vB Easy Archive - So who thinks the Google Android phone might give the iPhone some competition?

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So who thinks the Google Android phone might give the iPhone some competition?
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Posted by: xbox360gamer

I for one think that Google's Android phone might be a serious contender to the iPhone. unlike that crap from LG/VZW that didn't even make the iPhone flinch.

think about it. Google has virtually unlimited amounts of $cash$ along with a complete army of know how geniuses. add these two ingredients together and we may very well have a potential iPhone killer. <---- note the word "potential". I'm not saying it will be but judging from what I've seen so far, it looks like Google's on the right track.

please discuss your opinion.

Posted by: t-bone-t

Seeing as there will be no google phone, it is hardly a threat.

Posted by: payroll

Yes I dont really see it being a problem... Its going to be a software on phones.

Posted by: vw_ev

Im sorry, but that UI looks ridiculously bad IMHO... The efficiency of the platform from a performance perspective is great, but the UI is just flat out dull.

Posted by: toomer

Hell no.

End of discussion.

Posted by: SWThomas

No comparison. iPhone is better.

Posted by: crypto1980

no offense guys, but how can you say one is better than the other when you dont even have both phones in your possession?

Posted by: xbox360gamer

Quote:

Originally Posted by crypto1980

no offense guys, but how can you say one is better than the other when you dont even have both phones in your possession?

lol- that's what I'm thinking. the Android video looks very interesting and yet we already have people saying the iPhone is better.

Posted by: SWThomas

Because we have eyes and we have seen the iPhone interface and now we've seen the Android.

Posted by: xbox360gamer

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWThomas

Because we have eyes and we have seen the iPhone interface and now we've seen the Android.

we've seen the Android? umm, correction. we've seen a very primitive glimpse of what has yet to come. if you're basing your end opinion on just that then I guess that's your right.

although my end opinion will be on the actual phone itself once its in my hot little hands.

Posted by: Grooby

Android is really a platform where iphone is a whole package of very well integrated software and hardware. Android has the potential but it will take a bit of time. What makes iPhone an iPhone is the user experience. Android will provide that if all the application follow some kind of guide for user interface, but given that it is a open platform, I really doubt that would happen.

Posted by: Rockky

I seriously hope the GPhone shakes the Apple developers to their core ...please...Apple needs to relinquish it's control operative...and if anything might do that its the Google concept.
But Google has a serious interface challenge to have a chance.

Posted by: chkdg8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockky

I seriously hope the GPhone shakes the Apple developers to their core ...please...Apple needs to relinquish it's control operative...and if anything might do that its the Google concept.
But Google has a serious interface challenge to have a chance.

That's very unlikely to happen. If you've payed attention at how Apple, Google and Sun Micro Systems have been sleeping with each other for well over several years now, you'll notice a heavy collaboration with said companies, specially Apple and Google. There's a coup stirring up in Silicone Valley between the three in hopes of knocking MS out of the "home based PC" market by 10 years time. I think that can and probably will happen. Who knows? What can happen in this scenario is that Apple may adopt a small percentage of Android's architecture or features for an upcoming iphone 2.0 or whatever you want to call it. But Google knocking Apple out of the mobile market? Probably not considering the vested interest they have within each company and heavy share ownership.

Posted by: Tjash2010

Android and the potential Gphone might be better but nothing can beat Apple.

How many MP3 players are better AND cheaper then the iPod? Alot. Yet Apple still has something like 76% market share.

The iPhone is huge, it has the brand recognition. It would take a miracle phone to overtake the iPhone.

a Gphone would be moderate competetion, but I dont see it overtaking the iPhone

Posted by: KDarling

Smartphones are a unique market and cannot be compared to iPods or anything else. They are very personal items used and relied upon constantly, and they can involve significant contractual commitment. Costly ones need to be either very fashionable and/or very practical.

Why do people buy an iPhone? Some were Apple fans. They bought the first quarter to half million units. They're not a significant market share.

The next millions were bought by people who heard about it and thought it would be fashionable and/or useful.

A "gPhone" has the Google name, which is well known. There will likely be multiple models to suit personal tastes and needs and budgets.

If a "gPhone" did everything that the iPhone doesn't, and did it with UI ease, and tons of neat apps came out... then I think it wouldn't take long for people to look down at iPhone owners who were still waiting just to get updated to what most people consider as a normal level of functionality.

