I honestly think they built it for themselves and Linux users.

Will its problems get solved by third-parties? Of course. Do average consumers, or even average business users, know how to easily navigate native apps, let alone third-party ones? NO!

T-Mobile rep: "Oh, you want push email. Oh. Well, you find a hotspot, then you shop for an app that does that. Then you download it. They you set it up according to its instructions(which I don't know because there are a million email apps and they all have different instructions). Oh, and by the way, good luck, because some don't even have decent instructions. You'll probably need to get yourself a good IT guy. Oh, and make sure it works on this phones hardware, because the app store serves the OS, not a specific type of hardware. Did I say good luck? And that'll be $179, plus 1/24th of your soul every month, not including media storage or a headphone-jack."

D.E.P.C.

OOOOOOOO MYYYYYYYYYYY. Androids site on google just confirmed it. Yes you all know what i am talking about. COPY PASTE

tkohrs2002

@delmuerte:

Your inability to keep a job aside, Exchange is excellent. I have not seen anything clunky about it, and if your IT department was unable to make it work, then the company has bigger problems.

Nobody wants them to dumb anything down. Where did he say that? Geez, you guys must not read the same article. They love the open source, what they don't love is that its kind of like, so what? This platform has no direction.

As I said above, its not just about eventually getting the apps, its about getting good apps. Exchange is just an example, where other phones already offer what Android supporters are saying "We can still do it! Just give us time!".

Where is the Android stuff that makes you want Android?

Everything out is already there in Windows Mobile, Blackberry, or the iPhone. And everything not on Android is... well... already on WM, BB, or the iPhone.

So why get an Android based phone?

VulnoX

Here is an article about why iPhone is bad for business too:

"Now by now we should all know that the iPhone is a major security risk on any corporate network. The device stores passwords in plain text, it remembers VPN passwords which are meant to be entered by the user each session, it shipped with the ability to bypass the devicelock passcode easily, it has no full device encryption at all, and its being swarmed over by hackers like flies over, well…, you know what."

[wmpoweruser.com]

Its pretty bad when there is articles written about blocking a particular type of phone from your Exchange ActiveSync because one of them spoiled all the fun.

I'm a WM fan, but come on. Android hasn't had 24 hours to even live yet and you guys are preemptively destroying it. Let developers get on it.

diabolusunknownTheSecond

So you guys basically just want a phone for dumb people, is what you're saying? Dumb everything down so that the rest of us who have a clue get the shaft?

Not all IT dudes need/want Exchange Mail. In fact, at the majority of companies I've worked at (which is a lot), Exchange was never used as it was too clunky and hard to maintain.

Again, taking the short-sighted route.

delmuerte

The Exchange thing was not important to me until we got Exchange at my work. I helped set up some friends Exchange on their Palm and WM based phones, as well as a few iPhones.

The way Exchange integrates with the iPhone is unreal. It keeps your contacts, calendars, e-mail, etc all seperate (something the WM's and Palm didn't seem to do as fully). Although I am not one of the high level dudes that lives by their mobile e-mail, it has still come in handy numerous times.

While not being a make or break for me on buying a device, I am pretty attached to it now and hope whoever try's to make an Exchange app for the Android knows that its not just making an Exchange app, its making a good one. That's like a lot of Google's philosophy on this whole "The community will make it", yeah, the community can make a video player, exchange setup, whatever.

But will it be good?

That is a big challenge, I can't wait to see what people do.

VulnoX

It is going on the path of Ubuntu. Too much noise by a small number of ardent foollowers (it isn't a typo) but no real leverage in the market.

tillman

I'm sorry, but this is becoming ridiculous. We get the fact that you think Android is a complete failure, but you clearly know nothing about security:

"As if that wasn't enough of an ix-nay for IT buyers, Android's security issues are pretty significant. Because of the open-source nature of the OS, programmers have access to core functionality they wouldn't be able to access when dealing with platforms such as BlackBerry, Windows Mobile or the iPhone's OS X."

So I assume you believe security through obscurity is good practice? By your argument enterprise Linux is a security disaster because the source code is readily available (not to mention arguably the most secure operating system available, OpenBSD). Did Google not ask the security community to focus on vulnerability discovery and responsible disclosure? Do you really think OSX is that much more secure because of it's closed nature? Or did you entirely forget about the insanely fast discovery of the infamous JPG exploit that allowed everyone to jailbreak their iPhone?

horizontaleight

Hmm interesting article. I believe after some criticism, they will make some changes to make the system more appealing.
Off topic question. Does android OS works the same way the iPhone does that only 1 app can run at the time or it's like winMO in that behalf?

biofreak

@delmuerte: Reread the headline please: Why Android Is Bad For BUSINESS.

