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Google’s Andy Rubin Talks Android, Its Future, and Windows Phone 7

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andy-rubin-pictureA pretty worthwhile read has popped up over at PCMag in which Google big wig Andy Rubin sat down for a chat about all things Android. In the interview Rubin covers everything from the current state of the Android OS and its various iterations in terms of OEMs all the way to the newcomer Windows Phone 7 and how it will affect the smartphone space.

Rubin sees it as a disadvantage for new phones to see releases with old software in place, and looks at the progression of Android as having finally caught up with what is expected of a smartphone. From this point forward all released will be focused on innovation rather than basic features. Among those innovations expected for the next installment of Android are a bigger focus on gaming, the emergence of HTML5, and an improved browser and browsing experience (though Rubin is quick to point out that Android currently offers one of the best mobile browsing interfaces).

Perhaps the most intriguing part of the interview is Rubin’s take on Windows Phone 7. Bluntly, he sees it as superfluous. In his ideal world capitalistic competition would give way to a system that already works, saying, “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.”

Read the whole interview at the source link below.

[via PCMag]

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30 Comments

  1. I wonder what his take is on the G2’s temporary root issue? Hmmm…

  2. Big Wig heh?

    lol

  3. … looks like he could *use* a big wig. Whoa! Thank you ladies and germs, I’ll be here all week.

    But seriously, “the world doesn’t need another platform”? The arrogance of the Googlers truly knows no bounds. They are so due for a comeuppance.

  4. so… Android is free and open so nothing else is needed?

    So does that mean Chrome is not necessary because FireFox was free and open? I’m a big fan of Chrome and use it exclusively. His logic is flawed, WP7 will fail based on whether people find the devices worth purchasing. It really has nothing to do with it being free and open.

  5. tough audiance:)

  6. Watch us move to that superfluous OS. If Microsoft makes it open, bye bye Google.

  7. I think the comment about WP7 not being needed is not necessarily exclusively about android.

    You have android, iOS, Blackberry, Symbian, Meego (or whatever it’s called), Bada. I tend to agree there’s something there for every taste… WP7 is probably superfluous and is mainly a political statement from Microsoft wanting to stay relevant in the mobile arena. It may or may not succeed, but it says more about Microsoft wanting to control a platform than anything else (they could very well be happy with creating 3rd party apps for other platforms for XBOX, ZUNE, OFFICE, etc)

  8. HAHAHA bye bye google. That was a good one. LOL i cant stop laughing HAHAHA. Good joke chaos. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA he said bye bye Google. LOL

  9. “we have to decide how to make unlocked phones available in the U.S.”

    Best news I’ve heard in a while :) Sounds like they are still trying to releasing vanilla devices that carriers and OEMs won’t mess with…..hopefully

  10. @Chaos

    No way dude, Google is on the march. If Apple can’t stop them, what makes you think Microsoft can? I’ve seen Windows Phone 7 in action..and the first thing that comes to mind when analyzing it’s features is…too little too late.

  11. rofl @ “bye bye google” lol. your such a tool.
    ps, i laughed at the big wig joke

  12. Its so damn simple. MS has been battling Apple since this all began. Now Google and the Android Platform come marching in the middle of there pissing party and MS gets all bent out of shape. No one “gives up” trying to innovate products until they have to. Will MS succeed and become a major player in tie Mobile OS arena again? Who know…but you cant blame them for trying. Its business as usual….

  13. Most interesting parts according to me:
    .
    “I’m not trying to be a wireless carrier, I’m not trying to assert authority over the wireless operators, but I think it’s kind of like that 1.5 and 1.6 versus 2.2 scenario. I think over time they’ll learn what is good business and what is bad business.”
    .
    Are you listening, Sony and Motorola? Google thinks your devices running old versions of Android will fail. Time to wise up!
    .
    And:
    .
    “Making unlocked phones available in the U.S. is still a possibility. Whether that’s simply acquired only online or through traditional retail channels – that’s what got canceled. So we have to decide how to make unlocked phones available in the U.S.”
    .
    Phew. So I just have to hold on to my Nexus One until the next experiment comes along.

