Hot at Google IO: Android

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How can you tell what’s hot at a conference? Come to the party and check out the size of the crowds around the tables.

Answer: Android. Android is Google’s open source cell phone operating system and range of cell phones.

Look at TechMeme. The demos are awesome. Go watch them on the Android Community website. They were filmed by this guy who tells me what his favorite demo was.

It’s becoming clear I was wrong about Android (when it first came out I was skeptical). They have one huge hurdle to execute on, though: getting devices into stores so normal people will be interested.

But look at the tables. Android has the attention of developers. That’s key.

Steve Gillmor recorded the press conference with his Qik camera  along with the keynote.

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

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43 thoughts on “Hot at Google IO: Android”

  3. Success of Android as mobile OS can alter the course of history. If it is stable enough it can pave the way for google to become a free operating system provider for desktop users. They already lined up most widely used office applications and photo editing tools.

    This is one thing microsoft need to watch out carefully

    Like

  4. Success of Android as mobile OS can alter the course of history. If it is stable enough it can pave the way for google to become a free operating system provider for desktop users. They already lined up most widely used office applications and photo editing tools.

    This is one thing microsoft need to watch out carefully

    Like

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  6. I still see nothing in android that warrants all the exicitement Robert.

    The only benefit is more choice though typical of Google,any thing outside of search for them is lackluster.

    Like

  7. I still see nothing in android that warrants all the exicitement Robert.

    The only benefit is more choice though typical of Google,any thing outside of search for them is lackluster.

    Like

  8. Pingback: Nice demo of Android from Google - TechEnclave

  9. Android still needs to be put on a phone that works on a cell network. Most of the cell providers don’t seem to like open systems. Is that some how going to change?

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  10. Android still needs to be put on a phone that works on a cell network. Most of the cell providers don’t seem to like open systems. Is that some how going to change?

    Like

  13. > Is that some how going to change?

    At some point, a cell network may decide that they’d rather make money off of moving bits around than applications. Or, they’ll decide that they hate paying application developers who never seem to develop killer aps when there are folks who will happily take all the risk of app development and increasing cell phone use and the cell phone folks still get all the money for moving bits.

    Like

  14. > Is that some how going to change?

    At some point, a cell network may decide that they’d rather make money off of moving bits around than applications. Or, they’ll decide that they hate paying application developers who never seem to develop killer aps when there are folks who will happily take all the risk of app development and increasing cell phone use and the cell phone folks still get all the money for moving bits.

    Like

  15. i need someone to explain to me how android will effect me, the average cell/smartphone user.

    Like

  16. i need someone to explain to me how android will effect me, the average cell/smartphone user.

    Like

  17. While these definately make for great demos, they are eons away from becoming commercialized. Robert, you would be right in maintaining your skepticism. OEM’s want almost complete control on what gets put on their devices, and the MO’s want control of what goes on on their networks. So while developers can build all the cool stuff they want, it’s the OEMs and MOs they have to convince.

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  18. While these definately make for great demos, they are eons away from becoming commercialized. Robert, you would be right in maintaining your skepticism. OEM’s want almost complete control on what gets put on their devices, and the MO’s want control of what goes on on their networks. So while developers can build all the cool stuff they want, it’s the OEMs and MOs they have to convince.

    Like

  19. Phillip Miller, You probably shouldn’t be using a smartphone if someone has to explain things to you 🙂
    (assuming the user of a smartphone is supposed to be smart and not the phone).

    If this catches on Microsoft will be in the same soup IBM were when Microsoft decided to have a more open OS.
    MS will probably adopt Android, put up a cute interface and name it after some animal.

    Like

  20. Phillip Miller, You probably shouldn’t be using a smartphone if someone has to explain things to you 🙂
    (assuming the user of a smartphone is supposed to be smart and not the phone).

    If this catches on Microsoft will be in the same soup IBM were when Microsoft decided to have a more open OS.
    MS will probably adopt Android, put up a cute interface and name it after some animal.

    Like

  25. Why doesn’t Google release good quality videos of the Google I/O keynotes, Android demonstrations, press conferences and more? Why do we have to be satisfied for now only with the blurry videos AndroidCommunity, Scobleizer and Steve Gillmore put online?

    I guess Google is slow at releasing the direct feed from their cameras and microphone, I just wonder why they let those lower quality videos be the only ones out there for several days after the event.

