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Author here. I agree with you: the G1 (and G2!) is a very capable device. As Android is adopted by more and more device manufacturers, Android could very well

Author here. I agree with you: the G1 (and G2!) is a very capable device. As Android is adopted by more and more device manufacturers, Android could very well become a ubiquitous, ambient computing environment. The reason I focus on the iPhone is for two reasons. First off: it's hardware. No matter how good the G1 is, the crux of the phone is it's OS. That's the standard being pushed in that case. With the iPhone, they're pushing the hardware and software standard. Second (and this is by far the larger reason) is the install base. There's 40,000,000 iPhones and iPod touches in the market! The ubiquity and large adoption of this device is why it's "White Label." People already have it. For comparison, as of Jan 09 the X-Box 360 had ~28 million units in market. A large % of which might not even be on X-Box Live. The penetration of the iPhone is what makes it special in this case.

mcantor 17y ago
I think I see what you were getting at now, about the market penetration. I still don't really understand your point about hardware vs. software. The G-1 and iPhone are both pieces of hardware with pre-packaged software on them. Is there really anything the iPhone's hardware is capable of that the G-1 isn't, in some profound way? They both have wi-fi, GPS, accelerometer, calculator, touch screen, etc. The iPhone really has become startlingly popular; I think I had a knee-jerk reaction to your article because Apple's incredible aptitude for branding always makes me a little queasy. People get so excited about Apple that and Apple this, that functional alternatives like the G-1 and Blackberry go unnoticed, and in the end, the market suffers because consumers are complacent instead of asking, "Can't it be better?"
- GHFigs 17y ago
  in the end, the market suffers because consumers are complacent I believe you're projecting your own preferences here. Unless you have evidence to suggest that the average iPhone owner is not happy with his purchase, saying "the market suffers" is a bit much.
  - gchucky 17y ago
    That's not what he's saying. He's saying that the market suffers because of a lack of competition - and I tend to agree with that. And as a side note, this article seems to sort of be leading towards that sentiment: "there’s very little reason for start-ups to even attempt to pursue the wonky world of hardware."
    - GHFigs 17y ago
      He's saying that the market suffers because of a lack of competition Huh? What lack of competition? The post is about the competition. this article seems to sort of be leading towards that sentiment He's referring to stand-alone devices, not other smartphones.
- sker 17y ago
  People get so excited about Apple that and Apple this, that functional alternatives like the G-1 and Blackberry go unnoticed They don't go unnoticed. It's only in geek-apple-loving communities like HN where they make it seem like the iPhone is the only viable choice for a joyful mobile experience. Out there, normal people are buying other phones and are happy with them. Last time I checked Blackberry was still outselling the iPhone. http://www.phonemag.com/blackberrys-dominate-top-five-us-smartphone-sales-058355.php http://www.phonemag.com/blackberrys-dominate-top-five-us-sma...
breck 17y ago
40M iphone devices have been sold, but I'm not sure if there are 40M active iphones out there. I would guess 2-7M or so are not being used(broken or cast aside by the owner when they upgrade). Small nitpicky point, but just came to mind.

mcantor 17y ago

I think I see what you were getting at now, about the market penetration. I still don't really understand your point about hardware vs. software. The G-1 and iPhone are both pieces of hardware with pre-packaged software on them. Is there really anything the iPhone's hardware is capable of that the G-1 isn't, in some profound way? They both have wi-fi, GPS, accelerometer, calculator, touch screen, etc. The iPhone really has become startlingly popular; I think I had a knee-jerk reaction to your article because Apple's incredible aptitude for branding always makes me a little queasy. People get so excited about Apple that and Apple this, that functional alternatives like the G-1 and Blackberry go unnoticed, and in the end, the market suffers because consumers are complacent instead of asking, "Can't it be better?"

GHFigs 17y ago
in the end, the market suffers because consumers are complacent I believe you're projecting your own preferences here. Unless you have evidence to suggest that the average iPhone owner is not happy with his purchase, saying "the market suffers" is a bit much.
- gchucky 17y ago
  That's not what he's saying. He's saying that the market suffers because of a lack of competition - and I tend to agree with that. And as a side note, this article seems to sort of be leading towards that sentiment: "there’s very little reason for start-ups to even attempt to pursue the wonky world of hardware."
  - GHFigs 17y ago
    He's saying that the market suffers because of a lack of competition Huh? What lack of competition? The post is about the competition. this article seems to sort of be leading towards that sentiment He's referring to stand-alone devices, not other smartphones.
sker 17y ago
People get so excited about Apple that and Apple this, that functional alternatives like the G-1 and Blackberry go unnoticed They don't go unnoticed. It's only in geek-apple-loving communities like HN where they make it seem like the iPhone is the only viable choice for a joyful mobile experience. Out there, normal people are buying other phones and are happy with them. Last time I checked Blackberry was still outselling the iPhone. http://www.phonemag.com/blackberrys-dominate-top-five-us-smartphone-sales-058355.php http://www.phonemag.com/blackberrys-dominate-top-five-us-sma...

breck 17y ago

40M iphone devices have been sold, but I'm not sure if there are 40M active iphones out there. I would guess 2-7M or so are not being used(broken or cast aside by the owner when they upgrade). Small nitpicky point, but just came to mind.