Checking in with the pundits on Android and the Open Handset Alliance

It already seems like an eternity ago, but Google's big Open Handset Alliance / Android announcement was arguably the biggest news of the week, and it inspired a number of tech pundits and bloggers to weigh in -- and Steve Ballmer to talk some major smack. Since no one really knows how any of this is going to play out, we thought we'd round up some of the more interesting viewpoints for easy reference -- and maybe some easy laughs -- when we get our hands on the first "GPhone" in late 2008.

We gotta start with John Dvorak, who cut straight to the point and said "The Google phone is doomed." Additional money quotes include "Google is actually not a charismatic company that can make this new platform happen in a big way," and "When I see a bunch of joiners jumping on some unknown, unreleased unfinished pipe dream, I actually laugh." He even roped in the iPhone, calling it more of a "photo album than a phone." Actually, Dvorak's whole column is a great read even if just to experience the man's naked anger towards every phone ever made.

Not to be outdone at the contrarian game, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer came out swinging as well, saying "Their efforts are just some words on paper right now." Actually, he does have a point there -- although Google and HTC may have been developing that "Dream" prototype, the real news will come in late 2008 when Android devices start shipping. How does that compare to WinMo, Steve? "They have a press release, we have many, many millions of customers, great software, many hardware devices and they're welcome in our world."

Other media members seemed just as skeptical, if not as openly hostile: Robert Scoble was pumped about the open source angle, but wanted to know how Android was going to integrate with his car, saying that Microsoft's Sync was way ahead in that department. Om Malik started out calling Android "a massive PR move" and started asking why all the OHA partners seemed to be hedging their bets -- specifically HTC, which is a huge WinMo shop but also a big part of OHA.

Way on the other side of things is the always-controversial Rob Enderle, who called the smartphone market a "horserace" with Google in possession of the fastest horse: "Unless someone else figures out how to do this as well or better, Google ends up as one of the most powerful companies ever." That's a lot of assumptions, but Enderle doesn't really do it any other way.

Of course, it's lonely at the top, and apart from Enderle and Google and the OHA partners themselves, there's doesn't seem to be a lot of faith that Android will deliver. The going consensus seems to be optimistic hope tempered by a long history with committee-based projects that seem to die on the vine -- as Steven Frank put it, "A 34-company committee couldn't create a successful ham sandwich, much less a mobile application suite." Ouch.

We'd be remiss if we didn't include our own take, which, as usual, took the form of an open plea to Palm to save itself anyway it can -- which it gently ignored. Apart from that, we definitely got the press release vibe from the whole thing -- and we really, really want to see a device soon, even if just in prototype form. It seems like it'll be a long year of speculation until then.

Read -- John Dvorak in PC Magazine
Read -- Robert Scoble on Android
Read -- Om Malik calls OHA a PR move
Read -- Five questions from Om
Read -- Rob Enderle breaks down the phone space
Read -- Steven Frank on Android

[Jon Miller @ Nov 9th 2007 10:18PM]

That reminds me, I could go for a ham sandwich right now in fact...

[Spike @ Nov 10th 2007 4:51PM]

Oh shoot, I was just thinking that, too!

Man, all I got out of this entire article was a food craving! When did I last eat!?

Umm, still cautiously optimistic about Android...

[Jake E. @ Nov 9th 2007 10:22PM]

Thats great, but when are they gonna explain what the friggin thing is?!?

[JosephMohmed @ Nov 9th 2007 10:37PM]

It's a "mobile cell phone application that allows you to browse the Internet" according to my local news.

[JS @ Nov 9th 2007 10:24PM]

"Just some words on paper" < "Just some tongue on a face"

[Johan S @ Nov 9th 2007 10:43PM]

I would really like to see if anyone can make a phone that has a better browsing experience than the iPhone. Mind you I totally think it's possible (for starters ditch the QVGA fixation take advantage of the much higher resolution screens that have been demonstrated by Sanyo/Epson and Samsung).

An instant voicemail send feature would be nice too.

