Posted on 09/10/2010 8:56:33 AM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier
STAMFORD, Conn., September 10, 2010 — The worldwide mobile operating system (OS) market will be dominated by Symbian and Android, as the two OSs will account for 59.8 percent of mobile OS sales by 2014, according to Gartner, Inc.
...
Gartner predicts that by 2014, open-source platforms will continue to dominate more than 60 percent of the market for smartphones. Single-source platforms, such as Apple's iOS and Research In Motion's OS, will increase in unit terms, but their growth rate will be below market average and not enough to sustain share increase. Windows Phone will be relegated to sixth place behind MeeGo in Gartner's worldwide OS ranking by 2014.
(Excerpt) Read more at gartner.com ...
Ideos is selling in Obambi’s home country for Sh 8000($98.)
While Apple may not be a panacea, it 'IS' regulated. And while I was not quick enough to get the 'Flashlight' App, the fact that it was found and removed is evident that there is a screen in place. The 'wireless router' was an 'easter egg'. While I may disagree with this; there is an implied safety in this approach.
And yes, if there is a desire to open the 'walled garden'; there will be a means. The latest Bootrom hack is pretty much hardware based - any iPad/iPhone or iPod currently on the market is vulnerable. You must connect to the PC to do this, as this hack hit's the low level boot firmware on the iPhone. The only way for Apple to fix this is to re-program the low-level boot layer. Personally, my intention is to jailbreak my iPhone so I can use MiFi.
My belief, my ethics allows me to use MY property in any manner I see fit. Recently, the courts sided with my approach. I'm paying for a 2GB/month dataplan, I own my iPHone and I own an iPad. If I want to tether the two together - I see no reason AT&T should extort an additional $20 from me to do so. Same data rate, same data quantity per month - just a larger display.
The difference, as I see it is that MSFT and a PC are implied program running machines. My phone is a communications device with cute little gadgets. I don't mind paying for anti-virus, trojan or malware protection for my PC - that goes with the ability to run any program.
However, when it comes to my cell phone - my perception is different. I don't want my phone calls monitored, my location spied upon, my text messages relayed to an unseen destination, and expecially any secure financial tranactions shared. So, because the cell phone is such a 'personal' device, I prefer the iPhone's approach.
Now, when I jailbreak do I intend to run 'pirated' software? Nope, in fact I will most certainly NOT do that. Why? Because, IMHO the applications I purchase through iTunes are both reasonably priced and because Apple has screened them.
However, I fully intend to utilize MiFi, because I cannot get this functinoality without paying what I feel to be extortion to AT&T. This, IMHO, is like paying a premium to use the Speakerphone on your cell phone. Same phone call, same phone time - but now multiple listeners can participate in a conversation.
The FTC started an investigation. But apps still can only use public APIs and must be compiled into native code.
I don’t get the love for the “open” nature of Android. There is a core Android OS that is open and available for download. It may be useful for Linux hackers and hobbyists. Beyond that, the implementations on most devices are proprietary — Android plus proprietary drivers, applications (even apps that are part of the standard expected Android experience), user interfaces, etc. Try to mod a firmware and post it, get threatened by the phone maker and Google to take it down.
This is not “open” like regular desktop Linux. In fact, OS X and iOS are based on the open-source Darwin BSD, but we don’t call them “open” because in practice they are closed.
On top of all this, Android phone makers are starting to put locks on their phones just like Apple does, requiring a jailbreak to use anything but an official version. How “open” is that?
Question here. If Android is so good at multi-language, why can’t I switch seamlessly between English and German on mine? Specifically, I’d like to be able to easily switch between QWERTY and QWERTZ. It would really help if the auto-correct dictionary switched with the keyboard, because it’s supremely annoying when typing German.
Or at least make it fast to type umlauts and such.
Currently running Android 2.1, the newest thing released so far for the phone I bought only earlier this year.
App Store malware. And another, from just a few months ago.
While Apple may not be a panacea, it 'IS' regulated.
As is Google's Market; even your own source says they yank about 1% because of malware issues.
And while I was not quick enough to get the 'Flashlight' App, the fact that it was found and removed is evident that there is a screen in place.
Nope. It only got yanked by Apple after sites like the one I link above started advertising the nature of the app. Apple's screening simply didn't catch it - at all. If people kept their mouth shut, it would still be there.
The latest Bootrom hack is pretty much hardware based - any iPad/iPhone or iPod currently on the market is vulnerable. You must connect to the PC to do this, as this hack hit's the low level boot firmware on the iPhone.
The current one, maybe. The last one was purely software/web based. That's a security hole. And the reason these breaks occur so fast is that the breakers have a big list of holes they're working down, and adding to as new versions of the OS are released.
It may make you feel more secure, but actual, real-world results show that it is NOT more secure, nor is it more protective than other options.
