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Google: 450,000 Android Apps now available to 300 million devices

Daniel Cooper — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:44:00 EST

If you hadn't noticed, it's Mobile World Congress this week and Google's showing off its enormous booth packed to the gills with smiling green Androids. Andy Rubin insouciantly added that the Android Marketplace has reached its latest milestone: there are now 450,000 apps available for the platform. Other pertinent stats are that over a billion apps are downloaded every month and that 850,000 Android devices are activated each day -- meaning that there's more than 300 million of them worldwide. Of course, that's not the real story here at MWC, it's that the company have brought along a bedazzling booth for guests to glue as many false jewels to their Galaxy Nexus back-plate as their self-respect can handle.

Google: 450,000 Android Apps now available to 300 million devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android and iOS share a merry little Christmas: seven million total device activations

Sharif Sakr — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:55:00 EST

Google's SVP of Mobile just provided us with another glimpse inside the horse's mouth, claiming that Android scored 3.7 million new device activations over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. To put that in context, Flurry reported that total Android and iOS activations on Christmas Day alone totaled 6.8 million. If we can accept a very high margin of error, and if we assume that the vast majority of Rubin's activations were on the 25th, then we might extrapolate a roughly even split between the two rival platforms. Considering where Android was just a couple of Christmas's ago, it's no wonder that Mr Rubin is in the tweeting mood.

Android and iOS share a merry little Christmas: seven million total device activations originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Andy Rubin defines 'Android activation,' trumpets 700,000 per day clip

Darren Murph — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:37:00 EST

Looking for growth? You've found it. If you'll recall, Google's own Senior Vice President of Mobile Andy Rubin confirmed that over 500,000 Android devices were being activated back in June, and during last month's Galaxy Nexus reveal, we learned that said figure had increased to 550,000 per day. In just over a month, the tally has now climbed to 700,000 per 24 hour period. That's according to a post by Andy himself on Google+, which he followed with this:

"For those wondering, we count each device only once (i.e., we don't count re-sold devices), and "activations" means you go into a store, buy a device [and] put it on the network by subscribing to a wireless service."

In other words, there are many, many more Android devices being ushered into use every single day that don't connect to any monitored wireless service, but naturally, keeping track of those is something even Google isn't about to attempt. Any guesses as to what this figure jumps to after the holiday season concludes?

Google's Andy Rubin defines 'Android activation,' trumpets 700,000 per day clip originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's 'very close' to launching a digital download store with 'a little twist'

Richard Lai — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:08:00 EST

Google Music may well be lacking a little spice right now, but here at AsiaD, SVP Andy Rubin just confirmed that his company's "very close" to coming up with a digital download store, just as rumored earlier this month. Additionally, this service will even include "a little twist" of some sort, so we should expect something more than just an ordinary MP3 store. While record companies weren't willing to bargain with the company in the way they were with Apple, Andy said he's feeling mighty optimistic that Google's "almost there" with ironing out the necessary deals, so Android fans should sit tight and keep an eye out for a launch soon.

Google's 'very close' to launching a digital download store with 'a little twist' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Rubin: Ice Cream Sandwich's Face Unlock is developed by PittPatt

Richard Lai — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:49:00 EST

Liking that Face Unlock on Ice Cream Sandwich we saw this morning? You can thank PittPatt for that. Here at AsiaD's opening session, Android head honcho Andy Rubin just confirmed that said Pittsburgh-based company -- acquired by Google earlier this year -- was responsible for this nifty security feature. While the demo didn't go as planned for Matias Duarte at the launch event, Andy was able to show us how Face Unlock's meant to work on the stage just now. In fact, Andy said his team even had to "slow down the process" as PittPatt's software was too fast to make folks believe that any security at all was involved -- for what it's worth, Walt Mossberg's beard couldn't get past the unlock screen on Andy's Galaxy Nexus. Head on over to our hands-on video to see us getting up close and personal with Face Unlock.

Andy Rubin: Ice Cream Sandwich's Face Unlock is developed by PittPatt originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Liveblog from AsiaD: Andy Rubin, SVP of Mobile at Google

Darren Murph — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:07:00 EST

Thought today's festivities were over from Hong Kong? Think again. While Samsung and Google tag-teamed the morning with the introduction of the Galaxy Nexus, the first-ever AsiaD conference is kicking off as the sun sets over Victoria Harbour. The opening keynote is quite the impressive one, with Google's own Senior Vice President of Mobile, Andy Rubin, on the docket. Mr. Rubin's no stranger to these events -- in fact, we've liveblogged his interviews twice from All Things D events -- and we're expecting quite the talk tonight following the official unveiling of Ice Cream Sandwich. Join us after the break for the liveblog!