Posted by: wakeborder

There is no hardware on the iphone that makes it amazing...

Its the software/apps that makes or breaks a phone after it has the basic hardware

with it being totally open like android is going to be i think the iphone has something to be scared of.

Posted by: kinderco

the android is simply a software PLATFORM. It isn't even a software interface. Its for developers to make software off of. First impressions seem to say the SDK is weak from what reviews have said. I'm going with Apple is on a roll and its only a matter of time. They are on there world domination tour.

Posted by: cowboy1964

Unless someone has a phone that meets or exceeds the iPhones screen, touch, and size/form factor, I don't see Android alone toppling the iPhone.

Once the iPhone SDK comes out the main advantage of Android (openness) evaporates. I believe Android is the sole reason Jobs finally relented on an SDK. Don't believe his crap about delaying it to make sure security was right. Like they did that with Leopard?

Posted by: cowboy1964

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeborder

There is no hardware on the iphone that makes it amazing...

If you put the iPhone software on almost any other phone in existance would it still be as great? No. So the hardware does make a difference. Its the synergy of the two that make it great.

Posted by: scr00ge

I think in the long run android will whoop apples arse.

Not that I care one bit because I'm not a share holder for either company. However if android does what its designed to do everyone should be happy. The problems will cell phones now IMHO are phone classes, and inferior software. The hardware is great. The sidekick, pretty much all htc phones, even motorola, all have great hardware. Pair that with some excellent hardware and everything is a go. Android will serve two great purposes. 1st, it will drive down prices of phones. If the manufacturer is getting the OS free then prices "should" go down. That should force prices of other cells to go down. 2nd, better phones would arise. If you have cheaper phones on the market with better software manufacturers will either have to step up the software or drop prices. And a 10 million dollar insentive can't hurt either. Low end phones with 3d capability? Its a no brainer. Apple raised the bar so kudos to them. I think they will get better with the sdk on the way but I just think there is way too much potentail with android. when you guys get a free minute check out the videos from code.google.com and imagine that on a sidekick. Killer!

Posted by: wakeborder

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy1964

If you put the iPhone software on almost any other phone in existance would it still be as great? No. So the hardware does make a difference. Its the synergy of the two that make it great.

I ment as far as hardware does go, it is nothing exclusive or amazing. Of course the iphone software or os wouldnt work on other phones not designed to use it. In all honesty the only thing the iphone did was bring multiple features of other smartphones together in a consumer friendly manor that the other handset makers have had trouble doing. plus apples marketing team kicks ***. if that all makes sense...

Posted by: KDarling

Quote:

Originally Posted by scr00ge

... Android will serve two great purposes. 1st, it will drive down prices of phones. If the manufacturer is getting the OS free then prices "should" go down.

At first it'll probably cost more to use, because more software will have to be done in-house, or hired out.

Windows Mobile probably only costs $5 to $10 per phone in quantity, which is cheap considering all the drivers and apps included (such as they are).

Posted by: nicktuso

Is it going to be GSM? Might be a stupid question but I just wanted to know. That would be cool if it were 3g and quad band. And if tmobile ever comes out with 3g where I live that would also be nice.

Posted by: Akira87

i think it will, but it will need to drop some serious cash on advertisement

Posted by: LDN2012

Apple will simply continue to innovate. The android example in the video copied so many methods of the iphone..

Posted by: KDarling

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicktuso

Is it going to be GSM?.

It's not a single phone. Android is the Operating System and apps, like Windows or OSX.

Android should be available on many hardware models, both current and new.

For example, someone could port Android to the iPhone.

Posted by: scr00ge

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicktuso

Is it going to be GSM? Might be a stupid question but I just wanted to know. That would be cool if it were 3g and quad band. And if tmobile ever comes out with 3g where I live that would also be nice.

both... sprint is on board and so is tmobile. so im assuming the code would be versatile and be able to work on both cdma and gsm.

Posted by: scr00ge

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDN2012

Apple will simply continue to innovate. The android example in the video copied so many methods of the iphone..

android was in development about as long as the iphone has. try again.