My belief, my ethics allows me to use MY property in any manner I see fit. Recently, the courts sided with my approach
I fully agree! Too bad Apple refused that until a court ruled, and too bad you had to trust a court WOULD rule your way. Wouldn't it be nice if Apple simply said "it's your device, it's other owner's devices, do with them as you will"?
The difference, as I see it is that MSFT and a PC are implied program running machines. My phone is a communications device with cute little gadgets.
Huh? Gadgets ARE programs. Your phone is RUNNING PROGRAMS. They have a cutesy name of "apps", but that's short for applications - programs. A smartphone IS a computer. In fact, my HTC Touch Pro2 can do pretty much everything a mid-late 90s PC could do. It IS a computer. That's the point that everyone is trying to exploit - you can now blend your computing devices into a variety of interfaces to the same applications and cloud of data.
Because, IMHO the applications I purchase through iTunes are both reasonably priced and because Apple has screened them.
Sure, but that screening - as we see documented above - is not exhaustive or complete.
Fundamentally, we see the real-world results of the Apple approach - it's no more secure than the Android approach. The real-world breaks and hacks show that to be the case.
The "love" is that - as an app developer - I can do a LOT more with the Android platform with my choice of language and my choice of functionality. I can examine the internals of the OS and make sure it behaves as I want, or even optimize for different revs of the kernel.
Apple demands I must use Objective C, and that I don't step on their toes in terms of functionality. I am not free to compete with them, and customers cannot see alternatives that may or may not be better (and the market cannot decide). And I do not know what happens to the kernel between versions, so I do not know what APIs were adversely affected.
Question here. If Android is so good at multi-language, why can’t I switch seamlessly between English and German on mine?
Don't know. Mine does Mandarin and English great, and I know that Froyo supports multi-language keyboards VERY well. And you can download a German keyboard quite easily. Just like you have to do on an iPhone.
I'm talking about users. There effectively is very little freedom.
And I do not know what happens to the kernel between versions, so I do not know what APIs were adversely affected.
I remember WAY back in the Atari days people programming against non-standard APIs (or, rather, not sticking to the documented "entry points" as we called them then), taking advantage of things in the OS. Then there was an OS revision and everybody who did that had their programs break. Users had to basically load the old OS version from disk to use the programs. Not a good idea. It's the OS vendor's responsibilty to publish what happens with APIs and the developers' responsibility to stick with the APIs.
and I know that Froyo supports multi-language keyboards VERY well
On my phone that was introduced here less than a year ago, I will never see carrier-supported Froyo.
And you can download a German keyboard quite easily. Just like you have to do on an iPhone.
The iPhone gives the umlauts in the way that Android recently copied for Froyo. Otherwise, the iPhone has the German keyboard built-in. But thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
Freedom for developers provides freedom for users. How about a different home screen? With Android, the user can play with that. With the iPhone, they cannot. Not because the iPhone cannot technically support different homescreen layouts, but because Apple won't give developers the freedom.
Locking down developers necessarily locks down innovation. And that hinders the users.
If the carrier allows. My point is that even though the core of Android is open source, the users DO NOT get the open source experience. Between proprietary closed-source apps making up much of the standard delivered OS experience, proprietary user interfaces (both of which have resulted in legal threats against Android developers) and hardware locks, you aren't that far away from the iPhone.
AT&T lets you change your home screen with any non-Apple phone. I don't know of any restriction from Verizon (I run SPB Mobile Shell on my Verizon phone), T-Mobile, or Sprint.
The restriction on the home screen is purely from Apple, the carrier isn't involved at all.
My point is that even though the core of Android is open source, the users DO NOT get the open source experience.
Rooting is always possible, allowing you to get the experience you want. And you can always download new apps to change the experience, and developers can create those new experiences.
Except on the iPhone. Apple's restrictions on even what kind of app you can develop inherently limits the experiences available for the iPhone users.
Between proprietary closed-source apps making up much of the standard delivered OS experience
Which you can override with other apps...
proprietary user interfaces (both of which have resulted in legal threats against Android developers)
Which you can replace (and I would love to know about those legal threats against developers of alternative UIs - I've not seen it)...
and hardware locks
Which have already been bypassed, because the OS is open source so the developers can see how to get around it with new versions...
you aren't that far away from the iPhone.
Simple question: can I create a new home screen on an Android phone?
As an Android developer, there is ZERO requirement to get Google's blessing when doing an app. That's a HUGE difference.
You can root an iPhone and do it too. If I install Ubuntu, I know I have full open source. I can do anything. Not so with an Android from your carrier.
Which you can replace (and I would love to know about those legal threats against developers of alternative UIs - I've not seen it)...
Which have already been bypassed, because the OS is open source so the developers can see how to get around it with new versions...
