Wednesday, at Google's I/O Event, the company demonstrated their Android prototype phone, a device which has been greatly improved since its last public outing at this year's CES and Mobile World conferences. Today, Android looks classy enough that you half-expected them to pull a Steve Jobs and announce that you could run out and buy it right now. During the demo, the company showed off some of the applications that will run on Android - like a Google Maps Street View app that drew cheers from the crowd. From the buzz surrounding the Google Phone at this event, it's clear that Android has a shot at knocking that other touchscreen phone off its pedestal.
Earlier, we asked "how will Android compare to the iPhone?" and we noted what some people were saying about the similarities and differences between the two devices. Now, let's take a more in-depth look:
The session at "Introduction to Android" on Wednesday was full, with everyone wanting to get a look at the latest version of Android. They were not disappointed. The comparisons to the iPhone were obvious: a home screen with colorful icons, a GUI you can interact with via finger taps and swiping gestures, and a built-in maps program.
However, unlike the iPhone, whose popularity led to numerous unauthorized third-party apps prior to the launch of the official SDK, Google is actually encouraging developers to create applications for Android and rewarding them for doing so with cold, hard cash thanks to the Android Developer Challenge. (See our previous coverage here). This has led to numerous third-party applications ready to flood the market when the phone goes to launch, regardless as to which developers win the big prizes (Pictured: Teradesk App). According to PCWorld, Google Developer Advocate Jason Chen told the Android breakout session that developers won't need to get Android applications certified by anyone nor will there be any hidden APIs accessible only to handset makers or mobile operators. Even the phone's homescreen and widgets will be customizable - that's a much different take than the locked-down iPhone - and one that caters to users who like to make their phones their own.
Then there are the official Google apps: why use plain old Google Maps (although that is available) when you can use Street View? The Wednesday demo of Google Maps Street View on the phone proved this will be one of the most popular applications the phone will carry. With its built-in compass and accelerometer, Steve Horowitz, Android's engineering director, showed how he could physically turn around and the phone's screen would pan to the left or right accordingly.
Also shown were Android's notification service that displayed new emails, missed calls, and calendar appointments and its unique ability to unlock the phone using any pattern you wish - even via a line of "connect-the-dots" on the screen which you drag your finger across.
Combine these with the current 50 Android Developer Challenge winners (see below), and you've got a worthy challenger to the iPhone throne.
The only glaring omission from Android so far is multi-touch - the iPhone feature that allows for actions like the two-finger pinching movement used to shrink photos. However, Android project leader Andy Rubin said that Android could accommodate that technology if handset makers use multitouch-capable screens. But Android doesn't even require a touchscreen to work - the platform can be extended to non-touchscreen devices which would allows users to navigate by simply using a phone's buttons or a trackball.
It's worth noting that the mobile battle isn't going to just occur between Android and iPhone. Microsoft's new mobile OS, Windows Mobile 7, for example, may also be a worthy competitor in this arena. When WiMo 7 arrives sometime in 2009, it will allow for touch gestures, motion gestures (moving the phone to perform an action), and includes a revamped UI, a new version of IE that does tabbed browsing, and applications like Windows Live Maps.
Of course, then there are many people who are still quite content, if not downright addicted to, their Blackberry phones. Like Windows Mobile, which works with Microsoft's Exchange Server, the Blackberry also has a strong userbase in the business world thanks to RIM's enterprise-friendly server products that many I.T. administrators use.
Whether there will be one overall winner in the mobile OS space is yet to be seen, but it's likely that the market will stay as segmented as it is today.
There's still no exact deadline for Android's launch - only that it will be sometime in the second half of 2008.
The video above comes from the Android Community where there are a number of photos and videos posted from the conference.
Comments
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Although Android is cool, it is yet to come out of semi-vaporware state.
It is just a demo, until it gets into regular consumer hands.
Posted by: iSmashPhone | May 30, 2008 7:22 AM
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Posted by: Angus | May 30, 2008 7:23 AM
Pretty cool, glad to see competition is coming to iPhone town.
...maybe MSFT will now finally make their phone cooler.
Posted by: Iron Flatline | May 30, 2008 8:43 AM
I am sensing that Eric Schmidt is not going to be on Apple's board much longer.
Posted by: Alex Iskold | May 30, 2008 9:31 AM
I say good luck getting iPhone blood with the android. iPhoners/poders are too financially invested in the music they download. Also, who needs a street view of a map on your phone. Just lift your head up, and you will see it with your own eyes. If you are not on that street than you need the map view. As far as I am concerned, street view is just a toy on a phone, only being used by maybe a real estate agent talking to a client.
Posted by: Rob | May 30, 2008 9:42 AM
A little too much "Us vs. Them" in this post. I don't see it like that. The iPhone will benefit from Android, and I expect you'll see cool stuff from Android end up on the iPhone ( that mind blowing "Compass Mode" comes to mind ). Android is being release as Open Source under the Apache license.
Schmidt is on Apple's board, so obviously the development path has already been discussed with Steve Jobs. And do not forget Google has one, and only one, goal to sell AdSense ads, nothing else. Android is just another way to achieve that goal.
Fast forward late 2009 - Apple announces "Compass Mode" for the iPhone, and at the same press event, Google announces iTunes support/store for all handsets running Android...stuff like that.
Suggestion to Ms. Perez: Leave the "Either you're with us or against us" lameness to George Buch, Steve Ballmer and The Sith
Posted by: Todd | May 30, 2008 10:17 AM
It seems a great competitor for the iphone.
Posted by: JP | May 31, 2008 4:42 PM
Android looks phenomenal, can't wait to be able to use it.
Posted by: JS | May 31, 2008 7:16 PM
.
... phones have blood...?
.
Posted by: John Dowdell | May 31, 2008 7:25 PM
Just Android is a good competitor for Apple and Symbian (Nokia).
Posted by: JuegosEnMovil.com | June 1, 2008 1:47 PM
Do I hear the sound of falling prices? The more competition the lower the price for some truly great phones.
BTW there is a Chines clone of the iPhone. I spoke to a friend of mine who is and lives in China. He says it is nice outside but the insides are crap. Just thought I'd pass along his opinion for what it's worth. ou can buy them on eBay for about $150 if you want to play with one. GSM. Don't think I will waste the money to find out.
Posted by: Paul Kruger | June 2, 2008 7:56 AM
Google, with their many fingers in many pies. What next i wonder!
Posted by: nsm | June 2, 2008 1:25 PM
I don't believe that Android is actually targeting iPhone. Under Jobs, Apple has always taken the approach of managing their own software and hardware. For this reason i think they were always competing against Blackberry and Palm.
Android has taken Microsofts space. The great unwashed.... the big piece of the market that can produce phones but doesn't want to invest in an OS. It's the late 80's and early 90's all over again... but this time Microsofts competitor is Google, not Apple, a company who is actually giving the OS away for free!!
How can Microsoft possibly compete with this when you consider that they are still trying to secure a strategy to play against them in the destktop space?
Lots of fun watching this play out.
Posted by: steve davies | June 2, 2008 9:27 PM
Personally I don't think that a bit of competition on the market will hurt the end user as we've seen in the browser market. Android apparently has the ingredients to be that concurrent for the iPhone. Let's hope it pushes development further :-)
Posted by: Christian Decker | June 17, 2008 5:30 AM