An "IT dude" is not, and probably never will be, a business dude.

ghmlco

@horizontaleight: Comparing Android to Linux is not relevant. The target user is completely different. I am a technically competent person who manages several PCs and a large web server. Even I don't need to use Linux (the server is managed), but I'm happy that it works well and is secure. Linux users represent a tiny (but very important) fraction of computer users.

Android is going on a cellphone, not the backend to a website. Every single user has to deal with it, so it can't be cryptic or too easy to muck up. Linux doesn't have this problem, because the average Windows user will never touch Linux in their lifetime. Android is a consumer product, and we have to judge it next to equals.

iPhone OS may have had security problems, but there is a single company that is responsible and accountable to every single iPhone, so there is a real incentive to fix security problems across the board (meaning core functions and in the App Store).

mmmiles

@SgtToastie: Your point is valid, but not for the people who've gotten that rogue app before it's flagged down. And with many of these apps being installed NOT from the marketplace (you can do these ad hoc), there may not even be protection sometimes.

Jason Chen

Unvetted apps such as Google Maps can be downloaded to the Blackberry and yet there is no corporate security meltdown or concern about bricked units. Why?

bandit

Giz's lack of understanding and ignorance towards markets is almost becoming painful. I mean even U.S. schools cover basic things that should make you aware that markets are efficient when self regulated. Currently if an app is developed that messes with core systems of a PC in a negative way it is given a flag and few people will download it. Thus, a store where RATINGS are present will allow patrons to assign malicious apps with very negative ratings (and hopefully a flagging and comments service). Come on Giz, I can understand some doubt, but lets look at this with common sense.

SgtToastie

When has expecting third parties to provide what is now basic functionality for your device a good idea? I like some of the apps I've seen and I really wanted this to be a iPhone killer but damn. It just seems like it's even more of a beta than the original iPhone was.

I still have hope that the next gen will be better.

shini

@bandit:
Tell me, are all the Blackberry apps under a single repository? Are applications touted as a feature and promoted as a means to nicely enhance the user experience? Are all the functions of the OS enjoyed by first-party developers available to third parties as well?

If you've answered "no" or "kinda" to any of these questions, then your analogy is weak at best.

DisposableInterloper

@terebakashi:
There's a reason the Mac mantra is, "It just works." It's because it just fucking works. Apple gets everything from the design to the implementation down solidly.

Half-assery and poor design is inexcusable, even under the guise of openness and support for developers. Just because you can do something is irrelevant if you can't do it cleanly and efficiently, without it interrupting your experience on a particular platform.

DisposableInterloper

@diabolusunknownTheSecond:
Let the developers get on it? Spoken like a true WM user.

It's not about the developers. Developers are useful, but they're further along the food chain. It starts with the underlying system itself, and if that's not good, nothing will be good.

DisposableInterloper

@delmuerte:
Just so you know, there's a distinction between something getting dumbed down and something having good design.

DisposableInterloper

@biofreak:
It's like WinMo, capable of multi-tasking.

Also, the processor is dual-core: one will handle all of the phone's core functionality, and another will be a sandbox for apps. That way if an app starts slowing things down, you won't miss any calls.

terebakashi

@horizontaleight:
It has nothing to do with the open nature of Android and everything to do with its unrestricted nature. Re-read the example presented. Some random malicious jerk could put up some malicious code in the app store, or some complete idiot could make very flaky software that has access to a few too many features.

Google's not filtering this stuff. Contrary to your desktop Linux analogy, every major player in desktop and enterprise Linux has some sort of screening process before allowing software onto their repositories.

The iPhone may well be more secure thanks solely to Apple's somewhat draconian dominion over its app store.

DisposableInterloper

@tillman: Yeah, that must be why it's been the top distro since 2005, right?

Seinosuke

@SgtToastie:
Life outside of the walled garden is too bright and scary for Giz.

terebakashi

haha

redspectre

First off, I am very excited about the G1 and I will very likely get one. But I'm also hoping it drives innovation. Whether you like the iPhone or not, there's no denying the affect it's had on the market. Since it was released, we've seen all kinds of new touchscreen phones from several phone manufacturers.

