Sneak preview of the "Google Phone"
9/17/2008 at 4:55 PM
The cell phone wars are about to heat up another notch as Google gave a preview of it's new "Android" phone platform today.
The linked article at the bottom of this post shows a video where a Google staffer demonstrates some of it's functionality, much of which is reminiscent of the iPhone.. touch screen, motion sensors, similar looking case, similar icon look, etc.
An official announcement is supposed to be coming next week.
A few things I'll be watching for.
- rumour has it that the first phone to use Android may be able to support CDMA.. the kind of network that MTS uses that is unable to support the iPhone.
- it sounds like they will be taking more of an open approach than Apple has with the iPhone. With the iPhone, distribution of apps is done through Apple. Having things completely wide open should allow for a wider variety of software. There are still a number of apps that should exist for the iPhone but don't (something to properly take video, Windows remote desktop to name two).
- just how good will the interface be? The reason Apple did so well with the iPod and then the iPhone is they know how to make things the way people want and need them. Just having the same features as Apple isn't enough to dethrone them as anyone who has tried to duplicate the iPod will attest to.
Here's the article with the preview:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-phone-shown-at-conference-933887.html