So what will the Google Android offer?

June 1st, 2008 by Annkur

UPDATE: The Gphone Aka Android has launched, here is all you need to know abou the First Android Phone HTC G1

Google Android Coming Soon INDIA

Since almost a year we are speaking about the Google Phone aka Android platform. Google realizes that the handheld’s market will offer tremendous growth in the coming years, and Android will ensure that it holds a good share of the mobile market. Data usage on mobile devices is on a rise and most telecom companies estimate that in coming years the Data revenue would be much more than what it is today.

We also saw some preview videos and spy shots, but here we now have a better idea of what the Android holds for us (+Video):

Google recently demoed the HTC Dream at a conference which highlighted the potential of Android platform. The HTC dream is a big device with a 5″x3″ touch screen, a slider keyboard and a accelerometer like the iPhone which lets your tilt the device for navigation or scrolling. But that shouldn’t give you the impression that all Android devices are going to be high-end touchscreen. In a previous demo we have already seen (Video Downstairs) that the Android would come in different types ranging from QWERTY, normal number pad with trackball or a touch like iPhone.

Many manufacturers are developing devices for the Android and by 2008 end we would start to see the announcements. The heart of a Android device is its Open Source nature. The hardware is merely a facilitator of what is being developed, the software offers the real GOLD. We also hear rumors that Google would offer a app store for Android users to get their hands on the latest applications and innovations.

The potential offered by a open source venture like Android is tremendous, imagine a game where in you and four of your friends playing counter strike using GPS+Camera powered Android devices which makes your own neighborhood a virtual battle ground. GPS location along with Google Maps offer your the terrain and details of the nearby enemy, you shoot the enemy with your Android’s camera, server images would confirm the identity of the enemy. Yes there are exactly the kind of crazy ideas we are hearing. See more

Google’s Mantra for Android developers:

Integrate: existing Google code’s like the Google Maps with the browser and get the maximum utility.

Expand: the functionality of existing Google codes, like using the Maps to locate a taxi cab near you.

Replace: Android will offer handheld devices to be customized by the users to the core. So don’t be surprised if you see two Android devices which appear the same but offer completely different interface and OS features. Eg: In case you don’t like the default contact manager, you can easily replace the same with a third part contact manager (not just adding a new contact manager, but to completely replace the existing one!)

The original Android demo video by Google:

The Android Demo at Google I/O (using HTC DREAM):

As you would see in the video above, locking your mobile device using numeric and alpha-numeric passwords is a thing of the past, Now you can lock your device using customized patterns and combinations. Expect much more innovation…

More Android Pictures:

Android Spy Shot - HTC QWERTY

3 Comments

Marc Schmidt November 16th, 2008
Hello, you mention above that you can REPLACE default applications like the contats manager.
Is this statement correct, and if yes, can you point me to a technical article of some sort that shows how to do this.
(I’ve spent 2 days not figuring it out) Extending it is possible, hooking to contacts providers etc is possible, but totally replacing it seems out of reach…

Thanks for reverting, Marc
Annkur November 16th, 2008
Hi Marc

you can look at this

http://mobilementalism.com/2008/05/28/live-from-google-io-android-integrate-replace-and-extend/

The article was written before android was launched (Based on expectations)

Do tell us what improvements you see, incase you have your hands on the Android
Annkur November 16th, 2008
Maybe no one has got that App yet, or maybe thats the future potential of Android

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