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Is Endless Forking and Fragmentation What Android Needs?

HTC, maker of the earliest Android handsets as well some of the best-liked current ones, has finally released the source code for its Android phones. It's available here.? There had previously been a number of heated conversations in the developer community about why HTC took so long to post the code. The GPL specifically states that source code must be made immediately available, but HTC stalled. In my eyes, this is just another example of possible negative ramifications for Android if it becomes overly forked and fragmented.


Symbian Releases Microkernel As Open Source, Finally

It was well over a year ago now that news of the Symbian operating system--found on approximately half of global smartphones--going open source broke. The news was interpreted as particularly important to Nokia's forward-looking Symbian strategy, but after all this time, an open source version of Symbian's platform is still only in beta testing.

Today, though, as EETimes notes, Symbian has released its platform microkernel, and software development kit (SDK), as open source under the Eclipse Public License. The Symbian Foundation claims that it is moving quickly toward an open source model, which is questionable, but the release of the EKA2 kernel is a signal that Symbian still means business about adopting an open source model.



Non-Obvious Android Opportunities

Matt Asay has an interesting item up today on non-obvious ways that Google's Android operating system can lead to a lower cost infrastructure for mobile technology usage, and a big boost for Google's mobile search business. He notes this quote from Google CFO Patrick Pichette, from Google's recent earnings call, where rosy numbers were reported: If we move forward the adoption of these smartphones by having a lower cost infrastructure because it's open source...all the (mobile) searches...will happen so much faster. The point of that isn't just that you can buy an Android smartphone for less than the competition because the OS is free--that would be a very incremental kind of cost savings. It's the freedom from vendor lock-in and licensing costs that can kick in real cost savings over time. As that helps pave the way for Android adoption, Google's lucrative search business also gets a healthy boost.


Two Unexpected, Potential Scenarios for Android

We've done a number of posts lately on the incredible momentum that the open source Android operating system has. It's being supported by nearly every major smartphone maker, with players such as Acer and Motorola putting huge bets behind it. Acer's new Liquid Android smartphone has the trendy Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm built in, a sign that the OS could boost the prospects of cutting-edge new processors. Verizon Wireless recently inked a broad-based deal (GigaOm Pro, sub. req'd) with Google that will mean, since T-Mobile and Sprint are also on board, that U.S.-based Android phone users will have solid choice among wireless carriers. Yesterday, Acer announced that it is going to offer dual-boot versions of its popular Aspire One netbooks that run both Android and the upcoming Windows 7 OS. That could potentially help Android spread to many new users who wouldn't otherwise try it.

But, precisely because of the new horizons for Android, there are some unexpected directions it could go in, some good, some bad. Here are two scenarios that I don't think are widely expected.



Acer's "Liquid" Android Phone Gets the Trendy Snapdragon Chip

As JKOnTheRun notes, by all indications, the 1-GHz Snapdragon [processor] is rapidly becoming the smartphone processor of the power user, and Acer is working on an Android phone called Liquid that incorporates it. The phone has a large 800 x 480 screen, and an advanced camera, in additon to the version 1.6 Donut version of Android. Acer has previously stated its intent to include Android in a broad range of devices. Check out more details here.


As Android's Horizons Broaden, LiMo's Are Likely to Shrink

JKOnTheRun reports this today: As we wait for Motorola?s Android phone, the Cliq/Dext, the company is once again confirming its commitment to the Android platform. Motorola had already stated that it was dropping Windows Mobile to focus on Android, and it?s doing the same with LiMo. Christy Wyatt, VP at Motorola, has vacated her seat on the LiMo Foundation board of directors.

According to a Motorola statement: At this time [Motorola] feels that the Android platform gives it a richer, more consistent foundation with strong support for the ecosystem and developer community.? With Android gaining so much momentum, and wooing handset makers and multiple wireless carriers alike, LiMo's mobile Linux strategy is looking fragile.



Mobile Tech Minus Open Source is Not the Best Strategy

Matt Asay and IBM's Savio Rodrigues have a couple of interesting posts up today on the topic of open source and mobile technology. RIM needs more open source argues Rodrigues, in reference to Research In Motion, which is behind the BlackBerry. Asay points out that the future of mobile, however, will be owned by the company or project that best appeals to developers, especially open source developers. From my perspective, that's true at both the software platform and application levels.


OStatic Buffer Overflow...

Mobile app developers, we have a problem. Some mobile apps are creating probems, ranging from distracted drivers to battery life and cell network compromises.

CEA developer contest aims to help the economic recovery. Apps for Innovation contest welcomes apps of all stripes, and first prize is $10,000 and a free trip to CES.

Will open source biology get anywhere? Sage Bionetworks aims to revolutionize collection of biological information and the treatment of disease.

Does the open source label still matter? How different are open source and proprietary software efforts?



Acer Decelerates on Windows Mobile, Accelerates With Android

As JKOnTheRun notes, Acer has announced that its focus will shift from Windows Mobile to the open source Android operating system, with at least half of its 2010 phones running Android. The move is yet another blow for Windows Mobile, and falls in line with Acer's stated intent to deploy Android across its entire product line. JKOnTheRun also notes this important point: We?re not hearing phone makers switch to Android from any other platform besides Windows Mobile. That could be a giant problem for WinMo.


Palm's App Catalog Should Embrace Open Source, Not Reject It

It's no news to anyone that Palm is desperate to make a success of its Palm Pre phone. It was met with very solid reviews initially, and AdMob's latest wireless traffic metrics show it gaining market share. Nevertheless, Palm's recent revenue forecast missed Wall Street applications by a long shot, and that's heading into the important holiday season, when the iPhone and many new Android handsets are likely to go on a tear.

Apple's success with the iPhone, of course, has a lot to do with its App Store, which has now moved over 2 billion applications. To put that 2 billion number in perspective, that's not far behind the total number of songs sold on iTunes since its inception years ago. Palm would very wise to try to compete with Apple's App Store through openness in its Palm App Catalog, along the lines of how Android Market pursues openness. That's why it's disturbing news that a Netscape veteran is reporting that his apps were rejected from the App Catalog because the source code was available elsewhere.