An-droid a go-go

With the gap between the number of cell phones and PC's widening every day, phones are looking to replace PC's as the main gateway to the internet. And obviously when a web related field grows, Google wants in.


Google announced Android last November along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance (a consortium of 34 hardware, software and telecom companies) to advance open standards (royalty free platforms) on mobile devices.

Android, an operating system and a software platform for mobile devices; is based on the Linux OS.

The main difference between Android and its competitors like the Symbian OS, Windows Mobile and the iPhone is that it is an open platform, which allows developers to create applications that take full advantage of what the handset has to offer.

The Android OS is limited only by the hardware it runs on. If the phone supports accelerometers, accelerated 3D graphics, compasses, GPS, etc., so will Android.
Here's a video that shows the kind of customization Android allows.




To create interest in the OS, Google announced the Android Developer Challenge, with $10 million in prize money to the creators of the 50 best applications for the system. Which gave birth to some really amazing applications:


Biowallet - Makes your eye the key to your phone.
Commandro - GPS based social networking.
Eco2Go - Helps in tracking and reducing your carbon footprint.
TuneWiki - A karaoke-style music app that syncs lyrics from its server.
Android Scan - Scan any barcode and instantly search dozens of online and local stores.

People looking out for a iPhone might want to hold out a bit more.
All major companies like HTC, Samsung and Motorola have an Android phone in the works and the first one will be out by Fall 2008. Keep and eye out for the Dell Alienware phone as well.


Android? Sounds very promising, doesn't it?

(For those wondering, Android a go-go happens to be the name of a computer on star-trek)