Perhaps the G1 and Android will spur innovation in the open market in the same way.

ryaninc

@SgtToastie:

The apple hate here on Gizmodo is THROUGH the roof. I really just hate having to go through the comments without someone spouting some uneducated childish rant against apple. Even when the comment has nothing to do with apple. With that said, a rating system handled by peers, much like this commenting system, is the reason why I hate the iphone App store rating system so much. There is no order, everyone is quick to shoot off at the mouth, and it's way to easy to get a group of haters to abuse.

Nykwil

wow, who's this disposablediaper, i mean, -interloper guy?

he's like attacking anyone stupid enough to hint that g1 should be given a chance.

i think he works at microsoft.

001

Sorry Rothman, but I think you've missed a few things.
1)How google approaches projects. Just because it's called 1.0 doesn't mean it's no longer a beta, it is, and probably always will be. That isn't to say that it won't become stable and feature rich, it will, it just isn't there yet.
2)When developing new software, 2 things to keep in mind, your target audience. The audience here are both corporate and personal users. Obviously, corporate users need refined bullet proof software that has all of the current standards. The personal user is not in such a demanding position, and can actually deal w/ bugs (we do on much of the software we use currently). The personal user group is a testing ground for the OS, and will lead to an eventual level of quality acceptable to the corporate user. It is not there yet, and may not be for at least a year.
3) Even if android fails, it will succeed. That is to say, it is a big win for open source and all of linux. There are currently many flavors of linux for mobile. All of these will be enriched by android in many ways. Drivers will port easily, multiple user interfaces will emerge and battle it out for king of the hill, and a lot of innovation will bleed into other devices not running open source.

It is always nice to see the iPhone/Android/"anything new" bashing in full effect these days.

jkr's bold comment

@biofreak:

To be fair, you're standardizing Android with the G1. One is an OS and the other is a phone. Technically, it can multitask, yes. The processor is most likely able to be changed though. Hopefully we'll see some higherer end phones come out. Note my clever sentence mocking the G1's ad campaign.

Metkis

Isn't the "no PC syncing" seen as a positive by Enterprise?

dogcow

@tkohrs2002:

oddly, only within text boxes, not specific text.

dogcow

@DisposableInterloper: Mobile Me just worked.

Metkis

@001:
Oh man. That was a good laugh.

Good thing I was drinking water. Anything sugary or savory would have left such a mess. And yes, people do spit-takes in real life.

In any event, if you'd care to look, I even replied to the Windows guy. Clearly I don't work for Microsoft. The only possibility left is me being a rabid iPhone fanboy.

DisposableInterloper

COPY/PASTE. Watch the video at android.com. They show a demo of the newly released g1 and android that demonstrates copy paste of URls that can be done using the long hold. You can copy URLs and send them via IM. THeres probably more Copy/Paste other than that also.

tkohrs2002

@DisposableInterloper:While I understand your well-placed views on Android, I can't condemn it as you seem to have for the first device it has been on. There is a very strict difference between the iPhone OS and Android and that is the nature of the operating systems. To put it simply, the OSX interface on the iPhone is specifically designed for it completely. It isn't meant to run on separate hardware or be scalable. That being said, Android has a lot more to polish simply because of this. The framework is there to allow this polish. In this case, the developers DO matter because they define what Android is. While I agree the app store has its flaws, I think that Android will blossom over time.

Metkis

@Jason Chen: Yes, the lack of a Apple like approval system will create a flood of apps. But, I thought each carrier can regulate the apps released so my thought is that they will keep malicious apps away from their consumers so that we remain happy. Also because the system isn't regulated by Google, but the carriers, we won't have to worry about good replacements for proprietary apps getting blocked because the carriers don't care about those issues. I know carrier oversight was listed as a possible negative but I don't see it that way unless VOIP apps are up for discussion. I'm also sorry for my insult in the first sentence.

SgtToastie

@VulnoX: "Your inability to keep a job aside..."

That was funny.

Bittermormon

@SgtToastie: I know that you did not just try to tout the invisible hand of the marketplace and all the boons that will be ours if we just embrace deregulation.

I'd like Glass-Steagall back please.

OMG! Ponies!

@Nykwil: I did not mention Apple here. Yes, rating systems are problematic, but we have already seen through the Android development contest that Google will be picking favorites among the competition so there will be a better filter than just their consumer base (expect something similar to the Firefox add-on system is my best guess).