Continue reading Liveblog from AsiaD: Andy Rubin, SVP of Mobile at Google

Liveblog from AsiaD: Andy Rubin, SVP of Mobile at Google originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google outbid itself by 33 percent in Motorola Mobility acquisition, SEC filing reveals

Amar Toor — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:45:00 EST

Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility is already starting to lose that new car smell, but a fresh batch of financial details has now emerged, providing deeper insight into how the deal actually went down. According to an SEC filing that Motorola Mobility released yesterday, Google made an initial offer of $30 per share on August 1st, but soon raised that bid to $37 per share on August 9th, after Moto and its advisers asked for $43.50. On that same day, Google again raised its offer to $40 per share, even though Motorola wasn't accepting bids from other firms, for fear that a public auction would jeopardize its sale. This 33 percent increase ultimately added some $3 billion to the pot, bringing the final price tag to $12.5 billion. A Mountain View spokeswoman declined to comment on the negotiations, though its aggressive bidding suggests that the search giant desperately wanted the deal to go through. The documents also reveal that patent-related issues were at the forefront of discussions from the very beginning, when Google's Senior Vice President Andy Rubin met with Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha to talk about their mutual concerns, way back in July. According to the Wall Street Journal, these talks eventually convinced Jha that his company would be better off under Google's stewardship, amid fears that Moto could get swallowed by the stormy seas of patent litigation -- anxieties that the exec made all too apparent just four days before the merger was announced. You can dig through the full SEC filing at the source link below.

Google outbid itself by 33 percent in Motorola Mobility acquisition, SEC filing reveals originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Medfield-based Android phone shown at IDF 2011, future Android builds to be 'optimized' for Atom

Myriam Joire — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:10:00 EST

Google's Andy Rubin just came up on stage here at the IDF keynote, joining Intel CEO Paul Otellini who was holding a bona fide Medfield-powered smartphone running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)! Hard to be sure, but the device looks eerily like the Aava Mobile handset we've seen before. The cameo was part of a much larger initiative, which will see Intel working concurrently with Google in order to optimize future processors for use with Android. We were actually tipped off on this a few days back, but at the time, it was difficult to tell how much of a consumer impact it'd have. Given Andy's showing, though, it's looking better and better in that regard. The most impressive tidbit, however, is the promise that all future Android builds will be "optimized" for Intel's low-power Atom clan. We've compiled a gallery for you below, and hopefully we'll have a hands-on later today.

Gallery: Intel's Medfield based Android smartphone

Dante Cesa contributed to this report.

Continue reading Medfield-based Android phone shown at IDF 2011, future Android builds to be 'optimized' for Atom

Medfield-based Android phone shown at IDF 2011, future Android builds to be 'optimized' for Atom originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Rubin: over 500,000 Android activations a day, and growing

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:42:00 EST

You may have noticed that Steve Jobs isn't nitpicking anymore over how Google measures the number of Android activations. It probably has something to do with the fact that, no matter how you slice it, at this point Android's growth is outpacing that of the iOS. In fact, according to Andy Rubin, 500,000 new Android devices are activated every day, and that number is continuing to grow. Heck, as of December that number was only 300,000 -- that's a 60-percent increase in just over seven months. At this rate there will be more Android phones than people in just a few short years. There might not be enough food and potable water to sustain the Earth's ever growing population, but at least everyone will be able to tweet about it.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Andy Rubin: over 500,000 Android activations a day, and growing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Danger co-founders reunite with Andy Rubin at Google to focus on Android hardware

Donald Melanson — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:34:00 EST

In the year 2000, former Apple, WebTV and Philips employees Andy Rubin, Joe Britt, and Matt Hershenson founded a little company called Danger Incorporated, which you may know from such hits as the original Sidekick and a $500 million sale to Microsoft. One of those three co-founders, Andy Rubin, has since become a very public face at Google, and it turns out he's recently gotten back together with his former compatriots to do more than just reminisce about the old days. As Fortune reports, both Britt and Hershenson quietly joined Google "within the last twelve months" to run a new Android Hardware wing of the company. So far, much of their work has apparently focused on accessories and, while there's reportedly no plans for any actual Google-branded accessories anytime soon, Britt reportedly said that he would like to see the company produce some Android peripherals of its own "in the long term." Of course, Danger also produced its own software back in the day and, as you're probably aware, the key architect of it, Matias Duarte, is now at Google as well.

[Image: Entrepreneurship.org]

Danger co-founders reunite with Andy Rubin at Google to focus on Android hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google clarifies 18 month Android upgrade program, details far from solidified

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:12:00 EST

We're camped out here at Google'e executive Q&A session, and Andy Rubin and co. are spitting out answers to questions from curious minds. While mentioned briefly in the outfit's keynote earlier, the structured upgrade program is obviously becoming a huge focal point here at the show. One of the major pain points for Android owners in the past (and even now, truthfully) is the inability to know if and when your particular handset will ever get an Android update. Epic 4G owners had a particularly hard go at it, but most everyone outside of Nexus One users have experienced something similar. Unfortunately, it seems as if our excitement may be a bit premature. While LG, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, AT&T, Vodafone, Sprint, Samsung, HTC and Verizon Wireless are technically onboard, all of this feels like it was decided upon at the 11th hour here in San Francisco. When pressed about how long it'd take updates to flow to phones after given the thumbs-up by Google itself, there's no hard news to report. In fact, the details there are still being hashed out.

To quote Google, "It's a logistics problem." We can only imagine. Trying to get every Android partner to follow a timeline for releases has to be a complete and utter nightmare, but the company seems certain that these stipulations won't cripple anyone's ability to innovate on their skins (or have too little time to make the needed changes).

