We'd already heard that ASUS was at least
considering using Android on its Eee PC netbook, and seen it wrangled onto one
unofficially (see above), but ASUS's Samson Hu has now offered a few more details that indicate just how serious the company is about the XP/Linux alternative. Apparently, ASUS has already allocated a team of engineers to work on the Android-based netbook, which Hu says could be ready by the end of the year, although the company isn't committing to actually releasing a product until it sees how things pan out. No further word on ASUS's other
Android experiments, unfortunately, but it seems safe to bet that ASUS is devoting even more attention to those, at least if its
latest timeline is any indication.
[Via
GadgetMix.com]
posted Feb 20th 2009 12:28PM
I wonder why no company is attempting to customize Android. I see the same interface with a clock, a few icons and the tab on all Android phone photos so far. I thought being open source and ability to customize the OS was one of the stronger points of Android!
HTC is gonna port TouchFLO to their HTC branded (So not T-Mobile and all) phones.
I've got a link in Dutch, I just need one in English now... -.-
Here's the one in Dutch:
[url]http://tweakers.net/nieuws/58525/htc-gaat-touchflo-ook-op-android-toestellen-zetten.html[/url]
There is one company in OHA that's doing some theming work:
http://www.tat.se/site/showroom/latest_design.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqvL2lZGxQs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ilpFNzz5k
But, as far as I know, they haven't released their themes yet.
The hardware manufacturers are no making their own themes because that would defeat the purpose of Android; that is, the hardware guys stay in hardware.
If ASUS does end up with an Android EeePC, just imagine all the new model numbers and variations they'll spew out!!
eeeDroid
androEEEd
"ASUS's Samson Hu has now offered a few more details that indicate just how serious the company is about the XP/Linux alternative"
I thought Android IS Linux, just a distribution with lots of different things than most other Linux distributions and heavily tailored towards phone form factors.
Perhaps the article should say "XP/Debian/Red Hat" alternative or something along those lines. Or am I wrong? Is Linux another OS?
I mean "Is Android a different OS?".
Android's basically a Linux kernel with a Java VM. All the APIs are done in Java.
can I put my sim in and get 3g?
that friggin ubiquitous clock...
I can see a world where all devices used a scaled version of the same OS.
Really I was thinking Android would be something special, but it's really just the baby of Windows and Linux. Android is young, and I think wont last long enough to become successful. As a sad G1 owner I can say that I gave it a shot, and will continue to to give it a shot, till my memoir shows up.
i say its all good, more alternatives= more competition and hopefully more good things to come onto all OS's
hi
If Android-based netbooks take off this could really be something that Linux needs to get into the main stream with average users. Ubuntu is great because of ease of use. But I would argue Android has two things going for it. An App Store and Java framework for apps.
1) Within their App store, you are more likely to get developers making programs for the average consumer. Versus the average apt-get or yum repo out there that is slanted more toward techie programs.
1a) Paid Apps. The ability to charge for apps through the store will likely lead to higher quality apps. Let me quote the Joker on this one: "If you are good at something..don't do it for free."
2)Using a java framework for apps opens yourself up to a wider developer base. Not sure what the numbers for X11 developers but I would assume there are more java developers. Which leads to a smaller barrier to entry for choosing Android to develop on vs. another Linux distro.
So taking these two things into consideration I could see Android moving out of cells phones and into regular PC/Laptops more and more in the future.
do gtk and qt apps work on android? because you know they work on X11
If they are planning on making an Android netbook, I think they should go back to the drawing board and rethink the whole product design. There are a lot of things you can get rid of if you are not planning on supporting Windows on your machine.
1. No need for a full PC-layout keyboard.
2. No need for an x86 processor. Better go with a low power cheap ARM chipset.
3. No real need for over 1024x768 screen resolution, though it would certainly be nice.
4. You could actually make a netbook with a 7-inch display and have it be useful.
5. Probably doesn't need a gigabyte of RAM. Though, again... it would be nice.
6. No need for a harddrive, or any larger SSD. Mobile apps are small, and so is the operating system.
Some things you probably do need to add though, like a touch screen and a 3G modem.
In the end, I think it would be better to think of it as a large clam-shell design smart phone, than an undersized laptop. Or perhaps as an internet tablet with a physical keyboard.
"do gtk and qt apps work on android? because you know they work on X11"
Apparently, they do now:
http://mobile.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/02/23/0119255&from=rss
Note to Asus. Please don't fuck it up like xandros. Not that xandros was good in the first place.
This is great news!
That clock looks stupid in the middle of every Android screen shot. OOh it has a built in clock. Kewl !!!!
.... :|
I dont think you get it
@Owen V perhaps it is you that don't get it you see it looks like the vista clock ... vista is slow there for people reason that well you get my drift. besides a digital clock is easier to read
its there so people know its running android. And since when does vista mean slow? Vista=win
I keep thinking Windows 3.1 when I see that screen shot.
I agree about the analog clock. Super lame on a handheld device - just make it digital
hurrah ! a computer OS where apart from the kernel is all based on java.......................oh wait a minute....
If this is part of the future of OS's, then I might as well and kill myself now. The future is supposed to be filled with tech that is beautiful, powerful and innovative not rushed, buggy and ugly. For all those about to say, "yea but its still a baby." Ugly babies turn into ugly kids and ugly adults. And for those that say, "I don't care what it looks like as long as it works" that's like saying all future sex robots will look like Rosie O'donnell and it doesnt matter cause it works. Oh, it matter, it matter big time my friends. (google Rosie o'donnell if you dont know who she is)
I’d love to see:
EeePC T91 with Android, where that version of android supported non-mobile versions of Gmail, Reader, Docs, a SyncML client for calendar data, a full IM client (multiple Gmail accounts, non-Gmail Jabber accounts, multiple active IM accounts on each protocol), better integration between ConnectBot and VNC viewer, and had an optional internal 3G data card (such as via PCI Express Mini card).
That would be absolutely lovely.