vB Easy Archive - Some Open-Source Advocates Find Google's Android a Sinister Threat

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Some Open-Source Advocates Find Google's Android a Sinister Threat
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Posted by: FL1134

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/new...roid_opensource

Quote:

"Google is proliferating the use of the Linux kernel as the standard for mobile devices," says Zemlin. "Similar to the server operating environment, the world will likely end up with two camps: Linux-based phones on one side with Microsoft and Symbian on the other. My guess is Microsoft and Symbian will continue to lag due to the lack of agility from their proprietary development models. It's difficult for them to compete with open-source licenses, no matter which specific one."

The only good thing to come from android.

Posted by: Tony2468

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL1134

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/new...roid_opensource

"Google is proliferating the use of the Linux kernel as the standard for mobile devices," says Zemlin. "Similar to the server operating environment, the world will likely end up with two camps: Linux-based phones on one side with Microsoft and Symbian on the other. My guess is Microsoft and Symbian will continue to lag due to the lack of agility from their proprietary development models. It's difficult for them to compete with open-source licenses, no matter which specific one."

The only good thing to come from android.

If your suggesting carriers will lock andriod to the carriers network, then i'll just buy one unbranded and unlocked.

Posted by: geoff.scottcomm

So... a bunch of maniac open-source zealots are upset because Google isn't running Android under their favorite OSS license? Shame on Wired for even giving these lunatics airtime.

Posted by: AdmiralAK

errmm... Symbian rocks the smartphone world, and their propiretary nature doesnt seem to have prevented them from being top dog. On the same token, Windows and Apple's desktop OS offerings, proprietary, still are ahead of linux (open).... me not follow logic of OP's quote

Posted by: FL1134

Their success is just like any US wireless carrier: just suck less. You can also turn the argument around and say that their success is due to opening up their platform and including open source additions like webkit. The wireless market has been fragmented up until now. Apple, MS, Nokia, etc never competed against a unified front much less one that is royalty free and who's success is backed by billions (maybe 700mhz spectrum).

This is about embedded linux, not the desktop.

Posted by: geoff.scottcomm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdmiralAK

errmm... Symbian rocks the smartphone world, and their propiretary nature doesnt seem to have prevented them from being top dog. On the same token, Windows and Apple's desktop OS offerings, proprietary, still are ahead of linux (open).... me not follow logic of OP's quote

I think he's talking about in terms of development... and if you look at the strides that Ubuntu has made in just the past two years compared to what Microsoft was able to accomplish over Vista's entire five year long development cycle, that does ring pretty true. Also, Mac OS is hanging out at under three percent market share still, so it's not like it's beating the pants off of Linux or anything, and Windows is so far ahead mainly because of inertia.

A better example, though, is Firefox, which has become extremely popular in a very short time, and which has always been and continues to be developed astronomically faster and better than, say, Internet Explorer. I think that's a better analogy for what Google is looking to do with Android.

Posted by: mrlemon

Open source does not guarantee adoption or phone lock down.

Does it make it easier for cell providers to get cheaper phones, that are easier to modify/customize, and offer more (money making) 'applications'?? Yes.

Will the phone be unlocked? Will they allow outside application to be installed? I doubt most providers want to stray outside of their current money model of giving out locked down phones and then selling you the content at high prices.

Yah sure, there will be ways to get around the lock down as there is today. There will also be more apps to choose from, which hopefully means the cell companies will offer them.

I can see open source developers making money per download of an app, much the way ring tones make money.

I think it CAN provide a better user experience, since it allows more flexibility as to how a phone looks and feels.

Since it takes LESS time and money to develop for 1 platform, I can see cell providers unifying their look and feel to differentiate themselves from the competition. Might be Android underneath, but the topside will be proprietary and unique (one would hope?)

Bottom line though, is that cell providers are not in the business of making your life easier or giving you things for free. They are in business to make money.

TOM...

Posted by: Prom1

I think what has held back Linux for so long in the Desktop market (its related I'll get to it soon), is BECAUSE its too maleable. Lately I like Ubuntu because everything is SMOOTH from a newbie users perspective and it SHOULD be for Linux to proliferate in ANY market segment. From Suse, to FC, to Ubuntu, to all the mini version TOO many things are causing issues with compatibility and how apps are installed to how to change user preferences. Also for support on different platforms - for example installing Ubuntu on my PS3 is by FAR the easiest method I've seen yet compared to FC (Fedora Core) and other project examples.

Now sure providers are going to customers the look & feel for the Linux Andriod platform. But providers will have LESS of an argument for users to purchase one Andriod phone (GSM core) and move it over to their other provider and load the OS that matchines to the hardware (Smartphone with Full qwerty slide & touch screen from say Orange to say AT&T Wireless - if both made by HTC see the TyTN as a PERFECT example). They'll longer be able to say its too different. And will this cause providers to NOW fully support (warranty) the hardware or and the platform or will the manufacturer or will Google take full responsibility? Apps not working, do they expect the END user to dig endlessly to find a working solution when MOST end users cannot dive & understand the terminal for resolutions, when using the GUI doesn't work.

Headaches will abound in the initial releases.

Lastly with Linux hardware that has pretty much what the average user wants (3G, phone, camera, media playback abilities, GPS, possibly WiFi) and its kernel evolving and SUPPOSED to be hardware agnostic (full backward capability) will this mean LESS sales for manufacturers if a consumer can just keep loading the OS to get the new treats that they need/want? Hmm.

Btw, Symbian IS an open platform yet very protected when it comes to OS core security - so its not hacked as easily any longer. its based off of C++ code. So far its the only one looking for SMP support from a CPU and for it as well.
http://www.symbian.com/news/pr/2007/pr20079433.html

Posted by: RogerPodacter

isnt Symbian about as open to 3rd party developers as can possibly be? it will be interesting to see how this all pans out. i see my future having 2 devices, one symbian s60 (by far the best smartphone OS, PERIOD) phone and one android phone.

Posted by: FL1134

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerPodacter

isnt Symbian about as open to 3rd party developers as can possibly be? it will be interesting to see how this all pans out. i see my future having 2 devices, one symbian s60 (by far the best smartphone OS, PERIOD) phone and one android phone.

GPL (openmoko) > apache2 (android) > symbian