We would've loved to hear a specific figure that we could start holding phone manufacturers to, but alas, it isn't to be. The only hard number thrown out today is 18 months. That's how long future hardware will be in the support cycle (at least, anyway), so you'll "soon" be able to count on your next Android device receiving all applicable updates for 1.5 years after purchase. As for phones that use custom skins, like Blur and Sense? Hard to say if that'll slow things down, and it's even harder to say if outfits like Dell will be joining this party at any time in the future. Though, to be fair, Andy Rubin clarified that there's an "open invitation" for anyone not listed to waltz on in. Naturally, we'll keep you abreast of any further developments from the show floor.

Google clarifies 18 month Android upgrade program, details far from solidified originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Android's problem isn't fragmentation, it's contamination

Vlad Savov — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST

This thought was first given voice by Myriam Joire on last night's Mobile Podcast, and the simple, lethal accuracy of it has haunted me ever since. All the hubbub and unrest about whether Google is trying to lock Android down or not has failed to address whether Google should be trying to control the OS, and if so, what the (valid) reasons for that may be. Herein, I present only one, but it's arguably big enough to make all the dissidence about open source idealism and promises unkept fade into insignificance.

Continue reading Editorial: Android's problem isn't fragmentation, it's contamination

Editorial: Android's problem isn't fragmentation, it's contamination originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android chief Andy Rubin tackles open source qualms, says Honeycomb isn't 'one size fits all'

Sean Hollister — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:13:00 EST

Google got a lot of flak for withholding the Android 3.0 source code, and plenty more when Businessweek sources claimed the company had set aside its open stance to dictate from a throne, but today the man who would allegedly sit atop the royal seat says it isn't so. Andy Rubin, the man in charge of Android, says that "there are no lock-downs or restrictions against customizing UIs" nor "any efforts to standardize the platform on any single chipset architecture" as have often been rumored before, and that when Honeycomb is finally ready for phones, Google will indeed release its source code. Overall, he claims that Android's position when it comes to open source hasn't changed since day one -- which is nice for those who would like to believe that Google's still sticking to its motto -- but that's not likely to appease companies cut out of the loop simply because they weren't part of the early adopter club. If Google's methods will reduce fragmentation, though, who are we to judge?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Android chief Andy Rubin tackles open source qualms, says Honeycomb isn't 'one size fits all' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google tightening control of Android, insisting licensees abide by 'non-fragmentation clauses'?

Vlad Savov — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:12:00 EST

A storm seems to be brewing over the realm of Android development. Bloomberg's Businessweek spies have received word from "a dozen executives working at key companies in the Android ecosystem" that Google is actively working to gain control and final say over customizations of its popular mobile OS. That might not sound unreasonable, and indeed Google's public position on the matter is that it's seeking to stabilize the platform and ensure quality control, but it does mark a major shift from where Android started -- an open source OS that was also open to manufacturers and carriers to customize as they wish. Not so anymore, we're told, as apparently Mountain View is now demanding that content partnerships and OS tweaks get the blessing of Andy Rubin before proceeding. The alternative, of course, is to not be inside Google's warm and fuzzy early access program, but then, as evidenced by the company recently withholding the Honeycomb source code, you end up far behind those among your competitors who do dance to Google's pipe.

Things have gotten so heated, in fact, that complaints have apparently been made to the US Department of Justice. They may have something to do with allegations of Google holding back Verizon handsets with Microsoft's Bing on board, ostensibly in an effort to trip up its biggest search competitor. Another major dissatisfaction expressed by those working with Android code is that Google needs an advance preview of what is being done in order to give it the green light -- which, as noted by a pair of sources familiar with Facebook's Android customization efforts, isn't sitting well with people at all. Google and Facebook are direct competitors in the online space and it's easily apparent how much one stands to gain from knowing the other's plans early. As to the non-fragmentation clauses in licenses, Andy Rubin has pointed out those have been there from the start, but it's only now that Google is really seeking to use them to establish control. The future of Android, therefore, looks to be a little less open and a little more Googlish -- for better or worse. As Nokia's Stephen Elop puts it:

"The premise of a true open software platform may be where Android started, but it's not where Android is going."

Google tightening control of Android, insisting licensees abide by 'non-fragmentation clauses'? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google refocuses under Larry Page; Eric Schmidt says Microsoft is bigger competition than Facebook

Nilay Patel — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:48:00 EST

Now that the dust has settled from the Google CEO shuffle that will see Larry Page take the top spot from Eric Schmidt in April, it's time for the profiles of the company to hit -- and Bloomberg BusinessWeek is up first with a piece that examines the company's past and future challenges, as well the key leaders of what it calls "Google 3.0": Vic Gundotra, who's heading up a now-not-so-secret social networking initiative called Google +1, Android chief Andy Rubin, YouTube head Salar Kamangar, advertising lead Susan Wojcicki, Chrome head Sundar Pichai, and search leads Udi Manber and Amit Singhal. It's all very fascinating, and it includes some great anecdotes, like Vic Gundotra and Phil Schiller getting into an argument about user location-tracking so heated that Eric Schmidt and Steve Jobs had to intervene. Yeah, it's like that.

Speaking of Eric Schmidt, he was in Davos this week, and he had some choice words for reporters on Google's competition -- and it's not Facebook. "Microsoft has more cash, more engineers, more global reach. We see competition from Microsoft every day," says Eric, while Facebook "has clearly stated they don't want to get into the search business. Facebook users tend to use Google search." As for Apple, he gave the usual line about both partnering with and competing with Cupertino, while taking a moment to laud Steve Jobs as "the most successful CEO in the world anywhere," who's built an "elegant, scalable, closed system" while "Google is attempting to do something with a completely different approach." Spoken like a true frenemy, we suppose. Check out the source links to read both pieces.

