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Android wasn't gutsy at all: they hired the original Sidekick developers that were already most of the way through developing a bastard medley of other failed p

by blasdel 16y ago

Android wasn't gutsy at all: they hired the original Sidekick developers that were already most of the way through developing a bastard medley of other failed platforms on top of a bludgeoned Linux kernel. Palm's WebOS and HP's acquisition of them are gutsy. Google's development of ChromeOS is gutsy. Android ain't. The Android team did most of what they could to repeat all the mistakes of NewtonOS (app transclusion), the Sidekick (mandatory incomplete instant OTA-only sync), and classic Windows Mobile (total fealty to fractious manufacturers and carriers) — and then they added some of their own absurd retardation on top of that (like anything to do with the SD card, Dalvik, OpenBinder, etc.).

enjo 16y ago
Have you actually used a recent Android phone? I recently switched to an incredible after more than two years with iPhones (a first-gen and then a 3GS). In many ways I find the Android superior to the iPhone model. App transclusion, in my mind, is a positive. The application stack on Android makes great sense. It creates a repeatable sequence of events that I find easy to navigate. My wife, who is very much non-technical agrees. She has a much easier time with Android than she did with iPhone(s). While there are definitely issues with device fracturing it's an issue I'm hoping Google works to control more cleanly in the future. As it stands today you can safely target a small number of devices with more or less compatible specs and do quite well. Android 2.2 continues to address a lot of these issues. The pace at which the platform has matured is very nice. Overall, I think the user experience on Android is rapidly approaching (and in some cases surpasses) that of the iPhone. I do find it interesting that in my social world, 2/3 of my non-technical friends have Android phones (mostly Motorola Droids). Every single one of them is pleased as punch.

by blasdel 16y ago

enjo 16y ago

Have you actually used a recent Android phone? I recently switched to an incredible after more than two years with iPhones (a first-gen and then a 3GS). In many ways I find the Android superior to the iPhone model. App transclusion, in my mind, is a positive. The application stack on Android makes great sense. It creates a repeatable sequence of events that I find easy to navigate. My wife, who is very much non-technical agrees. She has a much easier time with Android than she did with iPhone(s). While there are definitely issues with device fracturing it's an issue I'm hoping Google works to control more cleanly in the future. As it stands today you can safely target a small number of devices with more or less compatible specs and do quite well. Android 2.2 continues to address a lot of these issues. The pace at which the platform has matured is very nice. Overall, I think the user experience on Android is rapidly approaching (and in some cases surpasses) that of the iPhone. I do find it interesting that in my social world, 2/3 of my non-technical friends have Android phones (mostly Motorola Droids). Every single one of them is pleased as punch.