Dream G2 doesn't get the irony of ripping off an open-source OS

So we guess we gave Sciphone too much credit when we thought its G2 was running real, actual, genuine Android. "Why would anyone ape the user interface," we thought, "when the codebase is available to whomever wants it?" Silly us! Turns out the G2's guts have absolutely nothing to do with Android other than the fact that the UI does a commendable job of looking like the real thing, though the presence of a stylus gives credibility to its KIRF roots. The hardware (which even gets a "Google" logo on the back) actually doesn't look that bad -- and it's loaded with some apps that you won't find on a G1 -- but we'll hedge our bets and wait for a new HTC, thank you very much.

[Via Android Central]

[Ghen @ Jan 15th 2009 1:36PM]

wow I love the Google logo. thats so icing.

[ch4s3r @ Jan 15th 2009 1:38PM]

Why? WHY?

[??? @ Jan 15th 2009 5:41PM]

Cos the Chinese want to stand on their own two feet. Cos they want to have THEIR own standard. They don't want Android because it was made by foreigners. They have a really bad inferiority complex running.

[Like_A_Glove @ Jan 16th 2009 5:51AM]

@ ???

How much do you know about inferiority complex? How about superiority complex of yours? Don't you understand that they're just doing it for a living? Per qualche dollaro in più, just like you and me. And they love Android beyond your majestic noble head could ever imagined, they just plain stupid in understanding anything that's not written in Chinese. Though slowly, but surely, they will find a way to squeeze Android into their final products. You just sit back and watch.



P.S.
There are of course over a dozen of factors that shackled Android's dream of taking over China, but none of them are inferiority related. they are localization, time frame, bribery, investment costs, short-term profitability, marketing, distribution network, pricing, intercorporate relationships..et cetera ... not to mention the relatively low public demand for such a phone. Besides, the current cellphone industry in China is working............. just fine.

[Doug @ Jan 15th 2009 1:39PM]

So it "ISN'T" the new G2? )-;

[broli @ Jan 15th 2009 1:43PM]

I was actually excited about this one. To find out it's not really running Android and doesn't even include WIFI which it advertised is a HUGE disappointment. Shame on you sciphone.

[MadMike @ Jan 15th 2009 1:44PM]

Let me guess, Dual SIMS. WTF is with the dual sims anyway?

Who rips off a FREE OS? Why not just use the FREE OS!

[Derry Quinn @ Jan 15th 2009 1:46PM]

That would be far too handy.

[Ghost_MH @ Jan 15th 2009 3:19PM]

Some people like to have the ability to have a phone with two numbers. A work number and a private number at the same phone...Or, phones from two providers if you're in an area where coverage sucks or you travel a lot and you fear being dinged with roaming charges...Yet, you don't want to carry to phones or have to pop the phone open to change SIM cards.

[Bob @ Jan 15th 2009 8:09PM]

WTF is broccoli anyways? If you want ripoffs, you've come to the right place.

[Derry Quinn @ Jan 15th 2009 1:45PM]

W-U-H

[Juaquin @ Jan 15th 2009 1:45PM]

Ha, they cloned a free and open source OS. What next, fake Linux distros?

[Derry Quinn @ Jan 15th 2009 1:47PM]

Ubontu and YellowFrogLinux spring to mind...

[Xenoterranos @ Jan 15th 2009 2:49PM]

Lol,
Ubonto 8.11th - Jumpy Jackalope Edition 2009

[Pnutnam @ Jan 15th 2009 1:46PM]

plus the new HTC will come in pink........meh

[Musicman247 @ Jan 15th 2009 1:46PM]

I like how it says "My Contract Is Empty" on the Contacts tab. lol

[Eugene @ Jan 15th 2009 3:43PM]

your powers of sensing iphone clones are especially strong today i guess. when i saw it, i said that's definitely an iphone.

[Pradster @ Jan 15th 2009 1:50PM]

As if this wasnt enough it also has a charger shaped like the android logo!!

[broli @ Jan 15th 2009 1:52PM]

Probably lead painted too.

[insky @ Jan 15th 2009 2:06PM]

I'd buy it just for the charger. Of course I haven't gotten an Android phone yet and if I decide to go with Palm I may look a bit silly.

[Kris120890 @ Jan 15th 2009 2:02PM]

Android isn't free is it. I thought you had to fund the project through the android alliance or whatever its called.. Does anyone know if you can actually change the Android theme. The only thing I don't actually like is the theme. I would have thought it would have actually been easier to join the android alliance or whatever they call it than to create you're own software.

[Johan Kr�ger-Haglert @ Jan 21st 2009 8:50PM]

Yeah, one would though so, but then wouldn't it have been easier to just keep on using Redhat, Debian and Slackware? Oh no, all hail Debian-based Linux dist #1100! This one will surely be the one!

[joe23521 @ Jan 15th 2009 2:03PM]

Gotta love the green charger.

[TareX @ Jan 15th 2009 2:47PM]

you guys blow. That's the last tip I make to you.

[Mr. Ford @ Jan 15th 2009 5:45PM]

Huh?

[jake @ Jan 15th 2009 2:59PM]

Are you sure you got those number's right? The G1 launched with applications so its definitely not zilch applications. Also I expect the iPhone should have more than just a thousand apps given they launched earlier with paid apps and a large installed base. Keep in mind the Android app market launched with basically no install base and up to now still only has completely free apps.

[David @ Jan 15th 2009 6:10PM]

By my count there are 510 android apps and 142 android games available in the android market, almost all of them are free too. Of course, iphone has had a head start, being out for much longer, so it's expected to have more software available (how odd eh...an Apple product having more software than the competitor).

[Setnev @ Jan 15th 2009 6:52PM]

Hey shugg, enjoy your 1100 flashlight apps that you have in the AppStore all of which you have pay for and i will enjoy all my completely FREE applications that arent craptastic lightsabre and flashlight apps. Let me know when Apple gives away the same applications that are the on the G1 for free. As an Android Developer, I dont need a $1200 computer to make a lightsabre app for my phone, i just open up my PC running Vista and code the application and upload it to my phone. Thats the beauty of opensource, its free.

[CHrigi @ Jan 15th 2009 7:09PM]

Sweet. They really did a great job of combining iPhone UI with Android's UI in their picture browser...
I always wondered why some coder made a horrible looking interface for a simple app if they could just have gone with the OS default but THIS can only happen if you are paid very bad by the hour and want to spend as long as possible on this crap because porting Android probably would be too fast and easy and then the Google text would make sense and noone could have a laugh...

Seriously! That charger is AWESOME!!

[superhobo @ Jan 16th 2009 12:43AM]

The reason they did this was probably because they already have their hardware running on their own OS.
If they use the real Android they'd have to write drivers for it again.

[Russ @ Jan 16th 2009 4:01AM]

totally right.. they'd have to port the compiler to their platform.

also possible the source is free, but the brand "android" is trademarked?

[Mariano @ Jan 16th 2009 8:29AM]

OMG! I would buy this just for the charger, they should sell it separately.

[Michael Martin @ Jan 19th 2009 12:26PM]

This phone also has the same resolution issues as the Kogan Agora - http://www.googleandblog.com/dream-g2-android-phone/3636/

,Michael Martin
Google And Blog