Google Android trashing Linux’s good

Google is one of the most ubiquitous brands alive today and typically partner organizations benefit from that star power. But Linux-based Google Android may be broadcasting the wrong message.

In 2005, “Google acquired Android Inc., a small startup company based in Palo Alto, CA . . . At the time, little was known about the functions of Android Inc. other than they made software for mobile phones. This began rumors that Google was planning to enter the mobile phone market, although it was unclear at the time what function they might perform in that market,” according to Wikipedia.

The Android team continued on at Google, developing the Linux-based mobile operating system.

Fast forward three years to 2008 and Google has just released an early development kit for Android to developers. But, the development kit does not include any source code, and that has developers frustrated, according to MercuryNews (registration required).

It has companies interested in Android wondering, what has Google been doing for the last three years? “For the first time, developers are griping about Google the way they used to complain about Bill Gates & Co. The search giant’s phone software is buggy, they say, and lacks key features.”

And, because Android is Linux-based, the penguin will be receiving lots of peripheral attention. If Android succeeds, consumer confidence in Linux will improve as callers begin to use it on a daily basis. If Android fails, Linux may receive negative attention and lose the support of the consumer masses.

Either way, the pressure is on for Google Android to deliver quickly because “Microsoft, which has been shipping its Windows Mobile operating system for five years, said programmers have created more than 18,000 applications to run on Windows Mobile devices - everything from astrology charts to business expense management tools.”

Source :http://tech.blorge.com