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Why the Google Android Phone Isn't Taking Off
Hugh Pickens writes "Farhad Manjoo writes in Slate that while the iPhone commands nearly 14 percent of smartphone sales and BlackBerry about 21 percent, Android has only 3 percent. And even though Android is far friendlier to developers, it has failed to attract anywhere near the number of apps now clogging the iPhone. Manjoo writes that Google went wrong by giving handset manufacturers and carriers too much control over the design and marketing of Android phones so there is no idealized 'Google phone' — instead, Android devices get names like the T-Mobile G1 or the myTouch 3G, and each is marketed separately and comes with its own distinct capabilities and shortcomings. 'Outside handset manufacturers lack ambition — -none of them even seems to be trying to match the capabilities of the iPhone, let alone to knock us down with features that far surpass those of Apple's device,' writes Manjoo. 'A smart handset manufacturer could build a top-of-the-line Android device that outshines Apple's phone in at least a few areas — better battery life, a much better Web browser, a brighter or bigger screen, faster or more functional controls... something that might help Android inspire gadget lust. But so far, that's not happening.' John Gruber echoes this advice and adds this advice to Android manufacturers: 'If Apple is BMW, you can be Porsche.'"
The difference is the iPhone had -everything- usable, polished and was honestly the best around phone without question. On the other hand Android while not terrible still doesn't have as good as web browser as Mobile Safari, the commonly available Android handsets lack a headphone jack, lack of apps, etc.
And at the time? Compare every available American handset to the iPhone and the iPhone was the only one that got everything right (minus the apps/3G, but they eventually corrected those). So its no surprise someone wanted to pay $500 on the one phone that actually worked decently.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
Most Apple users believe they are somehow better than everyone else and that they are somehow elite because they own an Apple product.
You know what? I've never met an Apple user like that. All the people I know who use macs are very friendly. Most have a lot of experience with Windows too, out of necessity at work. They know the good and the bad of each.
So who are the people who really think they are better than anyone else? To a man, I'd have to say the Apple Haters. They are always posting missives like yours, deriding people for falling under some kind of "marketing spell" because there's just no way they could simply find the devices useful, right? These people thus broadcast loud and clear that they are superior to you, the weak minded Apple user, because they have the strength of will to keep doing what they have always done!
So stay in that shiny rut sir, and admire the many mirrors around you... you seem too far gone to be able to survive outside your chamber of self-admiration.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Wow, so Verizon is actually thinking now? I'm notably biased but wow, all that stuff is old news at Sprint...
Sprint Nextel has led GPS since 2002, already has a WiFi Blackberry (and all future smartphones will have WiFi), has been part of the Open Handset Alliance and had a leading Developers Program for years...
And, oh yeah, Sprint already has 4G launched in 4 cities with like a dozen more in September and ~20 by EOY 2009 (not 2010 or 2011)...
Ok, now you can mark me down for trolling...
Come play Moral Decay!
I was going to write the exact same thing. Android hasn't taken off yet because it's available on....T-Mobile, and that's it. WTF is with "iPhone cometitors" and their picking the shitty carriers? T-Mobile and Sprint are the carriers for the only phones that really have a chance so far to compete? I can't think of anyone in this area that has TMo, and Sprint's coverage sucks. If someone's getting a phone around here, it's either AT&T or Verizon, and I'm in the VZW camp.
FWIW, I think Android *is* poised to start making some noise. It looks like Verizon is finally starting to line things up; a flagship Motorola Android phone, the BB Storm 2 later this year, and the Palm Pre sometime next year. Honestly, the iPhone is the only thing keeping AT&T afloat; as soon as Verizon offers some real alternatives, we'll see some crazy shit.
If anything, buying apple makes me thing you are an idiot; it's the only reason you'd pay more for a product that locked you out of it and made you compromised so many of your rights, from a company that has a well documented history of being shady.
Any billing zip code in your state you had better set aside and remit sales tax to the local authorities, but the other 49 states aren't your problem. if google collected sales tax they would have to collect on every transaction.
Apple does. Or at least, you don't have to worry about any of that as an iPhone developer. I don't really care about the details nor do I want to.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Right, that's exactly like being violently attacked.
It's an example of lets not market this thing and let's also make it very un-shiny.
...no different from having to own a PC with enough grunt to run the bloatware required for Android development...