Paranoid Andriod
Topic: apple, code|
Google just released a preview video of its new Andriod mobile platform. Many have made jokes about the video - Sergey Brin’s hangover look or how cold it is. The real joke, however, is the 10-million-dollar developer “challenge”. Its not a challenge - its a PR gimmick. Google’s attempt to attract media spotlight.
Shouldn’t I be enthusiastic about this challenge - myself being a developer and all. No. The real developers, the ones that are passionate about building apps on the next cool platform, don’t do it for the money. They do it for the heck of it - or for fame amongst peers. Sure, there will be plenty of developers that will take up Andriod’s challenge - after all, Google is known for being very developer-friendly. And therein lies Android’s pitfall. Courting developers from the outset.
Again, being a developer myself, I appreciate and agree that developers rule. But not when it comes to building mobile apps. The apps that run on your cellphone should have the simplest and the least confusing user interface. The unfortunate fact is that developers suck at designing simple user-interfaces. By definition, developers are more analytical than the average user and therefore can handle - in fact, expect - complex user interfaces. Thats why ALL mobile apps are too cumbersome and suck ass. They are designed by developers. Except the iPhone.
Why did the iPhone succeed? Yes, there was a lot of hype built in - but the key reason for its success is its darn simplicity. And why is the iPhone so simple to use. Its squarely because the user-interfaces were developed by designers, not developers. Designers are more creative than analytical. They understand the average user. They *get* the simple user experience.
Apple shunned the developers by releasing the iPhone without an SDK. Google shunned the cellphone users by releasing an SDK without a phone. The iPhone is already an household name. And Andriod?
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November 13th, 2007 at 15:00
I’ve to disagree with you here.
“The apps that run on your cellphone should have the simplest and the least confusing user interface. The unfortunate fact is that developers suck at designing simple user-interfaces.”
How can you assume all the apps are going to be developed by ppl who suck in designing? Of course they’re going to be some bad ones (just like computer software), but its a guarantee there’ll be plenty of gems too.
Plus, you’re wrong to assume that all apps are just about the UI. Its also about making use of the underlying power of the platform. I’m sure you know there’s more to iPhone than just the UI. Its the OS thats running on it that makes all the beautiful things possible in iPhone.
“Apple shunned the developers by releasing the iPhone without an SDK”
Didn’t you see how many 3rd party apps cropped up even without an SDK? BTW, Apple _is_ going to release an SDK soon!
I think the whole Android platform is not about replacing iPhone (even though some ppl. think that’s the only phone). Its about giving power to the users/developers/designers/hackers. Its about making mobile content inexpensive. Just imagine what the state of computers would’ve been if all platforms were closed?
Let’s say there’s a cool-useful app in Android running phones that the iPhones doesn’t have. What do you guys with the closed iPhone do? Just wait and pray to God that Steve Jobs will approve this app!!
I think Android has a lot of potential. It all depends on how flexible the platform is and how many mobile manufacturers adopt it. Don’t underestimate the power of open platforms!
November 13th, 2007 at 15:20
One more thing:
I’ve read so many times that Japan, Korea, etc are way, way ahead in mobile phones. It can do so many cool things-video,voice recognition, payments,etc. I also read recently (Slashdot) that mobile phones will soon replace PC’s in Japan. We are no way near that here in US. Maybe Android will open up the mobile market here.
November 13th, 2007 at 15:33
Karthik-
I’m only talking about the app that people use and care about. Yes, a phone is not about UI only. But guess what, UI sells. Especially on a mobile phone. Thats where there are real-estate constraints. So you have to be more creative to make a better UI.
Also, I am all for open-platforms. Open is good. However, Android is “too open” for its own good. Each device manufacturer is gonna modify the heck out of it to suit their offerings. And guess what, it is going to end up like the different flavours of Linux…
November 13th, 2007 at 15:44
“Each device manufacturer is gonna modify the heck out of it to suit their offerings.”
I agree that this is possible. But as long as the app I write runs on all devices, there’s nothing to worry about. The apps are java bytecode, remember.
November 13th, 2007 at 17:38
A timely post on 37 Signals
http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/695-ask-37signals-why-os-x-and-not-linux
“There are just too many disciplines involved that programmers are not naturally good at and don’t have sufficient levels of taste to prepare masterfully. And programmers constitute the vast majority of builders in the open source community.”
November 13th, 2007 at 19:40
Maybe. But that doesn’t mean that all Android apps will be developed by “tasteless programmers” alone. Similarly, not all Apple products is “the most beautiful thing built ever”.
At the end of the day, it all depends on what you care for the most. Do you want your phone to be beautiful but locked, closed and controlled by corporates, or do you want it to be not-so-beautiful but open, lots of 3rd party apps and hack-it-anyway you want (because its yours)?
To each its own.
P.S: I think you’re assuming (wrongly I think) that Android competes with iPhone. No, its not.
Its just a software platform that targets different needs/people. Just like Windows/OS X/Linux.
November 14th, 2007 at 14:16
Bravo. Good counterpoint, Kartik.