Google refocuses under Larry Page; Eric Schmidt says Microsoft is bigger competition than Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Rubin's full D: Dive Into Mobile interview video posted

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:14:00 EST

Android boss Andy Rubin almost always makes for an entertaining interview, and his appearance at AllThingsD's D: Dive Into Mobile conference in San Francisco last week was certainly no exception. The introduction of Android 2.3 Gingerbread and the Nexus S were the official news items of the day, but Rubin took the opportunity to showcase the next version of the platform -- Honeycomb -- running on a prototype Motorola tablet that no one had seen before. He also runs through a breakdown of Android's business model (hint: it's profitable), muses about video calling, and gives us a look at that crazy new 3D-capable Google Maps app. Follow the break for the footage.

Continue reading Andy Rubin's full D: Dive Into Mobile interview video posted

Andy Rubin's full D: Dive Into Mobile interview video posted originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Rubin: over 300,000 Android phones activated daily

Vlad Savov — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 02:17:00 EST

Cast your mind back to the ancient time that was this August and you'll recall Eric Schmidt telling you, with no lack of pride, that 200,000 Android phones were being sold each and every day. Skip past Steve Jobs' snide remarks about what's included in that tally, and fast-forward to today, where Andy Rubin is blowing minds with the latest, very nicely rounded, total: 300,000 daily activations. Yes, in spite of being the most fragmented thing this side of our 10-year old hard drives, the Android OS just keeps growing at an exponential rate. So Steve, any comment on today's data? Were they counting it wrong?

[Thanks, Dell]

Andy Rubin: over 300,000 Android phones activated daily originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 02:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's big week: Nexus S, Honeycomb tablets, Chrome OS laptops, and eBooks to boot

Ross Miller — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EST

We gotta hand it to Google: if its goal was to own the technology news cycle for 48 hours, mission accomplished. The Mountain View-based company spent the first two days this week laying out pretty much every big announcement it possibly could: a new flagship phone coming next week (the Nexus S), a new Android build (2.3 Gingerbread), a preview of the next Android build (Honeycomb) on a never-before-seen Motorola tablet, the debut of its cloud-based laptop platform (Chrome OS) with hardware, and a giant plunge into the growing e-book market -- and that isn't everything. We've done our best to condense all the days' highlights into something easier to digest, so read on for a recap on all things Google!

Continue reading Google's big week: Nexus S, Honeycomb tablets, Chrome OS laptops, and eBooks to boot

Google's big week: Nexus S, Honeycomb tablets, Chrome OS laptops, and eBooks to boot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android Honeycomb coming 'next year,' adds tablet support

Nilay Patel — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:50:00 EST

Sure, Google might have just dropped Android 2.3 Gingerbread on the Nexus S just today, but that's old news -- Andy Rubin just took the stage at D: Dive Into Mobile and announced that Honeycomb is due "next year" with support for tablets. Andy demoed the new version of the OS on a Motorola prototype tablet, and it was very different, and highly customized -- although there were still grids of icons, the apps were more "desktop" in flavor, and the traditional Android buttons weren't present. We're waiting for more details, we'll let you know what's up.

Android Honeycomb coming 'next year,' adds tablet support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Android tablet prototype makes a cameo at D: Dive Into Mobile running Honeycomb

Ross Miller — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:37:00 EST

Google's Andy Rubin brought more than just a Nexus S in his bag of goodies tonight. On stage at D: Dive Into Mobile, the man has brought with him a prototype Android tablet from Motorola. It's got video chat, an NVIDIA processor, a "dual core 3D processor," and... oh yeah, it runs Honeycomb, not Gingerbread. Little else is known -- Rubin immediately turned his attention to a new release of Google Maps -- but we wouldn't be surprised if we were looking at Stingray, a tablet rumored for a launch on Verizon shortly. Is it seven inches? Ten? We honestly don't know -- but our gut tells us on the bigger side of the spectrum, which would line up with rumblings that the Stingray would in fact be a full ten inches diagonally. Feast your eyes on our pics below!

Gallery: Motorola Android tablet prototype makes a cameo at D: Dive Into Mobile

Updated: Video after the break!

Continue reading Motorola Android tablet prototype makes a cameo at D: Dive Into Mobile running Honeycomb

Motorola Android tablet prototype makes a cameo at D: Dive Into Mobile running Honeycomb originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Andy Rubin live from D: Dive Into Mobile

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:39:00 EST

Stay tuned... there's some serious Nexus S / Android action about to occur.

Continue reading Google's Andy Rubin live from D: Dive Into Mobile

Google's Andy Rubin live from D: Dive Into Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFC certification program announced just in time for Android 2.3 Gingerbread launch on Monday?

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST

Call it coincidence if you want, but a December 7th press conference to launch the NFC Forum's new Certification Program likely has something to do with NFC read / write support built into Google's new Android 2.3 "Gingerbread." An OS that could be officially unveiled as early as today according to a cheeky blog post by Notion Ink that includes this bullet:

"6th December is another big day for Android and you will find out how fast Notion Ink can work. (Eden is extremely compatible with 2.3)."