[RyanTV @ Nov 9th 2007 10:48PM]

The biggest drawback any device has is being carrier specific. That is a drawback for both the consumer and the device OEM.

Take the iPhone for example. Yes, Apple is getting crazy kickbacks from AT&T, but they would move many exponentially more units were they sold at all carrier outlets.

While the whole Google announcement was extremely underwhelming, they could have something if they can truly keep the platform open - both software and carrier wise.

[peestandingup @ Nov 9th 2007 10:56PM]

John Dvorak + Steve Ballmer = The 2 biggest douche bag blowhards in the tech industry

Seriously, all these guys know how to do is talk shit.

[DAZA @ Nov 10th 2007 6:19AM]

And one of them knows how to make billions.

[Chip @ Nov 9th 2007 11:39PM]

I recall the same fanfare for Symbian. IMO, Symbian UIQ is still one of the most intuitive, complete and mature OS's for smart phones. But where is it? Just because it's "open" and supported by big players doesn't mean diddly.

[john @ Nov 9th 2007 11:59PM]

Since when is Symbian "open"?

[Dylan @ Nov 10th 2007 8:32AM]

Isn't that kind of the point? Android will hopefully be an open operating system for mobile devices rather than an "open" operating system for mobile devices.

Does Google have the resources to railroad a 34 company committee into a successful Open Source project? Out of all the negative responses Engadget has collected in this post, that really the most interesting and insightful question raised.

[Chip @ Nov 10th 2007 2:33AM]

From their press releases:
About Symbian Limited

Symbian is a software licensing company that develops and licenses Symbian OS, the market-leading open operating system for advanced, data-enabled mobile phones known as smartphones.

[john @ Nov 10th 2007 12:01AM]

So, does anyone a track record for either Balmer's prognostications, or Dvorak's? Because, frankly, the only thing I ever hear them spouting is BS about "x will be a flop" (and then it isn't) or "y will be a major transformation for the industry" (and then it isn't).

I think the industry would get more value out of using them for a wind energy source than anything else.

[Randy @ Nov 10th 2007 10:04AM]

Agreed. Someone needs to start submitting Dvorak's predictions to Whoswrong.com

[liin @ Nov 10th 2007 12:54AM]

Additional money quote "When I see a bunch of talkers jumping on some if-you-haven't-already-known hot topic to gain attention, I actually laugh".

[MacBookOwner @ Nov 10th 2007 12:58AM]

You guys are just lowering the discourse by even mentioning John Dvorak's "analysis" of anything tech related, much less "starting off" with him. He brings nothing to the discussion, and its disappointing to see Engadget stooping to using him; what next, a weekly column of Rob Enderle's take on Technology Trends?

Christ.

[www.ohadev.net @ Nov 10th 2007 1:13AM]

I think android is doing for the cellphone industry what linux\unix has done with the personal computers. Making it possible for those who give a sh** and don't like the way things are to make a change. If not for the greater good, atleast it'll make their own life a little easier.

For those who are actually excited to see a change in the mobile phone industry thats not fruit branded check www.ohadev.net.

[www.ohadev.net @ Nov 10th 2007 1:14AM]

I think android is doing for the cellphone industry what linux\unix has done with the personal computers. Making it possible for those who give a sh** and don't like the way things are to make a change. If not for the greater good, atleast it'll make their own life a little easier.

For those who are actually excited to see a change in the mobile phone industry thats not fruit branded check http://www.ohadev.net.

[len @ Nov 10th 2007 1:15AM]

What crack are you smoking? Symbian is a joke. Even developers who specialize on Symbian hate it. The two greatest things Android could accomplish is to rally Linux-based efforts around a common platform, and to kill off Symbian.

[Andreas @ Nov 10th 2007 5:07AM]

Isn't it next week we'll see the release of the code? And it'll take a few moments for eager developers to compile different demos on virtual machines and on existing cell phones. I think we'll see what this thing can do much sooner than in 2008. I'm looking forward to it. But I think the biggest drawback with an open platform that will be customized for every platform that it is on is that one of the main points of the OS won't work. They want an openness as with PC's and Macs, install any program you want... but in fact there is no app that is "Android proof" since all iterations of Android will be different. You can't expect an Android app to work on any Android platform.. this might turn confusing. It's not like "this is compatible with Windows".. it's more like "this is compatible with Motorola's Android Phone.. but not the gPhone, and works to some extent on the whateverPhone" etc..

