The Premiere Episode of ‘This Week In Android’!
Host Mark Jeffrey started the show with co-hosts Lon Harris and Jeff Ammons walking through the basics of the Android mobile open platform:
It’s a stack of Mobile devices including an operating system, middleware and key applications. It is based on the Linux kernal, and applications are written using Java via a special set of Google-developed Java libraries. Anyone can make an Android phone. It is an open platform. Open = good. Also you can have a variety of carriers, you’re not just locked to AT&T like the iPhone. If you use Google Voice, your number is unbelievably transportable — which spooks carriers. Android allows applications to run simultaneously — you can have music going while checking your email, etc. Lastly, Android is not necessarily a phone OS. Tablets at CES this year were running Android. People have Android running on microwaves and washing machines.
Next, they discussed the Nexus One: Google-spec’d hardware made specifically for Android OS. Manufactured by HTC Corp. The Android Market for apps does not require an approval process for applications, referring to the notoriously obscure approval that developers face when posting to the App Store. There was a discussion sparked by Lon about whether ‘red light’ applications should be controlled by platform-makers. Mark believed there was a reasonable case for some clear cut porn apps whereas Lon believed everything should be entirely open.
App of the Week was doubleTwist. Vidya Ravella VP of Marketing filled in for Jon Lech Johansen, co-founder and CTO. doubleTwist is an desktop app that allows the user to seamlessly import media purchased on Amazon (or anywhere else) and upload it your mobile device.
Next on Android Open Lines, Chris Soyars, Android Addict and developer described two utilities he was building: one to help users install modified or upgraded versions of Android on their device and another to enable push notification without polling.
Highlights from Android News, Guest Host Melissa Rowley said that Venture capitalist Bill Gurley said in a recent post on his blog, ‘Above The Crowd’, that asking ‘iPhone or Android’ was the wrong question. It doesn’t matter if Android is better than iPhone, it just has to be better than everything else — and it is. He went on to say that over time, Android will own the vastly large lower-end market and Apple will own the high-end: exactly the same scenario as PC’s versus Mac’s in the early 90’s.
Question: Is Gurley right? Mark believed he was by and large, citing the Billshrink ‘total cost of ownership’ chart that showed Android devices cost roughly half of what the iPhone costs. Lon wasn’t so sure.
Google Free Wifi: Trojan Horse?
Over the Holidays Google generously provided free Wi-Fi to travelers at airports across the country, ostensibly as a goodwill gesture. But then, there were reports that Google’s free Wi-Fi service suddenly began immediately forwarding users to Google.com/Phone, the new webstore that sells the Nexus One.
Question: Was this a dirty trick? Not at all, Mark believed. Lon fully agreed, saying he basically got a lot more out of the deal than was taken from him.
Trefis.com estimates that it will add $20 billion to Google’s market cap.
Question: DOES it really? Lon says no, Mark says probably.
Follow show host Mark Jeffrey: @markjeffrey.
If you would like to be on the next show, email twiandroid@thisweekin.com
I don’t understand where is the episode
Congrats on the new show and it is awesome. We needed a good Android show. And having Mark Jeffrey as the host freaking rocks. Loved The Pocket and the Pendant. Keep up the awesome work.
@merlik
Hi,
Great show, waiting for episode #2 but pleeease use another player
Quicktime sucks on FF and doesn’t work on Chrome.
A youtube alternative whould be great.
Thanks.
Decent show, here’s some technical notes:
- sound quality is decent, but pretty quiet.
- there are some pretty big spikes in volume, such that when I compensate for #1 by turning things up, I get pounded on occasion
- consider a linkdump for all content discussed
- Some of the comments almost seem suited to a video podcast, discussions of screen sharing, “look at this connector,” etc
Finally, some content comments:
- I’m not on twitter… any other way to enter to N1 contest?
- The string of the mini-usb is not that there are so many adapters, it’s that I only need one adapter to power 5 different devices I already have at home.
This Week In Android is a great show.
I am a “tech guy” in that I like gadgets and I’m comfortable with the internet and computers. I’m not a programmer or developer but, an entrepreneur, and learned of the show by way of TWiST.
I think the show is great. The format is great.
You definitely shine.
What’s up, Lon? Great content. Your podporting is stellar.
About Google:
I don’t think that Google should be painted with the same brush as Microsoft concerning the “free wifi”, then being directed to a page.
It’s 2010 business. We’re in the time of freemium models, crazy distribution points, and unprecedented connectivity, all for some “clicks”. It’s like Hulu.
More than MS’s past, stress the fact that:
they did make it available
it was of great benefit, and
the “cost” was some second nature navigation.
“Sorry I missed that.
Glad I caught TWiAndroid.”
Catch you on the next episode.
rafail216@gmail.com
Some hopefully constructive feedback:
1) The video stopping & loading when I wanted to post a comment is annoying
2) There’s an issue, I like podcasts, I like the subject matter (Droid user) but sorry the hosts just seem disinterested in the subject. Compare them to Leo Laporte, John Dvorak, Adam Curry, Michael Butler etc. etc. and the personality just does not draw you in. Couldn’t make it past the 10 minute mark, sorry.
Great show, hope you guys keep pushing this out.
Now for request, since it is a android show can you guys find a way yo let the video to play back on an android phone like the nexus one.
Maybe add it to the media fly network.
[...] in Android #1 I’m catching up with my podcasts and right now listening (and watching) to This Week in Android #1. I have some comments to [...]
Very nice 1st show.
Congratulations. I’ve been waiting for this some time.
I looking forward for the episodes to come. Great!
It would be even better, if you could provide and Ogg vorbis audio stream, and HTML5/Ogg Theora video embedded. Android is an open system, and the video/audio should be, too
Anyway, I’m very happy you do this show.
Thanks a lot.
I’ll hit any sponsors fur sure!
Bye
Ryo
How about an audio only feed? I like to listen to my podcasts on the go.