take getting hit by an Android freight train to force them to innovate.
I'm buying stock in HTC right now...
I don't think Apple ever had to fear Google. They probably just got defensive because they noticed a major portion of the iPhone is Google.
So now they are fearing that folks would see somewhat better integration with Android and would choose it.
All the while, Google probably never saw iPhone as a competitor, just Windows Mobile since they have to take WinMo's handset makers.
android just looks so clunky... not appealing at all. as for the iphone, i would like it to run just a bit faster, more responsiveness, etc. but i still LOVE my iPhone. <3
Anybody that says that android looks clunky is either stupid or they have never head of the HTC Sense, the hero's Sense interface beats the iphone's hands down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKdafukjuu0
Go Android!. Any news on Android 2 on G1?
@VB
That seems to be the big question, will it be available for normal G1's (i.e. non-rooted handsets)
@vb I sure hope so, but i am sure that Cyanogen will make it happen
@Rodddney Enjoy customizing your wallpapers, cause that's all you can customize on your iphone.
Okay...now I don't mean to get snippy...but...
@Rodddney Really? You big defense is "original iPhone wallpaper?" Android had complete theme customization since the beginning. So once again, late to the party.
@mogy
jailbreak?
@Ron Jeremy...
You're a floser. Get a life numb nuts.
I'd love to see an HTC HD2 with Android. I love seeing competition to iPhone because it forces apple to step up. As far as customization, if it's that big of a deal, jailbreak your phone and try out one of the thousands of winterboard themes.
Whoever and whatever Google's 'target' is, clearly the weak sister in this clusterf**k is Windows Mobile. RIM users are largely locked in (for a year or so at least), Symbian users are essentially on another planet anyway, Palm can't seem to catch a break tho they deserve one, and Apple's selling iPhones at the rate of 2.5 million a month with new countries and carriers coming on board all the time. Who's gonna suffer for not keeping up? Windows - big time.
@Lady K...
I agree, this is going to be really bad for WinMo, and there is at least another year of wandering in the desert for the winmo fans. WinMo is largely a place holder now, till Microsoft decides if they really want to be in this market.
But I think it also hurts Rim in the short term. New sales especially. I see Android phones eating into that obtuse Blackberry interface in a big way.
Maemo is Nokia's answer to Android. And it looks slick from what I've seen on the web.
The problem with all of these alternatives is brainshare.
Nobody but Android can bring more than a single cloistered developer group to the fight.
I still cant stand the OS. The colors are horrible and the UI looks like Barney developed it. Looks like hammered dog **** to me.
Any phone without an Apple logo on the back is never going to give a damn about Macs. I'm sticking with the iPhone no matter what else comes out because I have no fight left in me anymore.
The HTC Hero with the Sense UI is definitely an Iphone killer. Maemo is also a killer. Sure there will always be those that are a slave to Apple, just as some folks are a slave to MS. But for the rest of us, good choices are coming! Apple is going to have to get off its butt and actually innovate for a change. MS seems happy killing on the OS and game console markets.
Why do they have to be targeting Windows Mobile or Apple? What about targeting consumers who want a sweet a$$ mobile device and aren't blindly loyal to one company?
I really like some of the google features and hope apple learns from them. Ex: I love the inbox where I can view messages from all my accounts. I have that on my mac, why not on my iPhone?
@ swipernoswiping RON JEREMY SAYS F U AND I DID DORA LAST NIGHT...RON JEREMY OUT.
@mogy, can you customize wallpaper on the iphone? i know they call the home screen, when the phone isnt being used the wallpaper, but as soon as you move your finger across the bottom of the screen and actually use the device, your only option is to look at clunky apps over a black wallpaper. iphone better hurry up and not only allow simple customization, but open sourcing or theyre going to lose me to android, and Im sure im not the only one
On other news 2.0 will not support just nearly one year old G1. Smh at google and htc
iPhone ftmfw
What makes the iPhone the target for killers is that it's not a smartphone and not marketed sold on the same model as smartpjones - it's a pocket-sized personal computer with 85k applications. Only Android and possibly Maemo are looking to play in this space anytime soon and too late - a prettier UI is not a selling point for me, and I could care less who's logo is on the device.
Interesting. When there was word on a larger iPhone screen, everyone was going off on how the iPhone's resolution would be off - pixelated icons and full screen apps would be a problem.
WinMo may be a casualty of war, but do I really have to even say that the target is obviously the iPhone? C'mon now, kiddies, figure it out. They may play nice with Apple for now because they've to market share, but wait until Android gets more of the pie, and we'll see how nice they play.
ive owned a android phone one big thing i have to say about android is.. yaaawwwwwnnnn* NOT IMPRESSIVE. apple has a ton of time to stir something up for the up coming 4g android supposedly has a "iphone slayer" just for a second but the future will always be in apples hands.