arstechnica.com — Third-party Android application developers are beginning to question Google's commitment to making Android an open platform following the revelation that a select few developers have been receiving special access to new versions of the Android SDK under non-disclosure agreements.
Jul 16, 2008 View in Crawl 4
kirbymorphJul 16, 2008
I don't know how the advancement of SDK's works (do unfinished products typically see regular SDK updates or could the updates be in a pseudo beta test with these finalist developers?), but the fact Google is being so secretive about it is a tough pill to swallow. With the proverbial cat out of the bag, Google should just step up and set things straight before this gets misconstrued.
phocion55Jul 16, 2008
I AT LEAST want a freakin CHANGELOG of what they're working on! I'm currently hacking around some lower-level features on Android that MAY have very well been addressed in recent (but unreleased) revisions.I don't want to waste my time doing these things if they've already been fixed.....but how the hell am I to know if everything is shrouded in secrecy?
zip000Jul 16, 2008
The OpenMoko looks pretty cool, but they seem to be always sold out, and they also seem to be way over the price that I am willing to pay for a phone.
drivenmindJul 16, 2008
Muler, I mean this in the nicest possible way... you have no idea what you're talking about. The developers that competed in the Google competition, the sames ones that have worked diligently to help get Android where it is today have been cut off at the knees. Google as evangilized it's openess and intentions to be transparent, especially when compared to other platforms, such as Apple's iPhone SDK.
drivenmindJul 16, 2008
The competition was merely designed to foster innovation. It was never advertised as "You have to be in the top 50 or else your left in the dust". Many developers have sunk their heart and soul into furthering the development of this platform. Without them the Android platform would not be where it is today. Not only has the new SDK been reserved for "Google's pet applications (potential business partners), but it has also stopped providing valuable information and updates. The discussion groups are often void from the Google staff that once frequented them with suggestions and advice. It is truly deplorable that Google would not at least make an effort to communicate what is going on.If being secretive is an underlying business strategy for Google, it goes directly in the face of what they said they intended to do. You really can't have a foot in both worlds and be popular.
runnybabbitJul 16, 2008
Thank you aladrin.
gorftronJul 16, 2008
Dugg for burying me.
Closed AccountJul 17, 2008
I think its more to do with having limited funds in order to do the necessary mass production as well as the marketing. Give it some time until they make enough money. They don't want to risk anything by over producing and having a large stock and not being able to sell it. You have to compare them to Apple and Google.. look at the funds, name recognition and distribution channels. OpenMoko has none of the above and has to sign up with a bunch of distributors and probably go into joint ventures, whereas Apple and Google control majority - so OpenMoko can't compete (for now). Support them and maybe they will be able to compete in the near future. :)