Rants And Ramblings About Mobile Technology
Anders Borg writing about the fun and crazy world of mobile and Internet service technologies.
You can also read the blog via Twitter or your phone via wap.abiro.com. See the left menu for more news.
Comments on blog entries are moderated, but I'm rather liberal as long as it's not blatant advertising.
For general comments, advertising and contribution queries, please use the feedback form.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Android mash-up and comment
Information found via the RCR and Fierce newsletters:
Motorola will be using Android in new phone models, initially the Cliq, a rather normal-looking business-style phone (a la Nokia N97, Sony Ericsson (HTC) X1 etc), but with a broader appeal due to a focus on social networking via the MotoBlur software.
Motorola anchors its rebound on Android and all things social
Multiple things are to blame for Android Markets relatively sluggish development: fewer phones, no top display of commercial applications, trickier payment system. I would also blame less interest from developers (Catch 22 due to fewer phones etc) and more differing specs between phones requires testing on all those phones (a whiff of the terrible MIDlet situation). The iPhone / iPod Touch models are on the other hand essentially identical.
New phones, seller tools improve Android Market's fortunes
Can developers survive in Android Market?
There are benefits with developing for Android though:
- You are early on, and can build a brand and presence due to less competition, which is way harder for the iPhone.
- Getting a top spot at App Store is incredibly hard and unlikely.
- If you can make MIDlets or desktop Java applications, and you know Eclipse, you can quickly learn to make Android applications. The UI paradigm (activities etc) is the biggest hurdle, yet the iPhone is certainly not simpler to develop for.
- You don’t need a Mac to develop for Android. Any PC (running Windows or Linux) will do. Might sound like an irrelevant comment, but most companies don’t have nor want to invest in Macs.
- There will soon be a whole slew of Android phones from Samsung, Motorola, LG, Sony Ericsson and HTC (but not Nokia), so it’s the right time to learn.