    Like

  26. Why doesn’t Google release good quality videos of the Google I/O keynotes, Android demonstrations, press conferences and more? Why do we have to be satisfied for now only with the blurry videos AndroidCommunity, Scobleizer and Steve Gillmore put online?

    I guess Google is slow at releasing the direct feed from their cameras and microphone, I just wonder why they let those lower quality videos be the only ones out there for several days after the event.

    Like

  29. Pingback: Har’s Site » Blog Archive » Android Demo Videos

  30. Robert, I counted 19 people at the Android table (I may have miscounted, but it looked about that to me from your Qik video). Is that supposed to be a big number? I don’t think it is.

    There are definitely some strong positives to take away from these latest Android demos though – it’s looking a *lot* better than it has previously.

    However, I don’t think it’s all good news. Trying to copy iPhone is, I suspect a mistake. More on my blog:

    http://www.psynixis.com/blog/2008/05/29/is-google-android-copying-apple-iphone/

    Like

  31. Robert, I counted 19 people at the Android table (I may have miscounted, but it looked about that to me from your Qik video). Is that supposed to be a big number? I don’t think it is.

    There are definitely some strong positives to take away from these latest Android demos though – it’s looking a *lot* better than it has previously.

    However, I don’t think it’s all good news. Trying to copy iPhone is, I suspect a mistake. More on my blog:

    http://www.psynixis.com/blog/2008/05/29/is-google-android-copying-apple-iphone/

    Like

  32. I remember reading back in January that MIT students (you know, that place from where TMRC (the model railroad club) originated that was immortalized in Steve Levy’s book Hackers) were given a test/challenge/etc. to design code/applications on the Android.

    The results were announced a month or so ago at http://tinyurl.com/5qywtb .

    I’m keeping watch…..

    Barbara

    Like

  33. I remember reading back in January that MIT students (you know, that place from where TMRC (the model railroad club) originated that was immortalized in Steve Levy’s book Hackers) were given a test/challenge/etc. to design code/applications on the Android.

    The results were announced a month or so ago at http://tinyurl.com/5qywtb .

    I’m keeping watch…..

    Barbara

    Like

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  35. It will go nowhere. Telcomms don’t need it, average user isn’t going to care, programmers will feel its incredible limits, there is no excitement from the wider mobile community, and Google has never had any success outside of its search core, and, most importantly, you are hyping it up, always the short-sell signal right there.

    Like

  36. It will go nowhere. Telcomms don’t need it, average user isn’t going to care, programmers will feel its incredible limits, there is no excitement from the wider mobile community, and Google has never had any success outside of its search core, and, most importantly, you are hyping it up, always the short-sell signal right there.

    Like

  37. A cellphone anyone can hack? This will absolutely sell. If Google lets the average programmer hack & resell phones, this will be huge. What if there was a Gizmodo android phone or a engadget cell phone with free michaelar ringtones?

    Like

  38. A cellphone anyone can hack? This will absolutely sell. If Google lets the average programmer hack & resell phones, this will be huge. What if there was a Gizmodo android phone or a engadget cell phone with free michaelar ringtones?

    Like

  39. Pingback: Laurent’s blog » Around the web this week

  40. Pretty much every awesome developer I know is focused exclusively on iPhone development right now. Android may or may not be successful – the iPhone already is successful, and the apps undoubtedly will be as well.

    Let’s face it, Google really hasn’t had any huge successes in the development sphere in a while. Even Google gears, the ‘revolutionary’ component they introduced a long time ago isn’t even close to become widely adopted — they hardly even use it in their own products. I think Gears solves a problem that isn’t a problem for most people.

    Like

  41. Pretty much every awesome developer I know is focused exclusively on iPhone development right now. Android may or may not be successful – the iPhone already is successful, and the apps undoubtedly will be as well.

    Let’s face it, Google really hasn’t had any huge successes in the development sphere in a while. Even Google gears, the ‘revolutionary’ component they introduced a long time ago isn’t even close to become widely adopted — they hardly even use it in their own products. I think Gears solves a problem that isn’t a problem for most people.

    Like

  42. @Duane
    Well, MySpace is adopting Gears for searching e-mail, Google Reader and Google Docs already implement it, and I would really like to see it in GMail soon. If Google did it for Docs, they can do it for any other product that deserves it.

    Like

  43. @Duane
    Well, MySpace is adopting Gears for searching e-mail, Google Reader and Google Docs already implement it, and I would really like to see it in GMail soon. If Google did it for Docs, they can do it for any other product that deserves it.

    Like

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