I've been inclined to agree with you, but the loss of bluetooth support in Android is rather strange. Support for bluetooth on Java phones (ie. jsr82) has been the most significant divider between phones that are open for development (eg. Nokia) and ones that are not (eg. LG).
Obviously, if I want a developer friendly platform, I'm not going to develop for the iPhone, but the lack of bluetooth API's in Android gives the impression of a rather closed platform, and removing important API's that were there before doesn't make Google seem as developer friendly as I was expecting of them. Tom. On Aug 18, 1:52 am, "Muthu Ramadoss" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From whatever we've developed with Android so far, Android seem to be the > best mobile development platform that currently exists. Here's some Android > strengths: > > . based on the popular Java programming language (1.5+) > . easily integrates Maps, Gps etc., > . background processing and notifications > . xml based view (UI) layouts > . eclipse based tools for faster development > . good documentation > . irc, forum support for developers > . opensource, free > . backed by Google and OHA > > > > On Sat, Aug 16, 2008 at 6:40 AM, WanderSmarty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > We are encouraging a very frank discussion from developers of both > > iPhone and Android to sound off either ahead of time or at the Mobile > > Internet World conference in October in Boston. If you can't go, > > please forward your thoughts and ideas to me and I'll be sure they are > > distributed. We are strongly encouraging a rep from Google/Android and > > from the iPhone/Apple camp to be in attendance, anonymously, in the > > audience to learn first hand what's going on in the developer > > community. We are Android and iPhone developers ourselves and this is > > NOT a marketing session to promote or even mention our own products. > > > The meeting will be held town-hall meeting style within the > > conference. All developers are encouraged to attend or submit their > > thoughts and ideas and experiences with both or either development > > environment. > > > Thanks! > > MJ Nash > > > On Aug 15, 12:07 am, nulall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > some more discouraging thoughts being posted. i want to stay > > > optimistic, but i'm about ready to give up... > > > >http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/08/13/google_android_flaws_pu... > > > > Google Android flaws pushing software firms towards iPhone > > > > By Aidan Malley > > > Published: 07:45 AM EST > > > > Although Google is positioning its new Android platform as freeing > > > cellphone software developers, the search engine giant's attempt to > > > favor certain developers, technical issues, and shaky commercial > > > appeal are reportedly driving would-be partners to iPhone. > > > > Google has been accused by at least some developers of making > > > assumptions about the appeal of Android to programming teams, who with > > > the open-source platform can write virtually any app for Android-based > > > devices by getting direct access to code that governs even basic > > > hardware functions. > > > > The issue is largely known to have come to a head in mid-July, when > > > Google unintentionally revealed that it has been favoring the winners > > > of a developers' contest with advance releases of Android's Software > > > Developer Kit, exposing them to newer features and bug fixes ahead of > > > the general community. Those outside the privileged circle, both then > > > and now, have expressed frustration that the company is in effect > > > cherry-picking the teams it wants to succeed on launch day. > > > > Without this equal treatment, Google is not only perceived as driving > > > developers away but of violating the open-source mantra it took on by > > > creating a mobile operating system, shutting out many who could > > > contribute to the development process. Some of these have since > > > switched or expressed a desire to switch to iPhone development in > > > retaliation for the seeming bias on Google's part. > > > > "The idea with open source software is to allow early adopters access > > > to the buggier pieces of code so they can help fix them or let people > > > who want to wait for a solid release the ability to do that," says > > > developer Casey Borders. "The key is choice, and Google has taken away > > > that choice and is developing Android like every other piece of closed > > > software." > > > > Even carriers and hardware manufacturers are believed to be > > > encountering technical problems regardless of their access to code. > > > Cellular provider China Mobile, which hopes to have Android devices in > > > its home country, was recently described as having language > > > translation problems with software, while Google's emphasis on an > > > anticipated T-Mobile USA debut may have crowded out Sprint's attempts > > > to get help for its own launch. > > > > For those without the early access, the most recent software kit for > > > Android was last released in early March, or over five months before > > > press time. > > > > In stark contrast is Apple, which has imposed tighter restrictions on > > > what apps can be developed but has given third-parties frequent, equal > > > access to updated versions of its own iPhone SDK -- in some cases, > > > seeding new releases just days apart and opening up new features at > > > the same time. > > > > And for some developers, the incentive to write iPhone software may > > > simply be material: Apple, even in its relative inexperience with > > > phones, is seen as more of a veteran in the mobile space than Google. > > > The latter has yet to see Android on a shipping product and doesn't > > > have the practical experience of producing devices like the iPod to > > > develop a strong user base and sell more third-party apps. > > > > "At the end of the day, developers want to make money," says analyst > > > Rob Enderle, who himself was recently hired by Dell to ease its return > > > into portable devices. "So they're going to develop on a platform and > > > put resources on a platform that will make them money." > > > > Recognizing this, Google has been showcasing Android builds with an > > > integrated software store, much like Apple's App Store, which would > > > centralize downloads and give developers more publicity than if they > > > offered software by themselves. > > > > Apple's insistence on control at most stages of development has kept > > > many Android developers onboard and in some cases may goad developers > > > to write apps for both Android and iPhone handsets, freeing them to > > > experiment with the new platform while clinging to the one that > > > promises them financial success. Without catering to those most eager > > > to write for Android, however, Google is thought by at least one > > > developer as potentially sabotaging its carefully-managed launch by > > > alienating those outside a special group. > > > > "Developers are the driving force behind Android applications, so > > > without them it would be very hard for Android to have a stance in the > > > market," says developer Mike Nowak. > > -- > take care, > Muthu Ramadoss. > > http://mobeegal.in- find stuff closer.http://cookingcapsules.com- nourish > your droid. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