Recall how gung-ho Eric Schmidt was on the topic of Near Field Communication while demonstrating it using a still unannounced Nexus S with an embedded NFC chip at the Web 2.0 Summit. That was way back on November 16th when Schmidt promised a Gingerbread release "in like the next few weeks." According to the NFC Forum, a device must be certified in order to display the official "N-Mark" (pictured) -- a symbol for NFC that tells you where to touch in order to initiate NFC services on your device. So, Google... anything you'd like to announce before Tuesday?

P.S. Almost forgot that Google's Andy Rubin will be kicking off the D: Dive into Mobile event later today. We'll be there live just in case Andy feels like introducing something pungent and tasty during the opening session scheduled for 6:30pm San Francisco time.

Continue reading NFC certification program announced just in time for Android 2.3 Gingerbread launch on Monday?

NFC certification program announced just in time for Android 2.3 Gingerbread launch on Monday? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google exec calls Android acquisition its 'best deal ever'

Donald Melanson — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:58:00 EST

It's easy to forget at this point, but Android wasn't a Google creation. Google bought the company in 2005 for an undisclosed sum (estimated to be around $50 million) and, well, let's just say things worked out pretty well for them. How well? Google's vice president of corporate development, David Lawee, told attendees at the Stanford Accel Symposium this week that the acquisition was quite simply Google's "best deal ever." Lawee further went on to note that he did have some initial skepticism about the deal, and recalls saying "I hope this guy does something" after seeing Andy Rubin around the building for two years. The fact that Rubin actually stayed after the acquisition eventually did inspire some confidence, however, with Lawee adding that it's obvious when a deal doesn't work out "because the people leave."

Google exec calls Android acquisition its 'best deal ever' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Rubin responds to Steve Jobs with a coded tweet

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:03:00 EST

It's common knowledge that the first words uttered by any nerd are "hello world." That is, unless some CEO starts bad-mouthing your open-source motivations. Google's Andy Rubin -- the father of Android, as it were -- just uttered his first words on Twitter with the tweet you see above. From the looks of it, Andy (assuming this is him, the account is not "verified") is demonstrating how easy it is for anyone to download and compile the latest build of Android. Presumably Jobs will now join Twitter with a response like, "The definition of closed: shut up."

Andy Rubin responds to Steve Jobs with a coded tweet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Andy Rubin on Windows Phone 7: 'the world doesn't need another platform'

Darren Murph — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:19:00 EST

Shootin' straight, are we Andy? For those unaware, Andy Rubin is the vice president of engineering at Google, and he's had his fingers in Android before the mobile OS was taken mainstream by El Goog. He recently sat down to talk mobile with PCMag, and he left the world with a wealth of quotes to ponder. For starters, he practically calls out OEMs who aren't keeping up with Android's releases, noting that "there's no advantage to the OEM of using an older version, and I'd say there's a consumer disadvantage." Clearly, he's not a fan of all of this fragmentation, either. Moving onto Windows Phone 7, he really came out swinging. When asked what he thought about WP7 as a competitor, here's what came flowing out:

"I think the screen shots I've seen are interesting, but look, the world doesn't need another platform. Android is free and open; I think the only reason you create another platform is for political reasons."

We'll obviously need to wait for Windows Phone 7 to launch (and see a few quarters of sales numbers) to see if he's just blowing hot air, but it's interesting fodder at least. Hit the source link for much, much more where this came from -- and keep it sensible in comments, okay? It's just code, after all.

Google's Andy Rubin on Windows Phone 7: 'the world doesn't need another platform' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Eric Schmidt says Android is profitable, could eventually be a $10 billion business

Donald Melanson — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:22:00 EST

It may not exactly be a huge surprise given the recent market share numbers, but Google CEO Eric Schmidt has recently confirmed that Android is, in fact, profitable for the company. Of course, it doesn't make all that money from Android directly, but Schmidt says that Android-based phones are already generating enough advertising revenue to cover the cost of development. What's more, while he doesn't provide any current specific numbers, Schmidt did say that he expects there to someday be one billion Android phones in the world, and that if each one generated just $10 per user per year it would be a $10 billion business -- or, as Newsweek notes, about half of Google's total revenue for this year. That's just a tidbit from the full Newsweek piece, though -- hit up the source link below to read the whole thing, which also includes a bit of perspective from Google's Andy Rubin.

Google's Eric Schmidt says Android is profitable, could eventually be a $10 billion business originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skyhook: Google forced Motorola to drop our location service, delay the Droid X

Nilay Patel — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:37:00 EST

We figured Skyhook's business interference and patent infringement lawsuits against Google would turn up some dirt, and we didn't have long to wait: the location-services company's complaint flatly alleges that Google's Andy Rubin ordered Motorola's Sanjay Jha to "stop ship" on the Droid X because it used Skyhook's XPS positioning system instead of Google Location Services, a tiff that ultimately delayed the phone's release while Moto reworked the software and dropped Skyhook entirely. Following that, Skyhook claims that Google then went after an unidentified "Company X" (likely Samsung) and forced it to drop XPS as well -- which would certainly explain why Samsung's Galaxy S phones have WiFi positioning turned off by default, unlike every other Android phone. Ouch.

