Comments on: Thoughts on Android http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/ A collection of my thoughts and other random stuff I found interesting. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:35:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: FreePress Blog » Blog Archive » Second thoughts on Android http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14454 FreePress Blog » Blog Archive » Second thoughts on Android Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:56:53 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14454 [...] as to how the platform itself will turn out. Specifically, the primary concern I linked to in yesterday’s post seems to not be so big of a deal, at least up [...] [...] as to how the platform itself will turn out. Specifically, the primary concern I linked to in yesterday’s post seems to not be so big of a deal, at least up [...]

]]> By: JB http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14421 JB Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:11:37 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14421 I think I do remember seeing that, although I didn't read it until just now. I'd agree with their speculation on why the Apache license was chosen; I just wish they would have had the guts to go with GPL instead. I think I do remember seeing that, although I didn’t read it until just now. I’d agree with their speculation on why the Apache license was chosen; I just wish they would have had the guts to go with GPL instead.

]]> By: Dan http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14417 Dan Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:14:23 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14417 Just in case you didn't see this in my shared items, http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071106-why-google-chose-the-apache-software-license-over-gplv2.html Just in case you didn’t see this in my shared items,
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071106-why-google-chose-the-apache-software-license-over-gplv2.html

]]> By: JB http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14416 JB Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:10:41 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14416 It's my understanding (at least according to the Wikipedia article linked above) that the OHA is very much involved in what will eventually be released as Android (rather than just releasing devices to support the platform). So far, I don't think anyone has seen it yet, so (like I said), I hope it's great, but I'm not going to set my expectations too high. I don't necessarily agree with everything in the article, other than I worry about the "too many cooks" point he brings up. I also like the first part of the last paragraph, where he talks about the importance of ease of use over features. Not sure why that's too surprising. One thing he doesn't cover, but that I think is the key to the importance of Android is its openness. To the degree that they prioritize freedom, I think they will find success AND benefit the mobile community. I would have rather seen them go for GPL as opposed to the Apache licesnse, but I do understand why they felt they had to go in that direction. That's the other part that gives me pause, because it means that the end products released to the consumers still may be closed and proprietary, despite being originally based on an open platform (sounds familiar :) ), which I would not be in favor of. It’s my understanding (at least according to the Wikipedia article linked above) that the OHA is very much involved in what will eventually be released as Android (rather than just releasing devices to support the platform).

So far, I don’t think anyone has seen it yet, so (like I said), I hope it’s great, but I’m not going to set my expectations too high.

I don’t necessarily agree with everything in the article, other than I worry about the “too many cooks” point he brings up. I also like the first part of the last paragraph, where he talks about the importance of ease of use over features. Not sure why that’s too surprising.

One thing he doesn’t cover, but that I think is the key to the importance of Android is its openness. To the degree that they prioritize freedom, I think they will find success AND benefit the mobile community.

I would have rather seen them go for GPL as opposed to the Apache licesnse, but I do understand why they felt they had to go in that direction. That’s the other part that gives me pause, because it means that the end products released to the consumers still may be closed and proprietary, despite being originally based on an open platform (sounds familiar :) ), which I would not be in favor of.

]]> By: Dan Cameron http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14409 Dan Cameron Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:30:57 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2007/11/11/thoughts-on-android/#comment-14409 Andy Rubin created the vision himself when he started the project on his one before the 2005 acquisition by Google. And from what it seems Google kept him as a small team, since it took so long, and kept the vision, since the mission of creating an open platform for phones is what is going to be released in android. The open handset alliance is a by product of android and bringing in products and service support to give it a kick start not to dilute the open platform. As far as the article goes, I completely agree with it and I'm surprised you even associate yourself with it, since that's what I've said for years. But I still think he misses the point that Android is not a Google Phone, it's just a platform for others to us. And since Google seems "good" they wanted to share Rubin's vision with better support. Andy Rubin created the vision himself when he started the project on his one before the 2005 acquisition by Google. And from what it seems Google kept him as a small team, since it took so long, and kept the vision, since the mission of creating an open platform for phones is what is going to be released in android.

The open handset alliance is a by product of android and bringing in products and service support to give it a kick start not to dilute the open platform.

As far as the article goes, I completely agree with it and I’m surprised you even associate yourself with it, since that’s what I’ve said for years. But I still think he misses the point that Android is not a Google Phone, it’s just a platform for others to us. And since Google seems “good” they wanted to share Rubin’s vision with better support.

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