6 ms·

still waiting for android phones to surface... anyone else? Then again perhaps I can get one for $200 and still wait ;)

by redorb 18y ago

danielrhodes 18y ago
I think Google's strategy is much better. Apple has tied itself to a device, whereas the software is really the important part. Obviously in the best of worlds, you would want to sell people the device+software like Apple is doing now. But in the long run, Google will probably benefit more because it doesn't matter what phone the Android is on. It will probably benefit users as well since you could switch between Android phones without a problem.
- streblo 18y ago
  Has the Android software actually been adopted by any phone providers? Until any big wireless corporations do, I'm not holding my breath.
  - redorb 18y ago
    http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html shows sprint, tmobile and others... for making the phones, LG, HTC and Motorola. Note since you have to have a 2yr contract to get it for $199 I'm out; Im sick of closed, locked down mobile environments
- swombat 18y ago
  Benefit how? How is Google making money from Android? Apple's making money hand over fist from the iPhone. How's Google going to beat that?
  - danielrhodes 18y ago
    It's the same strategy that any software maker has: get your software on as many computers as possible. Obviously, after that, Google can figure out how to make money off Android...probably through ads. Given that the software is the most important piece (in my opinion), Apple has limited themselves by tethering it to one single device. In the future, that could be a serious constraint. They've done it in the past (OS X, etc.), and it hasn't worked out so well.
    - jimbokun 18y ago
      It's worked exceedingly well. Have you been tracking Apple's stock price over the past 8 years or so?
      - danielrhodes 18y ago
        I can only assume it has gone up, but that has been due to the overwhelming success of the iPod as well as other peripherals. They've gained a little ground on the consumer PC market, but not much. I think Apple is going to do very well in the short-run with the iPhone, but in the long run I think Google has more potential because it is platform independent.
        breck 18y ago
        They've actually gained a ton of ground in their PC market. Apple doesn't target every Joe on the street like most Windows PC makers. Just as Mercedes does great in the small luxury car market and poor in the large consumer market, Apple does great in the small high end market and poor in the larger inexpensive PC market. FYI. Their stock price has gone through the roof over the years. Currently their Market Cap is $160B to GOOG's $175B, and in the past 5 years has far outperformed GOOG.
        danielrhodes 18y ago
        Since we're all just making assertions about what caused Apple's stock price to go up, I'm not going to argue further on this point. However, I do disagree with Apple being called the 'Mercedes' of the consumer PC market. If anything, it's the Scion. ;-)
  - michaelneale 18y ago
    I think google just want a good phone OS and proper browsers and fast net in everyones pocket. Android is just something to help out with that mission.
- tlrobinson 18y ago
  The iPhone (and Mac) are great because Apple makes the whole package. Jobs likes to quote Alan Kay: "People who are really serious about software should make their own software" (of course the converse isn't true: there's countless phones with awful software made by the hardware manufacturers) I doubt we'll ever see serious innovation on Android like we saw with the iPhone for exactly that reason.
  - davidw 18y ago
    If you mean that the Android platform itself probably won't be as innovative as iPhone, you're probably right. However, I think an open platform makes for a lot more potential for innovation on top of it.
- wvenable 18y ago
  Google's strategy is the same as Microsoft's -- and it certainly hasn't served Microsoft well in this space.
bct 18y ago
What about OpenMoko? The second major revision of their hardware just went into mass production and is supposed to be available Real Soon Now.

still waiting for android phones to surface... anyone else? Then again perhaps I can get one for $200 and still wait ;)

by redorb 18y ago

still waiting for android phones to surface... anyone else? Then again perhaps I can get one for $200 and still wait ;)

I think Google's strategy is much better. Apple has tied itself to a device, whereas the software is really the important part. Obviously in the best of worlds, you would want to sell people the device+software like Apple is doing now. But in the long run, Google will probably benefit more because it doesn't matter what phone the Android is on. It will probably benefit users as well since you could switch between Android phones without a problem.

streblo 18y ago
Has the Android software actually been adopted by any phone providers? Until any big wireless corporations do, I'm not holding my breath.
- redorb 18y ago
  http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html shows sprint, tmobile and others... for making the phones, LG, HTC and Motorola. Note since you have to have a 2yr contract to get it for $199 I'm out; Im sick of closed, locked down mobile environments
swombat 18y ago
Benefit how? How is Google making money from Android? Apple's making money hand over fist from the iPhone. How's Google going to beat that?
- danielrhodes 18y ago
  It's the same strategy that any software maker has: get your software on as many computers as possible. Obviously, after that, Google can figure out how to make money off Android...probably through ads. Given that the software is the most important piece (in my opinion), Apple has limited themselves by tethering it to one single device. In the future, that could be a serious constraint. They've done it in the past (OS X, etc.), and it hasn't worked out so well.
  - jimbokun 18y ago
    It's worked exceedingly well. Have you been tracking Apple's stock price over the past 8 years or so?
    - danielrhodes 18y ago
      I can only assume it has gone up, but that has been due to the overwhelming success of the iPod as well as other peripherals. They've gained a little ground on the consumer PC market, but not much. I think Apple is going to do very well in the short-run with the iPhone, but in the long run I think Google has more potential because it is platform independent.
      - breck 18y ago
        They've actually gained a ton of ground in their PC market. Apple doesn't target every Joe on the street like most Windows PC makers. Just as Mercedes does great in the small luxury car market and poor in the large consumer market, Apple does great in the small high end market and poor in the larger inexpensive PC market. FYI. Their stock price has gone through the roof over the years. Currently their Market Cap is $160B to GOOG's $175B, and in the past 5 years has far outperformed GOOG.
        danielrhodes 18y ago
        Since we're all just making assertions about what caused Apple's stock price to go up, I'm not going to argue further on this point. However, I do disagree with Apple being called the 'Mercedes' of the consumer PC market. If anything, it's the Scion. ;-)
- michaelneale 18y ago
  I think google just want a good phone OS and proper browsers and fast net in everyones pocket. Android is just something to help out with that mission.
tlrobinson 18y ago
The iPhone (and Mac) are great because Apple makes the whole package. Jobs likes to quote Alan Kay: "People who are really serious about software should make their own software" (of course the converse isn't true: there's countless phones with awful software made by the hardware manufacturers) I doubt we'll ever see serious innovation on Android like we saw with the iPhone for exactly that reason.
- davidw 18y ago
  If you mean that the Android platform itself probably won't be as innovative as iPhone, you're probably right. However, I think an open platform makes for a lot more potential for innovation on top of it.
wvenable 18y ago
Google's strategy is the same as Microsoft's -- and it certainly hasn't served Microsoft well in this space.

bct 18y ago

What about OpenMoko? The second major revision of their hardware just went into mass production and is supposed to be available Real Soon Now.