If you're thinking that makes no sense because Android is "open," well, you might have another think coming -- Skyhook claims that Google's decisions to allow access to Android Market and its branded apps are an entirely subjective ruse based on something called the Compliance Definition Document, which can be "arbitrarily" interpreted any way Google wants with no recourse. Skyhook says that Google has now told Android OEMs that they're required to use Google Location Services, preventing Skyhook from fulfilling its contracts and costing the company millions in expected royalties.

Now, this is Skyhook's side of the story and we're sure Google will make a persuasive argument of its own, but let's just back up for a moment here and point out the obvious: Google's never, ever come out and clearly said what's required for devices to gain access to Android Market and the branded apps like Gmail -- even though we've been directly asking about those requirements since Android first launched. Remember when Andy Rubin told us that there would be full-fledged "Google Experience" phones with no carrier or handset manufacturer limitations? Or when we were told that phones with skins like HTC Sense or additional features like Exchange integration wouldn't have Google branding? And then all of that turned out to be a lie? Yes, Android might be "open" in the sense that the source code is available, but there's no doubt Google's wielded incredible power over the platform by restricting access to Market and its own apps -- power that hasn't been used to prevent carrier-mandated bloatware or poorly-done manufacturer skinning, but has instead apparently been used to block legitimate competitors like Skyhook from doing business. We're dying to hear Google's side of this story and fill in some of the gaps -- and you can bet we're digging as hard as we can for more info. Stay tuned, kids.

Skyhook: Google forced Motorola to drop our location service, delay the Droid X originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google: Android fragmentation 'is a boogeyman, a red herring'

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:17:00 EST

Google's Dan Morrill, open source and compatibility program manager in the Android team, just penned a lengthy diatribe against the very concept of fragmentation on the official Android Developers Blog, basically saying it doesn't exist. Actually, the language is a little more colorful:

"Because it means everything, it actually means nothing, so the term is useless. Stories on 'fragmentation' are dramatic and they drive traffic to pundits' blogs, but they have little to do with reality. 'Fragmentation' is a bogeyman, a red herring, a story you tell to frighten junior developers. Yawn."

Sure, as Android goes, the term "fragmentation" has meant moderately different things in different contexts over the past couple years -- fair enough. But the fact remains that releasing six major revisions of any platform within the span of 19 months (four of which are in heavy user circulation) is unprecedented and potentially unsettling to manufacturers and consumers alike. Your average Joe isn't going to understand why, for example, his HTC Hero that he bought a few months back can't use the Buzz widget or some of the cooler features in Google Maps, and Google hasn't done a very good job of explaining or justifying it, other than by blocking incompatible apps and updates from being visible in the Market.

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Google: Android fragmentation 'is a boogeyman, a red herring' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Hello WebTV part II

Michael Gartenberg — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:30:00 EST

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

In a world of connected screens it's sometimes hard to classify what's what. I mean, what's a PC? We call smartphones "phones," but the reality is they're tiny PCs that go in our pocket. Similarly, the TV has undergone an evolution as well, and now Google is attempting to bring the PC and TV even closer together with the introduction of Google TV. What is it? Well there are three core elements: Android 2.2, the Chrome browser and the Android app marketplace. It's ambitious, but I'm skeptical. I feel like I've heard a lot of this before -- and in fact, I have. By no small coincidence, Android is headed by Andy Rubin, the man who was in charge of a product called WebTV before it was sold to Microsoft. And just as with WebTV, there's a lot of potential in the ideas behind GoogleTV, but I'm not sure Google has nailed it.

Continue reading Entelligence: Hello WebTV part II

Entelligence: Hello WebTV part II originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 May 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Is Android fragmented or is this the new rate of innovation?

Michael Gartenberg — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:21:00 EST

A few weeks ago I sat down with the father of Android, Andy Rubin. Andy's a super smart person, having done stints at Apple, General Magic, WebTV and Danger before starting the Android project. We talked about a lot of things, and we particularly spent time discussing Android fragmentation. I've written in the past about my concern that the Android platform is fragmenting much like desktop Linux has over the years, and the potential for the platform to turn into a patchwork of devices and vendor specific modifications that bear little relationship with each other. I've spent a lot of time thinking about my conversation with Andy, and I've rewritten this column more than a few times as a result.

Today, there are at least five different versions of Android on the market. Many of them are highly customized to allow for new features and device differentiation, but that same customization also makes it harder for vendors to update them to the latest versions. New releases and versions of Android are often outdated by newer versions in the span of just a few weeks. For example, the Nexus One when released was capable of running apps like Google Earth that devices such as the Droid could not, because it ran Android 2.0, not 2.1.Tablet vendors complain their Android offerings lack features such as Android Market because Google forbids them to install the marketplace app, forcing them to create proprietary alternatives. It would appear Android is indeed fragmenting -- but perhaps there are other forces at work.

When I spoke with Andy, he pointed out there are several classical symptoms of platform fragmentation. First, older APIs no longer work and break in new releases. Second, multiple application marketplaces offer different applications that lack uniformity across platforms. Both of these are true when you look at desktop Linux. Neither are true of Android.

Continue reading Entelligence: Is Android fragmented or is this the new rate of innovation?