[skhawaja @ Nov 10th 2007 5:34AM]

Better to have choices than not - but who the hell knows - because the hardware could be made to receive streaming google data all the time - motion sensor ad reels when i'm talking on my flip phone with the outer LCD updating itself while I am on a call. Let me patent, trademark, copyright that right now - I had the first idea - it belongs to me - pay me!

Judas phone be damned it only has one LCD - booo - no streaming ad reels for you - bah!

[Javaflash @ Nov 10th 2007 8:04AM]

I'm a bit surprised how many will come to defend Google's Android without knowing anything or seeing any prototype. Take a moment. Clear out the smokes. All we got from that conference = a bunch of key people congratulates themselves. Nothing more. As open as Google makes Android sounds, before acquiring a significant market share (at least 2010 and beyond), Android is still another proprietary system/ecosystem.

Regarding to John Dvorak + Steve Ballmer, they're douche bags all right. It's tough to find more negative people than those two around silicon valley.

[len @ Nov 10th 2007 12:13PM]

Steve shows a rigged demo six months before product release: ZOMG the iPhone is awesome!

People point out its known limitations, which were explicitly stated by Apple: Shut up! It's not out yet! You don't know what Apple's plans are! The iPhone will do everything!

The iPhone is then exactly what Apple told us it would be.

Google announces Android: *yawn*

Morons criticize it based on their ridiculously poor understanding of mobile phones and mobile software: They're right! It is a press release! It's vaporware! Why are you defending it? How can you possibly believe what Google is telling us?

Unlike the iPhone, an SDK for Android will be available in two days. We'll know exactly what it is capable off, and we won't have to hack it to use it to its full potential. When the first device is on the market, an "ecosystem" for it will already exist.

[AdamY @ Nov 10th 2007 9:00AM]

Mad props Engadget for calling Scoble and Endearle "media members" instead of "journalists."

It's a fine distinction, but a telling and important one. Kudos to you, and your website!

[Josh Jacobs @ Nov 10th 2007 1:03PM]

I guess I'll go renew my contract now.

[applefreak @ Nov 10th 2007 1:48PM]

HAY I like reading John Dvorak columns, even if he hates cell phones

[Javaflash @ Nov 10th 2007 1:56PM]

Len, why people hack the "awesome" iPhone? Please think about that question before labeling others.

[Cellenin @ Nov 10th 2007 11:45PM]

on Paper or the Net, The Android sounds assume..until you hear the part about the carriers having the last say about about features. So in the end it wont be any different than the generic OS that runs on many phones...well except for the Google logo embeded throught the menus, links to the web and on the outter body of the device. same ol' BS with a fancy logo. i will stick to my IPhone and Nokia/Symbian.

[Drew @ Nov 10th 2007 11:49PM]

Android would be so f!*

[Drew @ Nov 10th 2007 11:51PM]

Apparently my comment got caught short but i was saying that it would be awesome if it worked like linux. Especially if you could unlock a compatible phone to android. All dreams right now but that's all we got to go on.

[engadget.z.gurgeh @ Nov 11th 2007 5:27AM]

Google has a reputation to take care of. They are currently seen as incredibly good, almost godlike, at engineering. When they go out and announce something that generates a lot of buzz, they are obliged to make something good of it or lose valuable goodwill. Apple may be in the same situation.

I think this is why many people in the forums, who would normally scoff at a boring press release like the one we saw, are excited about this. If Microsoft announced something as the next big world changing thing and it turned out to suck, nobody would be surprised and MS would not lose any reputation. Google still has something to lose. They still have not released anything embarrassing.

It will surely take years to significantly break through with a mobile OS, but I personally believe that more phones running Android will be sold than, say, OSX in 2009.