Google opens the floodgates, open-sources Android

Making good on a promise it made at the very beginning, Google has today announced that the source code underpinning its Android platform for mobile devices is available for free to anyone who wants a crack at it. The code is being provided through the newly-announced Android Open Source Project, which will give the public at large the opportunity to make contributions to the platform's all-important core -- a first for a mobile operating system with true mass-market appeal. Theoretically, the move should position Android to benefit from a fairly democratic, speedy evolution, and it'll also give anyone with a few spare chips lying around the chance to build a smartphone of their own without shelling out a dime in licensing fees. We're really looking forward to seeing Android pop up on a whole bunch of devices for which it was never intended -- but we have to admit, in a sick, totally twisted sort of way, we're looking forward to some truly deranged individual porting Windows Mobile to the G1, too.

[Ray @ Oct 21st 2008 11:03AM]

In other news, Steve Ballmer has crapped his pants... again

[mickey mouse @ Oct 21st 2008 11:50AM]

From the consumer point of view, I am not sure whether this is really what I want. Ballmer's closed platform might seam more appealing to me for this old fashioned reason called security.

[Morgyn @ Oct 21st 2008 3:22PM]

Obscurity is not security

[Mystech @ Oct 21st 2008 12:34PM]

Oh yes, closed-source is the way to go for security. Just look how secure closed-source voting booth software has proven to be. :-)

[jorvay @ Oct 21st 2008 12:55PM]

@ Mickey Mouse

If you can get a virus running on my run-of-the-mill open source computer operating system, I'll buy you dinner. If you CAN'T get a virus on my closed-source windows operating system, then you probably didin't finish elementary school.
Sure popularity of the OS is a factor, but that doesn't change the fact that the inherent security found in linux-based operating systems works. Nothing touches my kernel unless I explicitly say so.

I can only assume that the same can be said for Android.

[OneLove @ Oct 21st 2008 1:05PM]

This will definitely scare some phone companies away.

[Joe @ Oct 21st 2008 1:41PM]

With the Android phone, you can brain-wipe the chips, compile the software on a system under your control, and have a reasonable assurance that noone has engineered in a "back door" - at least if you trust whoever vetted the source code for you.

With the "closed source" security model you can be virtually certain that some kind of back door exists, and you operate on faith that noone is exploiting it for nefarious purpose.

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:04AM]

This is what I have been waiting for! Now let get cracking on a HTC touch HD android rom! =]

[Marcus @ Oct 21st 2008 11:31AM]

Hell yeah! The Touch HD is truly one of the best smart phones out there and a true competitor to a specific, *cough* overrated *cough* product... With the Android OS on it, it's impossible to not go get one :)

[fett327 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:41AM]

I agree. Except that HTC already said the Touch HD will not be coming to the US. So that makes us stateside people sad. Although I agree that i cant wait for this OS to get ported to any and every phone/device out there.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/htc-not-bringing-touch-hd-to-the-states/

[TareX @ Oct 21st 2008 12:05PM]

Good idea, expect that the Touch HD doesn't have a compass (for street view) or a keyboard (serious Android tweaking needed to overcome that).

But on second thought, Street View is as useful as my 13 year old Gameboy somewhere in the attic. And Enkin (Live Mode) seems to be many months away...

[funnyperson1 @ Oct 21st 2008 12:47PM]

I for one would LOVE to see this ported to the Blackjack, we have a couple sitting around that could use some Android love.

[KarlW @ Oct 21st 2008 12:39PM]

I'd quite like an Android implementation on the iPhone. I like the iPhone's OS, but I'm curious about Android, and I'd like to give it a spin.

If one ever crops up, it'll probably be jailbreak-only, but that's alright.

[Iceman @ Oct 21st 2008 11:08AM]

I wonder if I can put Android on MY phone..

[aykee @ Oct 21st 2008 11:09AM]

mama mia lets get going............hoooooooowaaaaaaaaa

[Todd @ Oct 21st 2008 11:10AM]

Is the software stack for the radio and carrier network connection still missing? If so, Open Source Android is WiFi only, like the iPod Touch. :(

[windexh8er @ Oct 21st 2008 12:08PM]

I'm sure the stack is going to be MIA... There's no way that any of the carriers are going to feel comfortable putting the software to directly access the air interface out there. If that does happen, just watch for all kinds of interesting security hacks shortly after.

[Jim @ Oct 21st 2008 7:09PM]

...If you need an extra piece of software to make it work like a phone, then why is everyone saying that you can put it on a piece of hardware and have a working phone?

[Justin @ Oct 21st 2008 11:11AM]

Android for everyone. Win win win.

[jimbeam @ Oct 21st 2008 11:14AM]

Now lets piss Steve off and get it on the iPhone!!

[c-dub @ Oct 21st 2008 11:17AM]

+1, let see how long it'll take for a craptastic press release from Apple saying Android can't/won't be supported on the iPhone...

Lets get the knives and make some Apple pie baby, muuhahaha..