Entelligence: Is Android fragmented or is this the new rate of innovation? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 May 2010 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Andy Rubin talks Android and Apple, promises Flash support in Froyo

Donald Melanson — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:21:00 EST

Gather 'round, Android fans, because Google's Android boss Andy Rubin has done a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, and we're guessing you're going to want to hear what he has to say. The biggest news to come out of it is word that Android 2.2, a.k.a. Froyo, will come complete with full support for Flash, which is far and away the most official confirmation we've had to date, and slightly contradicts earlier talk that Flash support wouldn't necessarily be built into the OS. Why the change? Rubin says that sometimes being open "means not being militant about the things consumers are actually enjoying." On a similar note, Rubin also said that while he doesn't know when the number of Android phones sold would exceed the number of iPhones and BlackBerrys sold, he's "confident it will happen," adding that "open usually wins." And the hits just keep on coming from there, with Rubin not so subtly working in a mention of North Korea after a discussion about Apple and closed computing platforms, before closing things out with the line: "with openness comes less secrets." Hit up the source link below for the complete interview, in which Rubin also address the issue of Android fragmentation, and reveals that he does indeed own an iPad, but naturally has a few things to say about it.

Google's Andy Rubin talks Android and Apple, promises Flash support in Froyo originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Rubin on multitouch in Android: 'I personally don't like two-handed operations'

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:21:00 EST

In a very special CES edition of All Things D today, our own Joshua Topolsky had an opportunity to directly confront Google's Andy Rubin on the nagging multitouch issue -- not necessarily multitouch itself, but the growing disparity in support between American and European devices (the Droid / Milestone being the most famous example):

"You call this a superphone -- 3.7-inch capacitive display, but no keyboard and no multitouch. Yet it has multitouch outside the US. Why not America?"

Andy's reply:

"It's not an America versus outside America kind of thing. It's a decision that is a result of the OEM model. I personally don't like two-handed operations... there is no conspiracy."

That doesn't explain the fact that the European Nexus One seems to have some in-built multitouch enabled -- nor does it explain why any manufacturer would ever opt to exclude it under any circumstances unless there's some outside pressure involved. Surely Rubin's personal preferences don't play into this... right? Right, Google?

Andy Rubin on multitouch in Android: 'I personally don't like two-handed operations' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live from All Things D at CES 2010

Joshua Topolsky — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:24:00 EST

We're live at the All Things D event at CES 2010. We're slated to see conversations with Jon Rubinstein, Reed Hastings, and Andy Rubin, so stay tuned -- we start at 3:30PM PT!

Continue reading Live from All Things D at CES 2010

Live from All Things D at CES 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google refutes USA Today report on blocked Skype application

Joshua Topolsky — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:03:00 EST

While Apple was busy batting away the FCC with its litany of reasons why its app approval process is totally hunky-dory, Google was apparently having it's own VoIP-related firefight. It seems that an article in the USA Today which hit newsstands this morning alleges that the internet giant sought to block (dare we say reject) a full Skype application from making its way into the Android Market. The story claims that the application was neutered to become "a watered-down version of the original that routes calls over traditional phone networks" -- which would obviously cast a decidedly malevolent slant to the benevolent company's policies.

The story is surely fine fodder for a FUD enthusiast up to that point, but it appears (gasp) that USA Today may have gotten one minor fact wrong. Namely, that Google had any unsavory aim to clip the wings of the Skype app. According to company man Andy Rubin (on Google's Public Policy Blog), the "lite" moniker was only attached due to technical limitations of the Android platform. In his words:

Here are the facts, clear and simple: While the first generation of our Android software did not support full-featured VoIP applications due to technology limitations, we have worked through those limitations in subsequent versions of Android, and developers are now able to build and upload VoIP services.

As we told USA Today earlier in the week Google did not reject an application from Skype or from any other company that provides VoIP services. To suggest otherwise is false. At this point no software developer -- including Skype -- has implemented a complete VoIP application for Android. But we're excited to see -- and use -- these applications when they're submitted, because they often provide more choice and options for users. We also look forward to the day when consumers can access any application, including VoIP apps, from any device, on any network.

Note the jab there at the end? Okay, swell. Of course, even if Google had rejected the app outright, users still could have installed the software through other avenues, as the Android Market is only a suggestion -- not a mandate -- for how consumers should acquire apps on Google's platform.

[Via TechCrunch; Image courtesy eBoy]

Read - Google-AT&T-Apple fight over Net calls draws FCC interest
Read - Android and VoIP applications

Filed under: Software, Android

Google refutes USA Today report on blocked Skype application originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google refutes USA Today report on blocked Skype application

Joshua Topolsky — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:03:00 EST

While Apple was busy batting away the FCC with its litany of reasons why its app approval process is totally hunky-dory, Google was apparently having its own VoIP-related firefight. It seems that an article in the USA Today which hit newsstands this morning alleges that the internet giant sought to block (dare we say reject) a full Skype application from making its way into the Android Market. The story claims that the application was neutered to become "a watered-down version of the original that routes calls over traditional phone networks" -- which would obviously cast a decidedly malevolent slant to the benevolent company's policies.

Here are the facts, clear and simple: While the first generation of our Android software did not support full-featured VoIP applications due to technology limitations, we have worked through those limitations in subsequent versions of Android, and developers are now able to build and upload VoIP services.

