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The Motorola CEO is completely correct. The fact that submitting an application to the fragmented Android Market requires no inspection or vetting by gatekeepers means that very poorly written software will get in. Programming on Android is hard as it is due to the extreme OS versioning and hardware fragmentation and the multiple states that an Android application must cycle through (often leaving dangerously dangling application threads). In addition, Google has made Android closed-source and soundly prohibits common folks from changing the Android 3 source code, which definitely goes against the very nature of FOSS. But I suppose Google thinks this is correct in order to fight against the extreme fragmentation of the Android platform running almost a dozen major OS versions on fragmented hardware. So basically the Android platform is an excessively fragmented, closed-source platform, with thousands of poorly-written applications in a wild open marketplace. But poorly-written applications may just be the least of one's problems (in addition to the fragmentation) because progressively more malware is seeping into the applications there. Fortunately, the malware writers also have to deal with the extreme fragmentation, so thankfully that is keeping them in check. And in the end, an integrated platform (such as iOS) wins because I don't drive my German sports sedan because it's fragmented and mediocre, and I don't think many Amercians do, either.

Yes, just like their archiving of your location data keeps you more secure... Apple is totally perfect, right? They wouldn't EVER let anything unknown or an app that did more than it said into the app store, right?

This is simply an implementation flaw. Shit like that happens on ANY system. It's just that with open systems you actually learn about it. Are you SURE that you know all the security weaknesses in your iProduct? Are you sure Apple is telling you everything? How can you be?

From here:

Research is showing that the key piece needed (and why some OG Droids with GB builds are able to run it unmodified) is the Stagefright media framework. Stagefright is SUPPOSED to be included in 2.2, but it looks like most OEMs decided not to ship with it for whatever reason.

It looks like most GB builds out there have Stagefright installed (as they should), which would explain why they seem to work with nothing more than a quick tweak to build.prop.

What's interesting is that the only official mention of Stagefright I can find is in the high-level 2.2 changelog for developers, and even there only in passing. No API docs & no reference so far as I can see. Googling only gives me a bunch of posts on the forums asking where to get more info, with no answers. Closed APIs? on my 'droid? WTF.

Wonder why Netflix came up with this wonderful idea of using a media framework that is available on such a minuscule number of devices. Is it because it's the only one that has some hardware or at least OS-level DRM support, perhaps?

Singular applications will take advantage of the extra cores

Only if they've been properly signed. Singular is not fond of unknown sourses.

Given that the LG Optimus 2x - also known as the Star - benchmarks pretty impressively, I doubt a Nexus S overclock will put it to shame. In the quadrant benchmark the Nexus S has been noted as obtaining a score of 1474, whilst the Star scores 1759.

Assuming linear scaling from 1ghz, the Nexus S would obtain 1769 with android 2.3 whilst the star manages the previously stated 1759 with android 2.2 which has received fewer performance optimisations. Whilst this is only one benchmark, the more graphically focussed ones favour the Star's tegra (nVidia) processor to an even greater extent.

Therefore far from putting the new dual core Optimus to shame, I would argue that an overclocked Nexus S can just about keep level with it whilst using a faster OS version on benchmarks that favour it. Hardly putting the Star to shame...

Blind Type looks much more interesting and easy to use, if you are used to keyboard typing.

Someone will find a way around this very quickly

It's not even clear if this information is real. TFA links to a forum post which doesn't seem to actually contain a source of the information (the OP states it's a mix of "hard information" and "conjecture"). Said forum post then links to the eFUSE wikipedia article, which lists Droid X as having an implementation of eFUSE. However, if you look at the Droid X wikipedia page linked to from there, you'll see the original mobilecrunch.com is what is cited for the eFUSE inclusion bit.

I'm not saying there is something fishy going on, but this could easily not be true.

Sounds like an astro-tufing campaign using fox news or coulter style circular references (stewart loves dismantling these on the daily show).

I'm a fan of the mac platform, but this looks like a clever ploy by *cough* certain competitors *cough* to tarnish the platform in general. It's the pavlovian training with inconsistent stimuli.. "one android phone has this horrible bomb in it, I wonder how many others have undiscovered 'features' ".

