Linked List: March 31, 2011

Thursday, 31 March 2011

Guy English on what today’s Android news means for the industry:

RIM. Despite being laughed at constantly today, RIM laughs too. They own their own hardware stack and they own their own software stack and as I pointed out previously — they are maintaining control over their own destiny. Which they’re doing like a drunken sailor on three day shore-leave but, still, that “2 CEOs & 4 Eva” tattoo is their choice.

Vic Gundotra’s Paean to Android’s Openness at Google I/O 2010 ★

Vic Gundotra in his keynote at I/O last year:

If Google didn’t act, it faced a draconian future where one man, one phone, one carrier were our choice. That’s a future we don’t want. […]

So if you believe in openness, if you believe in choice, if you believe in innovation from everyone, then welcome to Android.

Businessweek today:

From now on, companies hoping to receive early access to Google’s most up-to-date software will need approval of their plans. And they will seek that approval from Andy Rubin, the head of Google’s Android group.

Can’t wait for this year’s I/O keynote.

‘So That No Industry Player Can Restrict or Control the Innovations of Any Other’ ★

Google:

Android is an open-source software stack for mobile devices, and a corresponding open-source project led by Google. We created Android in response to our own experiences launching mobile apps. We wanted to make sure that there was no central point of failure, so that no industry player can restrict or control the innovations of any other. That’s why we created Android, and made its source code open.

RIP, Dickbar ★

New version of Twitter’s official iPhone client removes the asinine dickbar.

I Saw This Coming All Along ★

Ashlee Vance and Peter Burrows, reporting for Businessweek:

Playtime is over in Android Land. Over the last couple of months Google has reached out to the major carriers and device makers backing its mobile operating system with a message: There will be no more willy-nilly tweaks to the software. No more partnerships formed outside of Google’s purview. From now on, companies hoping to receive early access to Google’s most up-to-date software will need approval of their plans. And they will seek that approval from Andy Rubin, the head of Google’s Android group.

So here’s the Android bait-and-switch laid bare. Android was “open” only until it became popular and handset makers dependent upon it. Now that Google has the handset makers by the balls, Android is no longer open and Google starts asserting control.

Facebook, for example, has been working to fashion its own variant of Android for smartphones. Executives at the social network are unhappy that Google gets to review Facebook’s tweaks to Android, say two people who weren’t comfortable being named talking about the business. Google has also tried to hold up the release of Verizon Android devices that make use of Microsoft’s rival Bing search engine, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Andy Rubin, Vic Gundotra, Eric Schmidt: shameless, lying hypocrites, all of them.

Microsoft’s Antitrust Argument Against Google ★

Microsoft VP Brad Smith makes the case:

First, in 2006 Google acquired YouTube — and since then it has put in place a growing number of technical measures to restrict competing search engines from properly accessing it for their search results. Without proper access to YouTube, Bing and other search engines cannot stand with Google on an equal footing in returning search results with links to YouTube videos and that, of course, drives more users away from competitors and to Google.

Microsoft Accusing Google of Antitrust Violations ★

Times change.

Google Settles With FTC Over Privacy Lapse With Google Buzz ★

Facebook should be next.