Is Google’s Android Mobile OS in Danger?
A recent InfoWorld article suggests that Google’s Android Mobile OS is in serious danger due to a business pact between IBM and Oracle.
The pact has to do with the two companies planning two focus on OpenJDK, a new open source version of Java. So why is that a problem for Google? Well besides the fact that Oracle — who recently purchased Sun Microsystems, creators of Java — has a lawsuit against Android’s use of Java components, the problem is that Android uses components of the Harmony project. Harmony is an open source version of Java, created under the Apache Software Foundation name and contributed to heavily to by IBM employees.
So according to InfoWorld, even if Google wins the Oracle lawsuit, a move to OpenJDK could seriously affect Android, an OS that has taken top place in terms of the number of new mobile handsets purchased this year in the USA. Focus on OpenJDK means little or no focus on Harmony.
To be honest, I haven’t followed what that’s exactly about; however, anything that worries developers can cause long-term harm. Most of my time this year has been with Apple iOS work, but since the writing seems to be on the wall about Android dominating the mobile handset market (and possibly with tablets) in the very near future, I’ve started boning up on my Android skills.
Let’s just say I’ve never been a fan of Java. I like streamlined code and Java code always felt like unnecessary bloat just to do simple operations. So it’s rather difficult to decide whether to put in time learning Java (circumstances in my career simply meant that I never really had much time or desire to learn beyond the basics). If Android is in danger, why should I spend the precious little time I have in a week learning the Android OS and Java, let alone developing apps in Android? That’s a question — or something like it — that other developers are no doubt asking. (Though now that I’ve been working with Apple’s Objective-C for a while, I’m not feeling so negatively towards Java’s object-oriented principles.)
Could it be that there’s some intent by Oracle and IBM to damage Google? Possible, but why? Neither has any visible investment in the Mobile space. To confuse matters even more — at least for my understanding — InfoWorld quotes an NY Times Bits’ blog post that says Google has more developers contributing to OpenJDK than Oracle does. But if Android is to not lose its growing position in Mobile market share, Google may have to take over Harmony development or start all over again. That’s partially because, as the NY Times blog Bits says, the Oracle lawsuit restricts communication between them and Google.
My feeling is that if the latter scenario happens — that is, if Google has to take over the Harmony project — it would leave an opening for Apple’s iOS to become king of the castle. (I really feel BlackBerry will lose their worldwide top ranking and that HP/Palm WebOS has a lot of marketing to do before they’re anywhere close. Then again, maybe a revitalized Mobile OS offering from Microsoft, in the form of Windows Phone 7, has a shot.
What are your thoughts, either as a consumer or a mobile apps developer, about these developments?
Links: InfoWorld, NY Times Bits Blog.
Android Might Become Top Mobile OS, But What About Design Environment?
The writing’s on the wall: Android is probably going to dominate in the mobile OS space, from the consumer perspective, for quite some time. In fact, NielsenWire just published a report (link below) stating that Android has leaped into top place in the smartphone OS category, at least in the U.S., amongst recent smartphone purchasers — passing the iPhone. A number of other online publications have been saying for a few weeks that Android will dominate over all, and the report is echoed in the NY Times and in GigaOm. While I have nothing against Google — I do use many, many of their web tools daily — as a mobile developer, I have my own concerns about this. Namely, can the Android dev & design environment attract quality mobile apps development?
Let me clarify, if I can, so as not to offend. I’ve been thick in the development of iPhone/ iPad apps for the past few months (hence why I have not written on CallStyle lately), and only just started picking up Android skills. I love the Mac’s Xcode environment and the Interface Builder, both of which make it relatively easy to to at least mockup iPhone and iPad screens
I don’t feel that that’s the case with Android. While I have no Android phone to verify the quality of Android apps, I have been working with the Eclipse IDE and necessary Android plugins to do some very simple “hello, world” type of mobile apps in the simulator. Now, I am an experienced programmer of more than 25 years (though I’m not saying how much “more”), and I can assess an dev environment fairly quickly. I’ve always liked the Eclipse IDE, though most of the languages I used to program in didn’t have plugins at the time, so I’ve never used Eclipse all that much. However, it’s the Android screen design that I’m not impressed with. Mocking up screens in Android is nowhere nearly as enjoyable as for Apple iOS. What’s more, Android phones have far too many screen sizes overall. It’s like designing sites for the Web all over again.
Call me biased but when offshore companies (i.e., outside Canada and the U.S.) are bidding as low as possible on mobile app projects and even prototyping for free, it’s hard enough to survive and create iPhone apps that will function on just 3-4 types of devices (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPhone 4, iPad). Sure, Apple might soon release a 7″ iPad, or other devices that’ll have iOS and need apps, but for now, it’s relatively easy to design for iOS, and the Mac’s Interface Builder makes it easy too. I’m not seeing the equivalent for Android. It just doesn’t feel as enjoyable, and the simulator feels like an afterthought.
Apple’s App Store is still the biggest for now, but if I recall, there are experts who believe that won’t last. I don’t know. While I will be developing for Android and probably WebOS, my money (or at least my time) is still on iOS for now. What about you? As either a consumer of mobile apps or a developer, which platform are you betting on and why.
Links: Nielsen Wire, NY Times, GigaOm.
Motorola Choosing Skyhook Over Google Android’s Location Services
Motorola might produce Google Android-based phones but when it comes to mobile location services, they’re choosing a system by Skyhook Wireless over Google’s native solution. Why? Apparently Skyhook’s system uses triangulation based on known WiFi hotspots instead of GPS or cell towers. According to Silicon Alley Insider, Skyhook’s location services are faster than GPS and more accurate than cell tower positioning. The system also works indoors.
Motorola is the first Android phone maker taking this step, and the change will likekly be transparent to application developers. Phones will still have access to location services via cell tower and GPS. Apple Inc. already uses Skyhook in its mobile devices and Mac OS.
Have a mobile device, platform, application, service, accessory or related news or tips you want to share? Email info/ press releases to callstyleblog at gmail.com.