[Zak @ Oct 21st 2008 11:27AM]

If Steve hasn't cared that people are jailbreaking the iPhone, why would he care about Android? And why would he issue a press release about it? Haha. You Apple haters are silly.

[c-dub @ Oct 21st 2008 12:24PM]

Not an iPhone hater at all, Ive had the old one and the 3g..just not that impressed by it. I do, however, like the Ipod touch..

[Zak @ Oct 21st 2008 12:35PM]

O RLY? You want to piss Steve off, and you think Apple releases craptastic press releases (even though they aren't going to release anything regarding Android), but you're not an Apple hater.

Uh huh. Want to try again?

[Mikey @ Oct 21st 2008 5:58PM]

Douche-tastic again, Zak. We can always count on you.

[Phoenix @ Oct 21st 2008 11:14AM]

I'm really interested in having Android on my kaiser, but right now I'm not happy losing WinMo.

I, for one, will only be interested once their is either a proper dual boot version, or one with a better interface and more mature software(Manilla 2D?)

[Ray @ Oct 21st 2008 1:55PM]

Same way i feel, but sadly enough, open source Android wont have access to your cellular bands. Itd be nice to run, but if i cant even send a text message out, whats the point?

Im sure someone will think of a way, but its not likely or soon.

[Phoenix @ Oct 21st 2008 4:16PM]

Perhaps that could be part of the dual boot: A slimmed down version of the WinMO part of the ROM runs in the background, and the Android bit accesses the cellular network through this...

[Jeff @ Oct 21st 2008 11:14AM]

So where the heck are all the people who should have received these devices yesterday and today? Is there a shipping delay of some sort nobody has told us about?

[oZ @ Oct 21st 2008 11:23AM]

Mine arrives today, but I'm in the last region to get shipping notifications. If you head over to tmonews.com, you'll see a lot of very excited G1 owners.

[Nihility @ Oct 21st 2008 11:23AM]

Someone please port it to the iPhone. I'm sick and tired of being tied to just one computer, having very little control over my content and so on.
I just had to clear out the entire phone because my laptop died and there's no way to just move the library to another computer and keep moving.
I'm upset.

[chefgon_ign @ Oct 21st 2008 11:28AM]

Can't you solve those problems by just ditching iTunes? I don't think you need a whole new OS on your phone.

[chefgon_ign @ Oct 21st 2008 11:26AM]

Now somebody get cracking on the T-Mobile Dash port. The Android OS does, in theory, natively support QVGA hardware with no touch screen, but if you load it up with those settings in the current emulator it's an unworkable mess because nothing scales properly.

[Mike I. @ Oct 21st 2008 1:03PM]

Agree. I've been holding out on replacing my Dash because I've been hoping there would be an Android port for it.

[android_now @ Oct 21st 2008 11:28AM]

That is just great news. http://digg.com/gadgets/Android_Source_code_released_2

[htd @ Oct 21st 2008 11:34AM]

discard that gJava part, merge this with the maemo project and I will be happy...

[L @ Oct 21st 2008 11:52AM]

"Discard the gJava part" means that there will be little left of Android...

[Kimleng @ Oct 21st 2008 11:35AM]

I've been running Android on my HTC Touch for awhile now. While functionality is limited to basic calling/SMS/browsing/maps/music thus far, I already see huge potential. The Touch community has been waiting for this day!!! Now the speed of progress should increase significantly.

[F @ Oct 21st 2008 11:41AM]

Cellphone viruses, anyone?

[ethana2 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:57AM]

I think you missed something....

[Yem @ Oct 21st 2008 11:42AM]

Bring on the ports. Probably not feasible for a basement hacker to perform but hopefully at least one of SonyEricsson, Nokia or Samsung will see the writing on the wall and start putting out the goods.

[Sergio @ Oct 21st 2008 11:46AM]

Only thing ugly is you.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:56AM]

Ok I can already see this..
All the next phones released will have people commenting; "But can it Android!?" ;x

[tpadekar @ Oct 21st 2008 12:29PM]

You missed the word 'run'.

Seriously though... I don't think there'd be much merit to that, since being open source allows people to tweak it to adapt it to any platform. So, theoretically, it could run on any platform.

[Bert @ Oct 21st 2008 12:43PM]

I just accidentally a whole android can you guys help?

[jsh4ft @ Oct 21st 2008 12:12PM]

I will pay money for a stable port to the N95-3 that maintains most functionality.

[Sarig @ Oct 21st 2008 12:25PM]

I'm not really sure if I'd like to have Android on my n95. It has a d-pad, no touchscreen or anything like that. And QVGA.

[Jeremy @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:55PM]

So.. Who is gonna VM some phones so I can just put all my phone connections on 1 device and let them run wild. I'm tired of a pager, a i760, and a VX8700.

multiple radio chips single phone - incomming =)

[Tuti @ Oct 21st 2008 12:13PM]

Let's work for free. Mobile companies will thanks us.

We work, they take the money for our free work!, nice!

[Yem @ Oct 21st 2008 12:52PM]

Welcome to the 21st Century