  14. “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.”

    Well I guess its a good thing he’s the VP of Engineering cause from a business view that might be the dumbest thing someone can say.

  15. Sounds like the VP of engineering talking. “no need for another OS”, is probably just what Apple was thinking when Android came along.

    Seriously, I can believe and free, and I can believe in open. Open to chnages by every tom dick and harry and then not letting the poor users know what boobs programmed it. Right — I can get into storing my most personal data on that device.

    I’m sure WP7 operating inside of a sandbox is sooooo much worse than that.

    Right, guys, I can see how free and open (to hacking and privacy issues) is so much better.

  16. . I encourage everybody to use it, but I’m also not under the impression that everybody will use it, which is a good thing,

  17. Sorry “I encourage everybody to use it, but I’m also not under the impression that everybody will use it, which is a good thing.” Was also a quote the article writer seems to have ignored

  18. I’ve always used windows, and prefer it…

    I do not want to be forced to use it on my handheld; Windows Phone 7 is ugly, and ‘weird’.

    Google ftw.

  19. * No system-wide file manager
    * Limited third-party apps
    * No Bluetooth file transfers
    * No USB mass storage mode
    * No memory card support
    * No multitasking
    * No copy paste
    * Too dependent on Zune software for computer file management and syncing
    * No Flash or Silverlight support in the web browser

    -HEEELLLL NO!

    my android can do all of thaT!

    winmo 7 sucks!

  20. To uberlaff: So what else is needed then? A proliferation of incompatible devices with no form of industry standardization. The writing is on the wall for Apple and MS with their proprietary, closed, and incompatible devices. In fact they have used that as a business strategy for a long time now at the expense of the Consumer.

    Maybe you don’t understand what the word “open” means in this context? It also means open standards like HTML5 where any compliant application will run on any device. That is the Google vision, but not the MS or Apple vision. As a consumer which would you rather have?

  21. “byebye Google”-Steve Jobs 2009

  22. verry good

  23. @the bye bye google guy…from what you know about w7 phones…what do they have over android phones?

  24. The reality is that will all the android versions, it takes a long time to perfect any one of them. Finally my Hero is a reasonable offering after three reiterations of the ROM (won’t do Adobe Air but who cares. Why will I rush out an buy the new new thing and do another few frustration cycles. When will Gingerbread be worth adopting. My guess is no time soon.

  25. Guys, kid yourselves if you like but the development community represents about 1% of all phone users. Don’t believe me? Ask 10 of your more distant relatives, work colleagues and friends if they know the difference between Donut, Eclair and Froyo.

    Secondly, Chrome is a piece of Shyte when compared to Firefox; I sure as hell hope Google and the Android community doesn’t use it as a benchmark.

  26. @JO – Spoken like someone with a chip on their shoulder. Chrome besides the number of extensions runs FF into the mud. Plain and simple. Thats not saying FF is bad by any means. But Chrome is just a smoother operating browser with a better take on how to use space.

    As for as his comment about not needing another platform…I think many people kind of miss the point. The comment is probably made towards manufacturers. With them having a free OS that they are free to mod any way they wish why do they need another? If they wanted the features of WP7 they could implement them themselves. If they think they can top the UI of WP7 they are free to do so. Why bother licensing this new OS in this case? What can it bring to the table that the manufacturers can’t do for themselves. The only thing I can see is the Xbox integration. As usual it boils down to tight integration with Windows. The Windows lock-in cycle continues.

  27. Android for life.

    That’s all I can say right now!

  28. I like android “the world doesn’t need another platform. Android is free and open” damn right!

  29. If there was no android, I could see wp7 as a viable option. But the reality is that there is andriod, it is a much more open platform, I dont have to install any software on my computer to manage it, I can customize much more than just the icon color, and it integrates oh so nicely with my google accounts and services, etc (the list continues infinitely)…So for me, I give wp7 as much consideration as iOS…aka none

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