SgtToastie

@Seinosuke:
Yes, it is the top distro among linux for PC use but it has still less than 3% marketshare in the US and less that 0.05% at the world level. And, the company that distributes it; doesn't make any money. Your comment proves exactly the point I made about Ubuntu.

tillman

No need to worry. If you find a malicious app in your G1 or other Android phone in the future, Google will simply delete it, and remove all evidence of its existence.

And yours as well.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

Aren't there going to be more Android phones being released? Perhaps an enterprise specific phone for business is in the works. C'mon, this is the first Android phone! Give it a break.

Remember, Apple didn't release any biz features in their first iPhone. You were all critical of that. And remember when you were all up in arms about the first VCRs being top-loaders? Give tech time.

CampSteve

i just dont like the fact that they brushed off some features for developers to work on. there are just certain things that should be available out of the box. who knows how long it will take for a GOOD version of lets say a video recording app to appear.

rudez90

@DisposableInterloper: Actually, im speaking as a developer.

If we are given the opportunity to actually take underlying control of the OS, we can make the entire system better then the OS writer even could. WM with cooked roms has been taken farther then most have even seen of the clunky 6.1. From my experience, ive seen a fluid system that is fast as hell, and that is all thanks to developers at XDA.

Android starts off this way, which can only be a good thing.

Its all about developers, and from the looks of things, Apples developers have been pretty shitty lately. They should let the community help define and expand their handset, but their iron fist wont have it.

diabolusunknownTheSecond

@tkohrs2002: You can also copy and paste editable (edible!) text fields such as the one I'm typing in right now.

Metkis

@Metkis: on android? sweet. Although i dont really care about copy/paste i knew this fact would make some people drool.

tkohrs2002

@DisposableInterloper: Do you read Questionable Content by chance? Hee hee, just curious...

The Magnificen7

I was a little concerned when Koi Pond for Android required access to System Tools until I noticed that the developer is listed as "Skynet," which reassured me.

frigg

@DisposableInterloper:

"Just because you can do something is irrelevant if you can't do it cleanly and efficiently, without it interrupting your experience on a particular platform."

Over regulation is inexcusable, even under the guise of a friendly user experience. Just because a platform is secure and user-friendly is irrelevant if it's so regulated that developers can't... develop.

I love how Apple regulates the iPhone/iTouch to serve their own business interests, not to actually improve the user experience.

generall

@OMG! Ponies!: Glass-Steagall, contrary to popular belief, was actually never repealed; only the retarded dimensions of it, like government capping interest rates on savings accounts, were repealed. But I'm sure you knew that.

In any case, I think what our venerable Sgt. is proposing is that good applications will proliferate through free market-type forces like word of mouth and editors of tech blogs--similar to Gizmodo's "week in iPhone apps" feature, which I love. Users will decide which applications are the best, thus making a Google-designed and executed rating system unnecessary. An example of a non-free market inspired rating system would be IMDB, where an elaborate formula apparently rates some movies higher than others, even though its average user rating is lower.

I know, I know; the popular imagination believes the current credit crisis is a direct result of unregulated capitalism. But that's no reason to jerk your knee at the mere mention of invisible hands.

coketown

@djangopool9:

oh yeah, iphone doesn't have it, hah

djangopool9

@tkohrs2002:

Hmm, why is this such a big deal? WinMo phones had these for ages.

djangopool9

Well, now I know that you guys are being paid by Apple. Three articles trashing the G1, which you can't have had in your hands for more than a few hours, in a single day.

I don't have an Exchange server, and neither does the company I work for. That feature is worth precisely dick to me.

You have no clue how the Android security model works. This isn't the "wild west". Android has memory protection, storage protection, and a very powerful capability-based security system. This is enforced by the virtual machine.

Your example of the flashlight app doesn't work. To record audio on Android, an app needs the RECORD_AUDIO permission. This must be flagged in the application manifest, and it is displayed when you install the application.

There are literally hundreds of these permissions.

You have NO EXCUSE for writing this crap. The documentation is out there, and has been for months now. You've clearly never actually worked with the Android SDK, you have no idea how the platform works, yet you trash it anyway.

bsoft

@DisposableInterloper: "There's a reason the Mac mantra is, "It just works." It's because it just fucking works. Apple gets everything from the design to the implementation down solidly."

Gee. Does this mean I should forgo the firmware updates then?

ripfire

Sheep.