Someone will find a way around this very quickly

It's not even clear if this information is real. TFA links to a forum post which doesn't seem to actually contain a source of the information (the OP states it's a mix of "hard information" and "conjecture"). Said forum post then links to the eFUSE wikipedia article, which lists Droid X as having an implementation of eFUSE. However, if you look at the Droid X wikipedia page linked to from there, you'll see the original mobilecrunch.com is what is cited for the eFUSE inclusion bit.

I'm not saying there is something fishy going on, but this could easily not be true.

Much to my surprise, there has been a lot of press coverage about the iOS 4 in the enterprise:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177830/iPhone_4_iOS_4_offer_deeper_enterprise_support

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/062110-five-ways-apples-ios-4.html

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/062110-iphone-ios4-apis-management.html

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/06/07/iphone-os-4-0-now-ios-is-here/

I cant wait till they make this pocket sized. It would do nicely as a smart phone form factor.

If they reduced it still to a wallet, with e-IDs and ability to swipe CCs, then it would get FAR more interesting. Of course, I would not bet that Toshiba could do this (more like Apple, HTC/Google or HP/Palm).

here's a pic of the 300+dpi screen compared to anon 300+dpi iphone:
linky
I know that it's not as amazing that apple wants to make it sound, but the pixel density is awesome and would help a lot on applications that have lots of text. Hell it's great for pictures too.

While it's no real substitute for seeing it yourself, this image of an iPhone 4 with a 3GS next to it shows that yeah, it does make things look pretty ace.

. If they don't expose a full C API, they will ultimately be toast. Developers need to be able to port their big screen Windows, Mac, iPhone, and PlayStation apps to HP Slate. All of those are written in C.

Good thing this was accomplished over 2 months ago then: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/03/09/palm-webos-pdk-beta/ The real challenge for Web OS is to get some public awareness that matches the high quality of it's functionality . . .

While it's a fact that nothing exists until Google invents it, Palm has the Wi-Fi hotspot feature integrated into their Pre and Pixi handsets today. Not only that, Verizon is offering that feature at no additional cost for as long as you have the phone activated on your plan. I have one. It works great.

Steve Jobs? Is that you posting anonymously?

Give me a break. 1/3 Of Android phones are already accounting for 96% of mobile web traffic, which makes Android the leader over the iPhone for Web Traffic http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/27/admob-report-11-devices-account-for-96-percent-of-android-traffic-motorola-droid-takes-the-lead/. The Market Place has more than 50,000 apps already, up from merely 10,000 a month ago.

Motorola/Verizon sold more Droid's in the first 74 days than the iPhone did in the first 74 days of its existence http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/03/16/flurry-more-droid-devices-than-iphones-sold-in-first-74-days-on-the-market/.

What was that you were saying about Android momentum? And let's not even try bringing Nokia into this battlefield...since they are still pushing Symbian(^3) which just shows they don't have the innovation mojo to even compete anymore.

And the numbers can attest that Blackberry is the best selling smartphone and it didn't need to be locked down like the iPhone. It didn't need the 'Geek Stamp of Approval tm'. Its users are feeling comfortable purchasing it.

Blackberry not locked down? I thought its extreme lockdown options were its main selling point. My wife can't install a thing on her work-supplied blackberry, and a friend can't even make phonecalls on it (she can only read email, which she refuses to do in her free time). But here it's the employer who locks it down, not the manufacturer. Blackberry is 100% a business phone, and not a consumer phone at all.

As the iPhone's market share numbers can attest. They've managed to make a device that does not require the Geek Stamp of Approval tm. for end users to feel comfortable purchasing. That means, as dzfoo points out, that these are specifically designed for end users. Since you are a geek, that means it was not designed for you. If you like it, I'm sure Apple will be happy to sell you one, but you are not the target demographic.

And the numbers can attest that Blackberry is the best selling smartphone and it didn't need to be locked down like the iPhone. It didn't need the 'Geek Stamp of Approval tm'. Its users are feeling comfortable purchasing it.

This whole topic is essentially a big whining fest. "I want to tinker with the iPhone, AND I want them to provide me support" It is perfectly acceptable for you to want it, but Apple is under no obligation to give it to you. After being a user of Apple computers for over a decade now, I can give you similar list of things I desired, but were never delived by other vendors (a decent version of MS office, functional Palm Sync client, stable and fully functioning Flash for mac, etc.). Those companies never decided that giving me what I wanted was important to them, and I just had to come to terms with that. I've learned to stop bitching about it and find alternatives if possible. If no alternatives exist I reassess how valuable those things are to me, and whether a different platform had a better cost/benefit ratio. No other platform ever did, although I seriously considered chucking Office 2008 in favor of virtualizing XP to run the Windows version of office, but I've made that calculation several dozen times over the years.

