Will the specific versions of Android flashed into a particular cell phone be available as open source so that it would even be possible to download and reconfigure the OS of one's phone?
That would be a different level of "open" vs just the base Android being available in open source. So will OEM's be able to keep their specific versions of Android completely private? Other than extensions by design, am not sure how anyone would expect to heavily mod an Android phone at the underlying OS level. Linux distributions have the ability to recompile the kernel, but will Android-based phone OSs permit doing such? (Suspect not because the GPL is not being used, right?) Perhaps a true google phone would have this degree of openness but Google is not committing to doing their own phone. On Sep 25, 7:42 am, "Ruben Reusser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I am wondering about how open it's going to be. Say one would like to > write an app that records the call in session. If it's really open and > you can replace/proxy anything you want then this should be possible. > > > > On Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 7:32 AM, Mike Wolfson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > The most significant plus of the Android phone is it's openness. > > > The fact that developers can access the core functionality of the > > phone (thus copy-and-paste functionality that works out of the box), > > and that it is not necessary to get approval to install/provide > > applications (thus, the Podcaster functionality that will likely be > > available on day one). > > > Form factor aside, the software is the significant difference. I > > expect that moving forward most phones will have very similar form > > factors (some sort of large touch screen, and maybe a few additional > > buttons), with the software being the major differentiating factor. > > > On Sep 25, 1:31 am, hlovatt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Not sure this is an iPhone killer, a lot of the advantage appears to > >> be that it isn't on AT&T. In the rest of the world this isn't an > >> issue :) > > >> The keyboard and phone keys have a down side in that they make the > >> phone bulky and for me at least offer little advantage. I can type > >> quickly on an iPhone, but I do know that people with long finger nails > >> have a problem with the iPhone. > > >> iPod functions, iTunes, App. Store, and GPS are all really good on the > >> iPhone. The UI is great and the individual app's work well together > >> and Safari is fantastic. The iPhone also looks good, is easy to use in > >> your hand (feels good), and fits in your pocket well. > > >> The big plus for me with the G1 is programming in Java - but I suspect > >> that doesn't apply to the majority of the population :) > > >> On Sep 24, 3:04 pm, RogerV <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >> > Well, I like these aspects of this phone: > > >> > * physical keyboard with qwerty layout > >> > * can program app software in Java > >> > * offers Amazon mp3 music download service > >> > * 3G network > >> > * rotates screen for widescreen view mode > >> > * has a some physical buttons for phone use (dial, hangup, ...) > >> > * $179 (instead of $199) - similar 2 year contract (T-Mobile is better > >> > customer support, tho) > >> > * will have good integration with google apps (gmail, calendar, > >> > maps, ...) > > >> > iPhone offers most of these things too, but G1 has a few improvements > >> > or features of its own (physical keyboard and physical phone buttons) > >> > that really are a better approach. Especially given that these smart > >> > phones are quasi replacements of networked computers. > > >> > So on paper I like what I see in the G1 phone better than the iPhone, > >> > however, the user experience will make the difference. Will have to > >> > wait a few months to see how that goes for folks. Is probably very > >> > unlikely that it is as cool to use as the iPhone overall, but it may > >> > be quite good enough. For someone that does a lot of text > >> > communication on a small phone device, the physical keyboard is most > >> > compelling. > > -- > Ruben Reusser > headwire.com, Inc > 949 595 4365 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" 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/javaposse?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