Snorbalp

@mmmiles:

"Comparing Android to Linux is not relevant. The target user is completely different."

Although he is comparing for the wrong reason, the target user has nothing to do with it. An expert Windows user or a first time Windows user could both install a piece of software unknowning that it will have malicious effects.

generall

@frigg: Each Koi eats one digit of personal information per day.

92BuickLeSabre

@generall: Which is why so few companies allow their employees to download programs to work computers.

92BuickLeSabre

@The Magnificen7:
Read it a bit a long time ago. Slice of life isn't exactly the most enjoyable genre in my opinion.

Lemme guess, someone did a spit-take and a snarky comment was made about people doing spit-takes in real life?

DisposableInterloper

Who need Exchange when you got Gmail?
/sarcasm

No really, it's a bit sad there is not that much support for enterprise applications.

m-p{3}

If this was posted already I apologize.

If there's one thing I like about Android, and one reason why its release is a landmark event, it is this...

It's forcing the merger of two things we never thought would play nice together. Cellphone companies, and the term "open".

Worst case scenerio for Google. It flops and a few bigtime companies are out a few pennies and and few customers overpay for something and in 2 years or less, move on.

Best case scenerio. It shows(forces) big cellphone companies that they are better off opening their doors and allowing users the same freedoms that they've experienced for years on their PCs.

Slowly but surely...the dogs of doom are howlin more for the old guard.

Thunderdome

google haz no taste...what's wrong with the whole user interface, it seems like every screen-shot is from different phones. Consistency? Simplicity? Pretty colors? =)

vgart

wow, really... wow.

I almost feel like I'm watching fox news with all hostility and one-sidedness.

Someone above made the best point. This is the FIRST of MANY androids (12? sorry got BSG on the mind) and the beginning of the G-app store. Sure some a-hole might try and release malicious/poorly programmed software, but I know that even my co-workers who barely know how to use a computer don't just download everything they see. There will be trusted developers, and highly rated programs that will let you know whats ok to put on your phone. Further more what is wrong with letting the community develop enterprise and business software? It will let those who need the services develop a program that works for their needs, not what google thinks they need.

lazerpenguin

@VulnoX: Oh, the old ad hominem. Good stuff. You definitely haven't worked at small IT companies if you think Exchange is a great piece of software. If you work at some corporate hellhole where everyone has a Windows machine on your desktop, I guess it's possible you just don't know any better.

If you don't get that "phones (or OSes in this case) that are impossible to break because you're stuck only with what the carrier provides you with" from this article, then I'm not sure what to tell you.

I mean, basically all you guys that are saying it sucks for not having all the apps that you want right off the bat are complaining about something that's A) correctable and B) basically how every piece of software that's ever been written has been released.

Photoshop CS3 (or Cs4 now?) didn't come out with every bell an whistle it comes with standard now...other people wrote those plugins and other goodies that made it great. Neither did the iPhone...how soon we forget that when it came out, Apple wasn't even allowing outside developers to write software for it at all.

So if that's your big point, why buy any new piece of software? I'm sorry but if you can't see that what you and a lot of detractors are saying is totally against the spirit of software development, then apparently I'm not the only one with problems.

delmuerte

@bsoft: Wow - gotta love rant replies like this.

"I don't have an Exchange server, and neither does the company I work for. That feature is worth precisely dick to me."

Hmmm yes - Gizmodo writes reviews solely for your benefit (this is sarcasm). The fact is Exchange capable phones are significant market and so it's absolutely relevant to a review to mention this short coming of Android.

"To record audio on Android, an app needs the RECORD_AUDIO permission. This must be flagged in the application manifest, and it is displayed when you install the application. There are literally hundreds of these permissions."

Did you even read the article? The reviewer quite rightly states that what good is asking for security permissions when the user doesn't understand the impact? It's as bad as the UAC system with Vista.

tobtoh

It's fun because, the iphone functionality sux. No sms delivery report, no forward sms, no easy simcard access, no bluetooth send/receive files, no custom ringtones. Yet, the iphone is crippled because of apple's decisions to make it that way. Still the iphone remains the most advanced phone on the planet. Btw, the G1 looks like it was made of really really cheap plastic.

ProSeven

@lazerpenguin:
Can't wait for a model 6?

Personally, I'd hold out for an 8. (Or two.)

terebakashi

What I'm pretty sure this is going to be missing is the proper integrated feel of the different applications. I think one should have a consistent basic interface that goes throughout all the phone apps. Expected places to find the menu, expected ways to close, minimize and standard sizes for buttons etc.

