Google Android

It’s always bugged me that I can’t write applications for my cell phone. I mean, it supports Java ME (a mini version of Java designed for small devices), and I know Java, why shouldn’t I be able to write programs for it? But I don’t think it’s possible for me to transfer applications to it. I think I would have to buy some sort of developer toolkit in order to do that. And that’s just silly.

In November last year Google announced “Android.” It’s an open mobile platform that will allow anyone to write applications. It’s kind of like the Linux/GNU/open source equivalent for the cell phone world. I thought these three videos gave a pretty good tech overview.

One smart thing Google is doing is awarding $10 million dollars to people who write cool programs for Android. It’s a great way to make other people do lots of work for Android. If you’re a talented Java programmer with some free time on your hands it looks like an easy opportunity to pick up $25,000…

I’m still not sure what Google gets out of the whole thing. A future where they’re free to write awesome applications for cell phones without having to worry about getting them working on 4 difference types of devices? I wonder if Apple is going to announce that 3rd party developers can now develop applications for the iPhone tomorrow at Macworld?

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4 Responses to Google Android

  1. modified says:

    >> I wonder if Apple is going to announce that 3rd party developers can now develop applications for the iPhone tomorrow at Macworld?

    I sure hope so. I have a fancy iPhone sitting here that I’d love to write applications for without fear of a firmware update negating all my hard work. I’m hopeful…

    >> I’m still not sure what Google gets out of the whole thing.

    Google wants you running their OS on your phone so that the default services for mobile search (and everything else) are Google’s and the ad revenue for all those services will go to Google as well.

  2. Would the upcoming iPhone SDK not allow you to do that?

  3. Pingback: Meebo for Google’s Android Platform « KingAnt.net

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