But not a cell phone. Consumer electronics is consumer electrnics. The Apple Newton form factor has plenty of similarities with the iPhone, and Apple was in that business over 20 years ago, and stayed in that business for over 10 years. During all that time, Google did not even exist.
They come out with an OS, with no prior consumer product or OS ever, and swiftly overtake not only the iPhone, they overtake RIM in the US market too.
That is pure shock and awe!
“Unlike other consumer electronics devices, at the time you couldn't just design and manufacture a cell phone and sell it. The carriers were all-powerful, they dictated the terms, the features, the design. ALL of these other manufacturers have Apple to thank for breaking that mold.”
Ummm..Microsoft had long specfied what the specs of Win Mo should be, even from back in the days of Pocket PC. Nothing new here
“BTW, Google designed their own servers, and sells search appliance hardware.”
Google buy their server hardware from other hardware makers like Dell, HP etc. Plus servrs are not consumer products. The Newton and the Apple mac are though.
“Agree if by 2 months you mean 2 years, and by “totally clobber” you mean just edging ahead.”
2 years, and its not “just edging ahead”. According to Canalys, Android is ahead by 3.6% worldwide, and..Android is growing at a stunning 886%, while the iPhone is ony growing at a measely 61.4% (les than one tenth the growth rare of Androids). It's not even close.
Me : Remember the Apple Newton? That was over 20 years ago.
You: Who is the one who has a problem with facts? You, as usual.
Wikipedea:
"The Newton platform was an early personal digital assistant (PDA) hardware/software and the first tablet platform developed by Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.), the second platform being iOS (previously named iPhone OS), used in the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Development of the Newton platform started in 1987 and officially ended on February 27, 1998”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Newton
Who has a problem with facts here?
I think the phone competition is similar to the desk-top competition. Apple always seems to be out ahead in design and then MS platforms work to catch up.
I have used apple computers since 1985, MAC Plus. However, we are using droid phones. My wife got too many business calls dropped with AT&T, so goodbye i-phone. Apple has tied it's wagon to a diminishing star. They have an inherent competitive disadvantage. Meanwhile droid is booming and it will continue.
I would add that I was less than impressed with the coverage bars announcement and the antenna problem. I look for i-phone to be secondary in the phone market, losing significant share over the next year. I-pad has a chance to outrun others, but if they keeping making these kind of decisions, google will pass them up on the tablets.
They come out with an OS, with no prior consumer product or OS ever That claim thoroughly destroyed on the other thread.
Google buy their server hardware from other hardware makers like Dell, HP etc.
Nope. Google designs and builds their own servers. You really are having a problem with facts lately.
Each server has its own 12v battery instead of a rack sharing an UPS. The PSU is 12v-only (no 5v) for higher efficiency, so naturally the motherboard is a custom design that accepts only 12v input. The PSU (which sits at the front of the rack), battery and hard drives are attached with Velcro for quick replacement. Google gets pluck-and-chuck PSU replacement without fancy and expensive levers, latches, connectors and housings. As you see, they route a standard power cable to the front and plug it into the PSU.
Does that look like a standard HP or Dell design to you? Google's design is less expensive and FAR more energy efficient than their products.
According to Canalys, Android is ahead by 3.6% worldwide
That's edging ahead. Clobber may happen this quarter. We'll have to wait.
Development of the Newton platform started in 1987
And the first Newton as we know it wasn't made until 1993. What was first conceived in 1987 had almost no relation to what finally got produced.
Who has a problem with facts here?
With this comment, plus the comment about Google buying its servers from Dell and HP, plus the comment about Google having no OS experience, I'd have to say you.