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Android called to let you know that despite the hype, it is trying to appease too many mobile operators with vested interests.

On the other hand, Android (and third-party AOSP-based ROMS like CyanogenMod) have made a lot of people aware of the power of a true portable computing platform that isn't arbitrarily crippled by a bloodsucking cellular provider or an arrogant hardware vendor. I currently have a T-Mobile G1 running Cyanogenmod, and I'd be hard pressed to take anything less from a cell phone operator at this point. They'd better wise up (fast) to the fact that people want Internet-aware general-purpose mobile computing, not cell phones, and that nickel-and-diming customers for basic services is a good way to lose them to the competition.

Just to add a few more points:

* Haven't had any hassles with certain off-label applications such as tethering and SIP phone.
* To get you to dump your landline, they also offer a little-known $9.99/mo unlimited home phone via your existing Internet called T-Mobile @Home. I haven't tried it.

Newest Android OS supports Exchange ActiveSync which Microsoft's recommend way of pulling data off Exchange server for mobile devices. I haven't been able to fully test it though since our demo model from Sprint hasn't arrived at the office. We are hoping to support it but it depends on how much Google implemented it. For those who don't know, Microsoft licenses Activesync to companies and Google bought it to use with GMail and Android.

I have it on my (Cyanogen) G1 - it works very well. It is a separate app from the GMail app, though, so you end up with two separate inboxes.

maybe because your comment has nothing to do with visual search (it's offtopic), and you don't want *flash* capability at all? Google is going HTML5, which removes the need for flash in it's entirety. If you want PDF capability just use cyanogenmod and quit acting like it's google's fault.

cyanogenmod = significantly faster performance, more applications available with more functionality (1 click gps/wifi/bluetooth/etc), PDF by default, exchange support, and all OS versions including cyanogen = navigation support.

Google's map does not work at all as well on the iphone as on android. ever seen google nav on the iphone?

Your fault is your lack of understanding, none of these issue's are google's fault. I'm not saying google is great, they do a lot of bad shit too, but it helps to go to google.com and look up some of the crap you want to do.

Interestingly, when Cyanogen (homebrew Android ROM maker) was C&D'ed by Google, someone wrote an app to support him (simple voting/contrib app). Of course since there's no approval process needed, it shot to the top of the popularity charts in no time.

Let's see... HTC Dream and HTC Magic, for one. And there are decent custom ROMs available too, like http://www.cyanogenmod.com./

What exactly does ROM mean in this usage? I've seen it a lot lately, and I only know the old (and practically irrelevant) meaning of Read-Only Memory. Your usage suggests it means something like OS or distribution, and others seem to use it as if it means "firmware".

So could you please enlighten me on this new meaning of ROM?

Let's see... HTC Dream and HTC Magic, for one. And there are decent custom ROMs available too, like http://www.cyanogenmod.com./ And it's perfectly accepted by Google and HTC, unlike Apple, who constantly wet their pants about the evil jailbreakers.

Sorry messed up that URL somehow. Try this . Yay for previewing.

Touch but not multitouch.

Wrong on that point, hardware supports it and so does the OS now. Besides, a key point here is that Android is open-source (yes, a bunch of Google's apps are proprietary, witness the recent Cyanogenmod debacle) and a bunch of third-parties are taking it well beyond what Google is doing. Apple's BSD-based iPhone will only advance at the pace that Apple sets: Android is not so limited. I'm running Cyanogenmod 4.1.999 on my G1 now, and it supports multitouch in the browser and has a number of other features not in the stock ROMs. More importantly, Google is not concerned about such third-party products, and indeed encourages and supports them so long as they don't include Google's proprietary bits. I can't see Apple taking that attitude, ever.

The G1 sports a magnetic compass and field-strength sensor, the iPhone has a proximity sensor. Both have an ARM-derivative CPU at 500+ Mhz. Regardless, the two are on pretty equal footing hardware-wise, and frankly I prefer my slideout keyboard to Apple's on-screen keyboard (personal preference though, can't really ding Apple for that, many prefer the OSK.) And that's just the G1 ... more and more Android devices are coming out, and the hardware specs are generally improving so Apple's lead there is already dissipating.

Fact is, Apple's lead in the media player and smartphone market is based upon initial technical superiority coupled with an excellent hype machine. There will always be rabid Apple fanboys so long as there is an Apple Computer, however that does not mean that their products will always be the "best", when critiqued dispassionately and without the hype. Other companies have seen the light (certainly we can thank Apple for that) and are investing significant capital in their own offerings.

I wonder what app is available for the iPhone that is not available for Android?

Oh, a lot of stuff exists for the iPhone that doesn't exist for Android yet ... the iPhone has been out for a lot longer and consequently has more developer support. That's changing though: more and more stuff is appearing in the Android Market every day. There are also a couple of non-Google markets (like SlideMe) although they don't have much in them yet: mostly seems to be apps that aren't allowed for a particular carrier (like tethering on T-Mobile.) At least Android doesn't have an issue with installing non-Market apps: Apple's approach there completely turns me off. I wouldn't take that kind of crap from a personal computer OS vendor, and I fail to see why I should accept it just because my PC happens to be in my pocket. Apple lost me right from the start on that point alone.

Given the momentum behind Android (and the fact that it is appearing on devices other than smartphones) I expect the number and quality of applications to continue to grow. Seems like a number of iPhone developers are porting their apps to Android as well.

Yet Android 2.0 is going to be the worthwhile update. It is expected to include multi-touch. Its irrating how slow development on the official Android source seems to be, it would have been nice to see this stuff 6 months to a year ago. Never fear, the community has taken matters in to their own hands. Modded ROMs such as Cyanogenmod http://www.cyanogenmod.com/ already incorporate the latest code far ahead of any ROM official releases from OEMs.

If your on a edgy modded ROM your likely using 1.6 (Cupcake) and some 2.0 (Donut) code.

(The latest experiemental Cyanogen ROM includes BFS (!) my first taste of the new scheduler on any system all I can say is the speed is mind boggling).

Delightfully, there is a glut of android phones on the way from various OEMs which should see the market grow and the code improve. Not that Android needs improving, in a year of having a G1 it never needed a hard reset, even with shitty crashing applications. I can't say as much for my iPhone.

Multitouch is coming to Android, now that Google is no longer affraid of Apple.

And it runs Linux!

There is a modified Android image growing in popularity, for those willing to root their phone, called Cyanogen Mod. The developer has incorporated the BFS scheduler, by Con Kolivas. By replacing CFS with BFS, the performance boost and latency decreases is said to be HUGE; contrary to the petty retort by Ingo Molnar, to which I linked. While both Cyanogen Mod and BFS are still actively developed, IMO, they do wonders to validate Google's approach. First and foremost, is the fact it runs Linux, which is freely available and heavily developed. Secondly is the fact, both Linux and Android are open source which allows for such pairing and experimentation. I fully expect both camps will be richly rewarded from shared cooperation.