If it is gonna wind up like Linux, we will have lots of really great applications, but they all look different, which makes it a lot harder to use, and gives you the feeling of a half-finished product.

Inception

Wow, i posted a comment with almost identical views on 1 of the other Android posts. I even mentioned a "fake" flashlight app!

nizy

@delmuerte: i'm curious. what were the "majority of companies" you worked at using for an e.mail system.

jcy

@Seinosuke: saying something is the top linux distro is like claiming to be the world's tallest midget.

jcy

@bandit: on a BES, an admin can disable the ability for a user to install an app. the admin can also wirelessly push an app to its BB's.

jcy

@ProSeven: Just because it "looks" advanced doesnt make it advanced. The iPhone is so far from capable its not even funny.

diabolusunknownTheSecond

@DisposableInterloper: Actually, you should place quotes around the "just" part, and pronounce it like you would this sentence: "I "just" made the green light."

"Apple gets everything from the design to the implementation down solidly."

I dont even need to comment on that because i assume your being sarcastic, or you have been living in a cave for the past 3-4 years.

diabolusunknownTheSecond

@m-p{3}: What's good is that someone can just fill in the gap. I just wonder how a developer would go about integrating Exchange on this phone with all the licensing requirements.

At least Google wont pull the mail app because its a mail app.

diabolusunknownTheSecond

Dilbert rules. Android, on the other hand, does not.

carfeu

it is simple, Google does not exist in a vacuum, so it begs to question why did they not learn from other enterprise releases?

as for Apple and the Iphone they are a minority in the PC business however they had a massive presence in multimedia with the Ipod and catered to them first and had a hit. with their second release they included some enterprise support and will increase their base.

Blackberry having the lions share of enterprise business only have market share to lose, however they have created a consumer level device and have added multimedia features that are not as rich as the Iphone however do better than most consumer level phones.

Google is trying to emulate Microsoft in this release, create the OS and plant the seed to see what blossoms.

To whom are they making the phone for!
consumers?
Business types?
very small (but important) linux based IT based group?

while it is understandable that google is not in the business of supporting Microsoft based apps. but no matter what linux/unix admins say, the lions share is Exchange based email delivery for enterprise based clients. support them and they will come.

Jraktal

One though, regarding the 3rd party developers to create an Exchange client or ActiveSync desktop integration, etc.:

I don't know if they're interested or not, but couldn't that *potentially* include Microsoft as a 3rd party developer? Like, couldn't Microsoft make an Android app that integrates with Exchange and offers Outlook syncing?

Are Android apps open source, too, or can they be proprietary?

edmicman

"that may work for daring nerds with extra cash and a disdain for status-quo devices"

thats meeeee!

pevans34

@VulnoX: I agree, Exchange support is key, and I didn't go out and buy an iPhone until they added this. It baffles me that even Blackberry won't add this feature (you have to get Enterprise Server to make it work, and that's thousands of dollars). Okay, it doesn't really baffle me - BES is a cash cow for them - but eventually they'll have to let that go to compete.

redman042

FYI: apple had to license activesync from microsoft to get exchange support. I hope someone just creates a desktop app that syncs Outlook emails with gmail since my company doesn't allow activesync access to exchange (but allows blackberry access).

badbob001

@jcy: Just plain ol' POP or IMAP. The only company I ever worked for that used Exchange was Pacific Bell Internet (before it was SBC) which is the company that had problems maintaining their Exchange boxes.

delmuerte

@D.E.P.C.: Epic. I love it when my pc can't connect to my personal wireless setup and asks me to contact the person who setup the network for additional help.

SeattleTed

@ripfire:
Firmware updates are a fact of life. They fix technical errors, and sometimes extend functionality.

However, name one Apple update that fundamentally changed how any of their products' UIs looked or behaved. I'm betting you can't.

DisposableInterloper

@Metkis:
Note that I didn't list deployment. Even Apple isn't immune from spreading themselves too thin.

Of course, beyond its technical issues, it did Just Work (TM) from a usability standpoint.

DisposableInterloper

@diabolusunknownTheSecond:
Good for you that laziness and perhaps even a lack of talent on Microsoft's part puts bread on your table. You're still missing a fundamental point.

First, how many users are going to screw around with third-party projects to improve their user experience? Among those that don't, how many are going to enjoy the stock setup? Among those that do, how many are doing it out of necessity?