As we told USA Today earlier in the week Google did not reject an application from Skype or from any other company that provides VoIP services. To suggest otherwise is false. At this point no software developer -- including Skype -- has implemented a complete VoIP application for Android. But we're excited to see -- and use -- these applications when they're submitted, because they often provide more choice and options for users. We also look forward to the day when consumers can access any application, including VoIP apps, from any device, on any network.

[Via TechCrunch; Image courtesy eBoy]

Read - Google-AT&T-Apple fight over Net calls draws FCC interest
Read - Android and VoIP applications

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Google refutes USA Today report on blocked Skype application originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rubin: Android getting more social features; Donut, Eclair, and Flan all in the oven

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:07:00 EST

You don't have to look far past Palm's Synergy tech for webOS and smaller-scale operations like INQ to understand that social internetworking -- an intelligent aggregation of every corner of your life -- is the wave of the mobile future, and Google's going on record saying that it understands. At a T-Mobile- and Google-sponsored event in San Francisco earlier today, Andy Rubin (you know, the Android dude) discussed upcoming releases in Android's pipeline starting with Donut, which we've already heard mentioned, but then progressing to "Eclair" and "Flan" without mentioning specific timelines. He didn't bust out any comprehensive roadmaps, but he waxed poetic about some of the social-centric possibilities -- for example, being kept abreast of a contact's Facebook photo and latest update every time they call -- and mentioned that developers will soon have additional options for charging for apps (presently, Google Checkout is the only way to handle it, but carrier billing is coming soon).

He also reiterated that the hardware pipeline for Android is staggeringly massive, with 15 to 20 phones coming this year alone. One manufacturer actually had the stones to show him eighteen Android-powered devices in a recent meeting -- sounds like a very Samsung-esque thing to do, but whether it's Samsung, HTC, or someone else, we're happy to hear once again that the Magic, Hero, Dream, and Galaxy won't be the only games in town for long.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Rubin: Android getting more social features; Donut, Eclair, and Flan all in the oven originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rubin: Android getting more social features; Donut, Eclair, and Flan all in the oven

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:07:00 EST

Filed under: Software, Android

Rubin: Android getting more social features; Donut, Eclair, and Flan all in the oven originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google: 18 Android phones coming this year, possibly more

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 28 May 2009 05:50:00 EST

18 Android phones, possibly 20 on the market this year according to Andy Rubin, speaking at Google I/O. Even higher if you count all the rogue, Google App-free Android deployments that Google's not aware of. Seeing as how we're already nearly half-way through the year with just a pair of Android handsets on the market (the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic) and just another -- the Samsung i7500 Galaxy -- officially in the chute, we're going to see a flood of product before year's end. In fact, Rubin claims the releases will come from 8 or 9 manufacturers with faster adoption seen in Europe as US carriers try to "create highly distinctive versions of the Android phone to give themselves an edge." Sure, edge, if that's what you want to call the US cartel of hoops and handcuffs then go right ahead. Interestingly, Rubin also further clarified the three flavors of Android which break down as follows:

Google-free: Free to download version of Android without Google applications like Gmail or Google Calendar. Access to Android applications is at the whimsical fancy of the manufacturer.
Strings attached: Same as above but manufacturers sign a distribution agreement with Google and pre-install the Google applications. Of Rubin's possible 20 phones, 12 to 14 fall into this category
The Google Experience: Phones featuring the Google logo with all Google apps installed and includes unrestricted access (neither the carrier nor handset maker can block applications they find objectionable) to the Android market. 5 or 6 of the 20, Android phone mentioned by Rubin will deliver the full Google Experience as god and Sergey designed it.

Go ahead, blow it out Google, we're ready for it.

Filed under: Handsets, Android

Google: 18 Android phones coming this year, possibly more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google: 18 Android phones coming this year, possibly more

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 28 May 2009 05:50:00 EST

Google-free: Free to download version of Android without Google applications like Gmail or Google Calendar. Access to Android applications is at the whimsical fancy of the manufacturer.
Strings attached: Same as above but manufacturers sign a distribution agreement with Google and pre-install the Google applications. Of Rubin's possible 20 phones, 12 to 14 fall into this category
The Google Experience: Phones featuring the Google logo with all Google apps installed and includes unrestricted access (neither the carrier nor handset maker can block applications they find objectionable) to the Android market. 5 or 6 of the 20, Android phones mentioned by Rubin will deliver the full Google Experience as god and Sergey designed it.

Go ahead, blow it out Google, we're ready for it.

Filed under: Cellphones

Google: 18 Android phones coming this year, possibly more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android Market will offer free trials, but not free bandwidth

Tim Stevens — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:53:00 EST

Apple's App Store, with its millions of downloads, is clearly a hit with consumers. But with developers? Not so much. Like a dashing hero to a scorned mistress, Google's Andy Rubin is pledging a different, more loving and respectful relationship with those who would fill his company's Android Market with selections -- and his pockets with royalties. He indicates that the Market will enable free downloadable trials, something that Apple is stubbornly refusing to add, and that those downloads would not be subject to any arbitrary bandwidth caps. Meanwhile, T-Mobile at least will be levying a $2/month fee on developers of free apps expected to use more than the (somewhat arbitrary) amount of 15MB of data per user per month, though how they'll be keeping track of that data outside of their own content stack is unclear -- our guess is that they can't.

Filed under: Software, T-Mobile, Android

Android Market will offer free trials, but not free bandwidth originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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