Posted by: flyingdutchman

Well, according to developers working with the Android SDK, it is a nightmare. They say that the documentation sucks, the ability to report bugs, etc is pretty much non-existent, and the ability to make apps that looked polished and finished is very difficult. Will all of those change? They better, and it better happen real soon if they really do plan on pushing out a phone in the 2H 2008.

Something else to remember, this is more like a framework. Android on a Motorola may look completely different on an HTC. That same Motorola may look completely different on Sprint than it does on T-Mobile. Carriers and manufacturers still have final control over everything from UI to how open it is. Most people will likely have no clue whether they are running Android or Motorola's OS. What I am saying is, don't expect Android to change anything without carriers and manufacturers actually going along with it.

In my opinion the real goal of Android is to get Google apps and services on phones. I also think it is to try to establish a user base for more Google ads down the road. To me that points to it not being exclusively implemented in smart phones. I think this is more meant for feature phones and dumb phones. Google has made it clear, they are selling Android and its ideas to carriers and manufacturers, not consumers.

Also, I really doubt we will see a phone available anytime soon. HTC has promised one 2H 2008 but no carrier has made plans to actually carry any this year. I think if we see on it won't be for 10 or 11 months.

Posted by: scr00ge

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingdutchman

Well, according to developers working with the Android SDK, it is a nightmare. They say that the documentation sucks, the ability to report bugs, etc is pretty much non-existent, and the ability to make apps that looked polished and finished is very difficult. Will all of those change? They better, and it better happen real soon if they really do plan on pushing out a phone in the 2H 2008.

Something else to remember, this is more like a framework. Android on a Motorola may look completely different on an HTC. That same Motorola may look completely different on Sprint than it does on T-Mobile. Carriers and manufacturers still have final control over everything from UI to how open it is. Most people will likely have no clue whether they are running Android or Motorola's OS. What I am saying is, don't expect Android to change anything without carriers and manufacturers actually going along with it.

In my opinion the real goal of Android is to get Google apps and services on phones. I also think it is to try to establish a user base for more Google ads down the road. To me that points to it not being exclusively implemented in smart phones. I think this is more meant for feature phones and dumb phones. Google has made it clear, they are selling Android and its ideas to carriers and manufacturers, not consumers.

Also, I really doubt we will see a phone available anytime soon. HTC has promised one 2H 2008 but no carrier has made plans to actually carry any this year. I think if we see on it won't be for 10 or 11 months.

history has shown most sdk's suck in the beginning stage. and as far as the google ad's on cellphone goes, if there are any, im pretty sure they will be discrete if at all. and if it sucked so much i don't think people from apple would be involved with it, which they are. cant remember which board member it was...

Posted by: nicktuso

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDarling

Thanks for making that clear. I somewhat got the grasp of it but that looks like fun. I don't think it would be replacing my iPhone ever, but it would be something fun to have. I love the OS of the iPhone, I would take it over windows or that android stuffs anyday. Then again, I thought at the start of things that I would hate the iPhone, but I got one and love it. I would try the android thing but I doubt I will like it.

Posted by: KDarling

Well, you never know. For example, Microsoft could even get their act together and do something slick with WM.

There's some neat stuff being done by WM developers lately. For example:

http://www.pointui.com/

http://www.freestylwm.com/

One of the best things about the iPhone is that it has let touch apps come into the spotlight.

Posted by: RogerPodacter

isnt anybody considering symbian s60? its by far the largest smartphone OS in the world, it has more market share then all the others combines. and they are releasing a touch screen version next year that looks almost like a copy of apple's touch screen phone. except one advantage, the symbian OS will be 100% backwards compatible with all previous s60 apps. that means its already destroying android and apple SDK, and none are even out yet. something to consider.

example, when s60 touch phone comes out, i can use all the same apps on my current n95 on the touch phone. very convienent.

Posted by: scr00ge

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerPodacter

isnt anybody considering symbian s60? its by far the largest smartphone OS in the world, it has more market share then all the others combines. and they are releasing a touch screen version next year that looks almost like a copy of apple's touch screen phone. except one advantage, the symbian OS will be 100% backwards compatible with all previous s60 apps. that means its already destroying android and apple SDK, and none are even out yet. something to consider.

example, when s60 touch phone comes out, i can use all the same apps on my current n95 on the touch phone. very convienent.

one thing is for sure... apple and google stepping into the cell market means good things for all of us.