So instead of trying to let the publics voice be heard, you think its better to just be quiet and hope to problem will either be resolved by itself or quietly try to find an alternative? This is why they aren't getting fixed, its because of thoughts like that. If no one complains or they quietly find their own solution, whats truly broken or needs to be fixed? The problem isn't addressed. So the company really doesn't see a need to address anything.

I have my own gripes about my iPhone, but the positives outweigh the minuses, and no other phone I've seen comes close as far as what matters the most to me featurewise. If the cost/benefit analysis doesn't add up for you in favor of the iPhone, that is fine. I'd just appreciate it if you'd (and I mean "You" in terms of the complainers, not you specifically) stop trying to convince me that I need to care about what you want in a phone, or that somehow my math is wrong. Buy the phone that best suites you, suggest it to like minded individuals, and shut up already. Complaining to everyone that you can't have your cake and eat it too just makes you (again, not necessarily YOU specifically) sound like they are 9 and throwing a temper tantrum.

Again, your solution is just remain quiet, roll over and give up. This is the worst idea possible. You expect people to 'buy a phone that best suites you' but to do that, you need to be informed of the product which can't be done since you expect everyone to ignore the problems found in them and be quiet. This isn't something a 9 year old does and looks like they are throwing a temper tantrum, its what people need to do to let the problem be known and address. Or would you say that the Vietnam war protests were just a bunch a 9 years olds having a tantrum? Maybe all the nations complaining then going to war against Hilter was just 9 year olds throwing a tantrum because hey, he was able to do it let him and just be quiet or everyone quietly find their own private solution? Maybe the fighting the civil war was just 9 year olds throwing a tantrum because hey, they always were slaves and that suits some

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/02/16/google-now-shipping-60000-android-handsets-per-day/ Google and their hardware partners are now shipping 60,000 Android handsets each day. While Apple is shipping a measly 90,000. Yeah, obviously Apple is soooo doomed.

But will it include minor expectations like a choice in carriers, or a bloody Flash plugin? Fix those before you add gadgets.

I've seen rumors that a Verizon iPhone is on the way...

But, as far as Flash goes, I'd rather they didn't support it.

Sure, Flash has its place... But it's been horribly abused and overused for years. Platforms like the iPhone, and the advent of HTML5, have the opportunity to push Flash back where it belongs. I'd love to see that happen.

Too bad this will fail just like google failed.

Care to elaborate where Google failed, shipping 60,000 Android units a day is hardly what I'd call an unmitigated disaster.

Exactly. There are app sweatshops like this guy who has already been banned for gaming the system :

"In less than 9 months, Khalid Shaikh and his 26-employee team (most of which are in Pakistan) have published 943 applications [...] That’s roughly 5 apps a day, every day, for 250 days"

And they churn out crap like what Apple is now banning (emphasis mine) :

"They include “Top Sexy Ladies: Audrina Patridge,” which (from what we gather; again, we cannot test these apps because they are not up anymore) is an app that takes 5 pictures of The Hills star from online and puts them on your phone. Yes, it costs $4.99. There are hundreds of others like this, including Top Sexy Men apps and various news update apps"

You're right. We should only use that label for the best selling handset in the US (this is about NYC, after all).

Oh, wait.

The iPhone 3G line is the most popular phone is the US. In fact, it has nearly a 10% lead over the next most popular phone. It's market share is 4%, double your guess.

Nope. It's the most popular phone in the US based on units sold. 4% of the market.

That's almost 10% better than the best BB. 75% better than the entire RAZR V3 line.

Are you kidding? there are companies out there that do a service for giving inflated reviews. It's not a new concept. Lots of companies do cheap knockoffs, it's why iphone sounds like it has a ton of apps. Every app store has that same problem to some degree, but usually less so.

Please Slashdot link to the article and not the front page KTHX. Here is the direct link for people reading this in the future. http://mobilecrunch.com/2006/03/22/paypal-goes-mob ile/