The Android handset war begins in 2009

To me, Android handsets compared to the iPhone are a little like the various Netbooks compared to my beloved Macbook Pro; Namely that they would have to pry the latter from my cold dead fingers, but I'd *really* like to have (at least one of) the former.

David Fromant

- March 16, 2009 @ 04:03 pm PDT

@ David, you are so true. However I don't think you can compare android to windows xp/vista. Android is actually pretty good!

and remember.... it's Google =].

Facebook User

- March 16, 2009 @ 08:03 pm PDT

This new system can only advance mobile device's even futher, I'm all for movement, may even help Windows Mobile look beyond what there doing?

MOLEMAN

- March 17, 2009 @ 01:03 am PDT

This is great - next step in convergence with respect to hand held devices and personal computers. Soon (I hope) an end to restrictive deals between phone mfrs and phone companies.

Cthulhu

- March 17, 2009 @ 07:03 am PDT

While I don't like Apple's business model when it comes to Itunes as its not a value-added experience, the Iphone was pure innovation. Apple created an "app" market where there previously had been none. Sure you could buy an application for your phone and it might work.. but that was never a guarantee and besides in two years you had a new phone that it wouldn't work on. Apple not only set the ground rules with the OS, but populated the little Iphone box with all sorts of goodies that programmers could tap into (acclerometers, GPS signals, a multi-touch interface). Its like giving you a robot to program, its got legs, arms, and all the guts to make it work but you got to program it. Because its an Iphone and will be an Iphone in years to come the likelihood is that your iphone 2.0 app will work on iphone 10.0.

This is what Android does not have.. sure you provide a common OS for phone manufacturers but unless you do more groundwork to standardize the I/O so that a program is truly universal no software programmer is going to waste their time writing for one particular phone that's not an Iphone. If a phone maker comes up with a true Iphone killer than it will change but simply copying the features of an Iphone won't do it. The manufacturers will have to look ahead and try to think up something innovative themselves.

I do look forward to a gmail app that does work on a phone other than an iphone though... Hey google why don't you go fix the softkey glitch on my scp-7050? That phone is built to last a battery charge still lasts a week after two years.....

TheDuke

- March 17, 2009 @ 07:03 pm PDT

I'm with you, tgmeob. Isn't it funny that the entire industry is still playing catch up to the iPhone? While they can boast features Apple's *very first attempt at a phone* doesn't yet have they simply cannot match the design and slickness. I tried a few copycats. Yuk.

Android, et al will be good only because it'll keep Apple sharp, which is an irony, as I can't help reminding myself that none of them would have bothered until Jobs pulled a phone running OSX out of his pocket.

Neil

- March 20, 2009 @ 04:03 pm PDT

@neil "Android, et al will be good only because it'll keep Apple sharp, which is an irony"

This shows a serious lack of understanding of the phone market and its size, IMHO. Android will be big. In 5 years it will dominate U.S. and western european phones.

However, the vast bulk of the 4 billion worldwide handsets are still basic feature phones and will be for some considerable time.

Apple will always produce stylish products (at least, while Jobs is at the helm) but it will also become what Apple is in the PC market; a small but important niche, the minority good looking kid in class, with disproportionate impact. Important yes, dominant, no.

Andrew J Scott

- August 4, 2009 @ 04:08 am PDT