Android Goes Open-Source
When Google announced Android, its software platform for mobile devices, it released an SDK for developers to work with, but it also promised to eventually release the code under an open-source license. Today, Google and its partners in the Open Handset Alliance did exactly that. You can now download the code and help Google and its partners to develop it further. The source code has been released under the Apache 2.0 license and consists of the complete codebase of Android, including all the libraries, media codecs, and applications.
The timing of this announcement coincides with the release of the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, which will go on sale tomorrow.
Apache License
The Apache License allows developers to distribute and modify the source code in any way they want, and developers are not required to distribute the new code under the same license. The new license does not even have to be an open-source license, which will give companies the option to develop their own, proprietary platforms on the basis of Android.
iPhone and Android Compete for Developers
It will be interesting to see where developers will take the Android platform now that they have full access to it. We have already seen the release of quite a few very interesting programs for Android in anticipation of the G1 launch.
This announcement also sets Google apart from Apple, which is trying to keep complete control over its iPhone platform. While most users probably don't care about the politics behind the scenes, the Android platform might siphon off quite a few developers from the iPhone - especially given Apple's erratic behavior around including applications in the iTunes store lately.
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Android = Mass Iphone = Class
The Iphone is, for the time being, a luxury market good. It has all the marks of a luxury good from price to the closed system it operates on, to its distribution model. Android could cut into the blackberry family market, sensible functional, purchased by governments. Android lacks the sex appeal, the design, etc, though its functionality is arguable higher, how much of that "higher" functionality does the consumer market that loves "ithings" really want/use/need? Open source is brilliant, but its not sexy. The android is brilliant-not sexy, will the brilliance sell?
nice, I love Android～～
I'm a big believer in open source and frankly I think Apple dropped the ball on this one, even though I love my iPhone. If Android is open source and as cool as it appears, the Google phone is going to easily over power the iPhone in coming weeks.
Somewhat relatedly, it's bizarre to see Steve Jobs claim that the iPhone is a netbook. The truth is that Android comes far closer to a netbook replacement than the iPhone ever will, by simple virtue of being an open computing platform rather than a closed one.
Jobs also appears to be confused as to whether the iPhone is a computer or not, saying that it is impossible for Apple to build a computer for less than $500 that isn't "a piece of junk" and then claiming the iPhone is a computer too. The headline writes itself: "Jobs: iPhone is a piece of junk"
Open source always wins. That's what apple did for their MAC computer until couple years ago. Then they couldn't manage to support it with their own technology and they decided to use Intel processors. Even though iphone is dominating the market right now; i am pretty sure gphone will be more famous in a short time.
Very nice blog. Thank you.
The source code for the Android mobile handset OS has gone online. open source project, the best part is that anyone can contribute to Android and influence its direction. Android source code goes live is now officially available, for free, as the Android Open Source Project. Google has officially open sourced its Android code base and is encouraging developers Open Source .
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jnnywllms
social marketing
The source code for the Android mobile handset OS has gone online. open source project, the best part is that anyone can contribute to Android and influence its direction. Android source code goes live is now officially available, for free, as the Android Open Source Project.
-----------------------------------------------
jnnywllms
social marketing