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One thing that did interest me was Java as a mobile platform. I don’t think I ever posted this before, but there used to be something called SavaJe, which was an all-Java platform phone. They even did a proof-of-concept. Tim Bray played with it and I agreed with his conclusions. I quote,

…the notion of having a phone that any Java geek can program to do whatever—if it actually happens—isn’t just a game-changer, it’s a world-changer.

He was also probably talking to the right people at the time…

The vibe I get from my mobile-savvy friends is that a lot of people think Linux+Java is the mobile platform of the future.

I think what we have with Android is just this—a phone any Java geek can program to do whatever. This, I think, has the potential to spawn some crazy third-party development, helped along surely by Google’s $10 mn prize stash.

I’m still in doubt as to whether Android-based phones will be crazy-cool devices as the iPhone is. A platform needs to be implemented real nice on some real nice hardware to create something desirable. LG, Samsung and HTC have some nice(?) phones, but they’re not Apple. The Android videos show prototypes that are neat, but not iPhone-quick.

Unrealistic wish: iPhone hardware, Android software.

Android vs. S60
It’s fresh, not a horrific mutation of an otherwise excellent OS—EPOC. I imagine it will be slicker, faster, with no ‘signing’ hoops to jump through. No licensing costs.

Android vs. UIQ
See above.

Android vs. Windows Mobile
It’s fresh, not the ugly child of a desktop OS. I’m certain it will be slicker, faster. However, WinMo does have a bucketload of apps for it and as I understand it, WinMo is pretty easy to develop for. No licensing costs.

Android vs. mobile Linux
Which mobile Linux? Where? Motorola doesn’t count.

Android vs. OS X
It’s fresh, though OS X on the iPhone looks awful slick. I don’t know whether Android will outdo, or equal that interface. It’s a pretty high standard to live up to. Everyone knows where Apple stands and previously stood on the issue of third-party apps. There’s a fundamental difference in philosophy here.

I’m underwhelmed now that the cat is finally out of the bag. As far as a user experience goes, I think I would have been happier with a Google-branded phone. That’s not to say I wish they had gone the Apple route, just that now we have to wait and see what the manufacturers and carriers come up with. I’ll go out on a limb and say that this will probably be the best mobile OS to develop for, and ultimately use, but what of the hardware?

There are some very interesting names in the Open Handset Alliance, including LG, Motorola, Samsung, HTC, Nvidia, Broadcoam among others. I just hope it all comes together in great phones that we will all want to use, not near-misses. I can’t remember how many times I’ve seen a new phone announced and closed the browser window when I see that it eschews either 3G or WiFi or both. Give me a speedy phone with lots of connectivity and reasonable text input, and you can have my $400.

Update: On the same day, I also checked out the mobile GMail app, and that has been updated to v1.5 as well. There are some improvements, though nothing exciting.