The same gets done with the iPhone, thus my point: You have to root/jailbreak either to get your freedom.
one example
Sorry, that's not what you think it is... Read the comments of the link you provided and you'll find out that HTC was sending a cease-and-desist for hosting HTC code, NOT for changing or rooting the phone. HTC doesn't care if you change the home screen, just that you cannot post their ROM code for their own UI on your site. BIG difference there.
The same gets done with the iPhone, thus my point: You have to root/jailbreak either to get your freedom.
No you don't. You can install alternative home screens on an Android phone without rooting. You cannot do that on an iPhone. Simple as that.
That's what I was talking about for the lack of freedom. Android as an open source product is NOT the fully usable, full-featured product you get from any carrier. It's only the basics. People think you can just modify the software on the phone and redistribute for others (like you can do with open source), but much of Android -- as advertised and shipped to consumers -- is in fact NOT open source. Kind of like like iOS or OS X.
HTC doesn't care if you change the home screen, just that you cannot post their ROM code for their own UI on your site. BIG difference there.
Wait on that one too. Hardware locks just started coming down on Android phones. Of course, Apple can't send an enforceable C&D anymore because jailbreaking -- an iPhone or Android phone -- is now perfectly legal. You like to say "just root" the Android phone. Uh, this is effectively the same as jailbreaking an iPhone. You can do anything with an iPhone too if you jailbreak it.
You can install alternative home screens on an Android phone without rooting. You cannot do that on an iPhone. Simple as that.
If alternate home screens are so important to you, then don't buy the product. The fact remains BOTH platforms are artificially limited in what you can do, and BOTH platforms need rooting/jailbreaking to get around those limitations.
Android breaks a basic premise of open source, so users shouldn't consider it to be open source on the same level as Linux even though Android is touted as being Linux-based. I'm still not quite sure how they pulled this off without violating the GPL. They must be toeing a very fine line.
Not even close. I have a totally bone-stock Android 2.1 load on my tablet. I can do anything possible on it. The HTC Sense UI would MAYBE be a different experience that I may or may not like, but it brings no new basic functionality to the deal.
As far as Android goes, the source is freely modifiable, redistributable, and available. I do NOT have the source to many of the apps I've loaded - those are NOT available.
Same with iOS. You're telling me I can download the source for iOS? I can look at the WIFI stack? I can redestribute as I like?
And your claim about OSX is laughable. Psystar ring a bell?
It's not even close. You're really grasping at straws, anti! Heck, we're discussing whether an alternative UI is distributable on Android; good luck even FINDING an alternative UI for the iPhone!
Wait on that one too. Hardware locks just started coming down on Android phones.
And they're already cracked, too...
You like to say "just root" the Android phone. Uh, this is effectively the same as jailbreaking an iPhone. You can do anything with an iPhone too if you jailbreak it.
Except you DON'T HAVE TO ROOT YOUR ANDROID PHONE to try a different UI. That alone is a big difference. You don't want to admit it though, I know...
If alternate home screens are so important to you, then don't buy the product. The fact remains BOTH platforms are artificially limited in what you can do, and BOTH platforms need rooting/jailbreaking to get around those limitations.
Look, the fundamental point is what you're trying to hand-wave over. Android gives the USER choice, and it also gives DEVELOPERS choice, both of which will inherently make a better system. Only by trying new paradigms and ideas will innovation flow. Android is a magnitude better than the iPhone in this regard.
Android breaks a basic premise of open source
BS. If you're going to just start lying about things, well, then this thread is dead...
I remember, navigation, mapping, etc., advertised as parts of Android. Turns out they aren't. They are closed-source apps.
Same with iOS. You're telling me I can download the source for iOS?
It's called Darwin. It's BSD/Mach. On top of that is built the rest of the proprietary OS (except for the open source parts like WebKit, etc.).
Except you DON'T HAVE TO ROOT YOUR ANDROID PHONE to try a different UI.
That's just one feature. I'm talking about what you have to do to have the freedom normally associated with open source. You have to jailbreak both. You wouldn't even have the concept to "ROOT YOUR ANDROID PHONE" if they were completely open.
Look, the fundamental point is what you're trying to hand-wave over. Android gives the USER choice, and it also gives DEVELOPERS choice, both of which will inherently make a better system.
Actually, that total freedom has seriously hindered open source, since it fragments the market and leads to wildly different user experiences. Examples now, the custom manufacturer UIs, different closed-source software loads, undesired yet undeletable software, the carrier locking you into a search engine, etc.
I can buy a computer pre-loaded with Ubuntu. I can then do anything with it. Nothing's locked or mandatory or closed, and I can download and install any version of Ubuntu or any other Linx. I can mess with it to my heart's content. That's open source freedom for a user. It does not exist with most Android devices.
Only by trying new paradigms and ideas will innovation flow.
Like Apple introduced with the iPhone and that Android copied? You're welcome.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.