One of the biggest issues with Google’s Android mobile operating system is fragmentation. There are certain apps and features that can only be used by people running the latest version of Android (Eclair), which leaves early adopters in the dust. Engadget Mobile postulates that Google will be addressing the fragmentation issue in the next two Android builds — Froyo (frozen yogurt) and Gingerbread — by relying on the Android Marketplace.
We’ve been given reason to believe that the company will start by decoupling many of Android’s standard applications and components from the platform’s core and making them downloadable and updatable through the Market, much the same as they’ve already done with Maps. In all likelihood, this process will take place over two major Android versions, starting with Froyo and continuing through Gingerbread. Notice that we said apps and components, meaning that some core elements of Android — input methods, for instance — should get this treatment. This way, just because Google rolls out an awesome new browser doesn’t mean you need to wait for HTC, Samsung, or whomever made your phone to roll it into a firmware update, and for your carrier to approve it — almost all of the juicy user-facing stuff will happen through the Market.
It’s a great move that’s overdue. One advantage Apple and Palm have, with iPhone OS and WebOS respectively, is that both companies offer a unified experience. Android can look and feel drastically different depending on the phone, manufacturer, and carrier. Using a unified source like the Android Marketplace should help tidy things up…unless you go with a carrier like AT&T, which offers a crippled version of Android on the Motorola Backflip (*sigh*).
I know a few of you are interested in getting a new phone in the near future. Does this rumor give you more faith in what Google is trying to accomplish with Android?
I heard Palm shares are down to like $3 a share… rough
@Shockwave562 Some financial analysts have valued the stock at less than $1.
yikes, I also read that Bono of U2 pumped like 450 million in to Palm, wrong move I guess
@Shockwave562 It wasn't Bono personally. He's part of Elevation Partners. On the plus side, at least the company was smart enough to back BioWare and sell it to EA at a healthy profit.
nice, at least they've had some successes then.
That is pretty rough for Palm, especially since I always remember them being pretty big players in this field.
I think that there needs to be some sort of unification, and if they haven't provided it yet then this is definitely a step in the right direction. Google is fast becoming a power player with their phones, but I still don't know if they are the direction I will wander when it comes time for a new phone. If the iPhone goes to verizon they will be a possibility, but microsoft's mobile 7 OS is VERY tempting to me as well. That, unfortunately, won't be out until the holiday season though and I'm afraid that might be a little too late this time.
I do like the names for their next projects, they didn't happen to partner with Edy's and Archway to come up with those names as a marketing ploy did they??
Yes. I hope Google doesn’t lock their store down where it is the only option for software (damn ATT).