If it's not good out of the box, it's as good as worthless. Developers are there to extend functionality, not refine it.

DisposableInterloper

I wish my phone had push email...

Oh wait, I have a Blackberry. False alarm.

Daytodaz3

@The Magnificen7:
Ack, my previous response somehow wound up attached to a different thread. I'll post a copypasta for the sake of organization:

Read it a bit a long time ago. Slice of life isn't exactly the most enjoyable genre in my opinion. Lemme guess, someone did a spit-take and a snarky comment was made about people doing spit-takes in real life?

DisposableInterloper

@generall:
Developers are lower on the food chain. They're not the masters of a platform, and depending on them to make said platform at all worthwhile is foolhardy. Developers are a good thing, but so is a leash to keep them on.

Further, I'm willing to sacrifice some apps to Apple's business plans if it means that on the whole, my phone would stay slick and clean. In the end, it's a phone and a data consumption device, not a fully fledged computer. Even if many developers' efforts are effectively garroted, what does get through is enough to make the phone useful enough to keep me happy.

DisposableInterloper

@diabolusunknownTheSecond:
The iPhone innovated tremendously in the field of smartphone UI design, and it was (and still is) among the very few consumer products to offer multitouch input.

Go ahead and play with whatever cudgel a hater like you would rather use, but I'll be happy with a phone that actually organizes its myriad functions such that I might actually want to use them.

DisposableInterloper

@diabolusunknownTheSecond:
Hmm, how about neither. I'm neither sarcastic nor have I been out of the loop.

DisposableInterloper

@ProSeven:

What's the point of bluetooth file transfer? There are already several apps that allow wi-fi connectivity to the iphone. As for custom ringtones, you know you can make those for free with garage band, right? If the track you want to use is fair-play protected just do the old burning to redbook trick.

housewarmer

On the enterprise level I should think Google have longer term plans. Likely ones that don't involve Microsoft and does involve the enterprise using all Google and/or open products. The tough bit is getting corps to ditch Exchange. Though many may be happy, so long as the replacement isn't Notes!

GianniGebroni

@tillman: My bad, I didn't realize you were speaking of the overall marketshare, I thought you meant in comparison to other distros in the Linux market. sorry.

Seinosuke

3 things apple could do to stand ground versus android in a long term sense:
1. Copy Paste...duh.
2. Opt-in for open development,let the care bears keep their leash, let the diehards and devs roam free.
3. Landscape mode for ALL default apps(come on, landscape+email/sms=win and no brainer).
Personally I'd just really like an iphone version of putty(free ssh without jailbreak pleaaaseeee).

anon-in-das-face

Odd how the Iphone has no copy paste, and we have article after article about how absolutely fantastic it is.
Android is out for a few hrs, ripped to shreds by the staff on here despite knowing that, unlike the Iphone software, this can be upgraded and tweaked to the nth degree.

I'm obviously not in the majority, but the bias and blind worship of the Iphone make me more determined to never get one.
I'm a Mac user by the way. I know Apple prolly pays you guys a heavy commission but come on, you can at least pretend to be unbiased. I'm sure Apply wont drop your pay off by too much if one out of every 10 articles is at least close to being honest.
Cant believe you would bluff the security vulnerability bits, thats just silly.

lionelator

@CampSteve: Wouldn't it be better to get it right the first time? How hard can it be to make a phone that is rounded and suits all needs? On an aesthetic level, I think its a shame they went with HTC and their generic Win-mo style handsets. Just plain boring.

Top-loaders? My biggest concern was the corded "remote" with my frst VCR!

FizzyPop

Open Source Sheep, Windows Sheep or Apple Sheep?

jwdav

An extremely well written article that addresses concerns most business would have with deploying Android devices.

@horizontaleight

The difference between an open source phone and open source software on a server is precisely the point of the article. In a business environment, access to modify a server, regardless of OS, is physically restricted and user access is limited. Users are not allowed to install "whatever" ... plus, it's not the Android OS that would be the problem - it's the "who knows what" that users can install and the inability to secure and wipe devices.

None of these concerns much affect individual users who might choose Android.

jwdav

@DisposableInterloper: Heck yes, like a week ago. Funny shit. Coincidence I guess.

The Magnificen7

I think the "i" on the t-shirt should be in lower case and the "o" should be replaced with apple logo.

iDiot = a typical mac user

shikarishambu