Android vs Symbian

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10398202-16.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

In the battle of the open-source mobile platforms, developers have at least two choices: Google Android, which is open source but (relatively) closed development, or Symbian, which is open source…once it gets around to releasing the full source code.

Guess which one is winning?

You can’t code me, but at least you can buy me.

(Credit: Google)

Gartner expects Android to become the second-most popular mobile platform within the next few years as it continues to gobble up Symbian’s declining market share.

But why?

Symbian has been dismissive of Google Android, as well as smaller upstarts like the LiMo Foundation, arguing that the latter is overly focused on middleware for wireless operators and the former is fake open source with more hype than substance.

All of which might be true, but the reality is that it seems to be working for Android. Google has been signing new handset manufacturers at a frenetic pace, while Symbian has been holding steady with Nokia…and that’s about it.

Despite Symbian announcing new handsets, Google is actually shipping Android. There’s a big difference between marketing and reality. Google Android offers the latter.

For all the buzz that Android gets from developers, its success owes more to handset manufacturers than to open-source developers. Handset manufacturers and wireless carriers are hungry for alternatives to surging Apple and declining Microsoft. And while others may not be seeing source code in copious amounts, handset manufacturers are apparently getting their fill.

More than this, though, Google gives them a safe, consumer-friendly brand. Symbian does not.

This is the reason Google Android is winning. It’s not about developers–at least, not yet. Neither Symbian nor Android really offers developers open communities and open code.

No, the difference today is brand. Google has it. Symbian does not, and that’s despite decade-long dominance of the mobile market.

Symbian still has a ways to go. It has a weak user interface (UI) that is supposed to get better, but that describes much that is wrong with Symbian today. Everything (source code, revamped UI, and resumption of market dominance) is always spoken of in the future tense.

Meanwhile, Google Android rolls on–not because it out open-sources Symbian, but rather because it out-executes it.

Droid : by Motorola

Verizon has officially joined the Android party with the announcement of the Droid by Motorola. The Droid has a 3.7-inch touchscreen, delivering an unusual 854×480 resolution. The phone is jam-packed with all of the usual components that a high-end phone must have these days:

• EVDO Rev. A
• GPS- Assisted and standalone
• Removable memory- 16 GB
• System memory- 512 MB
• Removable battery
• Wi-Fi
• 5 MP Camera- DVD quality video recording supported
• Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• Onscreen virtual keyboard
• Android 2.0

The Droid will have the standard 3-screen home screen that Android provides but will be augmented by widgets from Verizon for user customization. It will support Exchange email out of the box, in addition to POP3 and IMAP. All of the expected Google apps are present and accounted for: Maps, Latitude, Talk, Voice Search, Gmail and Calendar. Verizon is also shipping the Droid with these apps: Corporate Calendar, Amazon MP3, Gallery, Music, Visual Voice Mail, Android Market and YouTube.

Droid is the first phone to feature the new Google Maps Navigation, offering free turn-by-turn navigation in Google Maps. The phone will be available Nov. 6 for $199 with a 2-year contract. This price is after a mail-in rebate of $100.

The main Power of this smartphone is the fully support from Google, such as Google Apps and Google Maps Navigation.

Nook: eReader based on Android 1.5

Source:  http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=1406&tag=col1;post-1406

Barnes and Noble announced a new eBook reader today called Nook, and it’s already earned a place in our hearts (as well as our wish list). On the outside: a curvy industrial design that would make Apple engineers proud. On the inside: an ARM processor powered by the Android operating system. It’s available now for pre-order with shipments expected to start as early as next week in late November.

Technical specifications

• 6″ E ink Vizplex electronic paper display
• 3.5″ color capacitive touchscreen LCD for navigation, virtual keyboard
• Free wireless from Barnes & Noble via AT&T (3G)
• Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g)
• Removable battery
• Removable back cover with 4 additional colors
• Personalized screen saver using your own photos
• Multiple font sizes
• Android 1.5
• 2GB memory built-in (about 1,500 eBooks)
• MicroSD slot expandable to 32GB (35,000 eBooks)
• MP3 music player
• 3.5mm stereo headphone jack (mono speaker built-in)
• Micro USB connector (for charging and transfers)
• Size: 7.7 inches x 4.9 inches x 0.5 inches
• Weight: 11.2 ounces (317 grams)

Supported formats

Nook supports the standard EPUB format as well as eReader (PDB) and PDF. It uses MP3 for music and audiobook files, and JPEG, GIF, PNG, or BMP for photos.

Accessories

A wide variety of covers, backs, and frames are available for the Nook. These include Designer covers from kate spade new york, Jack Spade, and Jonathan Adler. Other accessories include:

• The “nook light”, a battery powered clip-on light to illuminate the screen when reading at night.
• A replaceable rechargeable battery.
• Anti-glare Nook Matt Film Kit, covers both the eInk and LCD screens.
• Extra AC Adapter and USB cable kit.
• A Lyra book light cover, that is basically a case with an articulated light-arm that comes in from the left.
• Various sizes of microSD and microSDHC cards.