Tech News: November 2007 Archives
CNet reports that Google has added "My Location" to Google Map Mobile. That is a big step towards making mobile applications real and functional. Being location-aware is pretty much a fundamental need for mobile applications and Android promises that through its APIs, but right now absent of GPS mobile applications do not have a way to get that information - and GPS does not have a lot of adoption in the US cell phone market right now.
So it's great to see that Google is building the database to triangulate the location without GPS, something that I'm sure they are doing for Android.
So it's great to see that Google is building the database to triangulate the location without GPS, something that I'm sure they are doing for Android.
Ok... The ball is rolling. Verizon Wireless has announced that they will open up their network in 2008. That is, Verizon opening up to any application, any device. Of course "any device" is anything that supports compatible technology (CDMA) with their network, but that's given. This is a huge move, most probably a result of Google building the Open Handset Alliance. For the first time in the US, you will be able to go buy your own phone, say from Japan, and use it on a US carrier network. And when it comes to apps, the possibilities are endless.
I have maintained from the moment I learned about Android that a revolution has started. I think there's no way to stop it any more :-)
I have maintained from the moment I learned about Android that a revolution has started. I think there's no way to stop it any more :-)
I was following the live blog updates as Jeff Bezos was introducing Amazon Kindle. There was a lot of mixed reactions afterwards from people who write about the technology, and for the most part I have to say they did not welcome Kindle.
I did not get a chance to write (and then there was the thanksgiving holidays, which I'm enjoying very much by the way) but I have to say I'm very positive about Kindle. My initial reaction was that with Amazon's force behind it, this is going to be a revolution in the book industry. This is an industry that has not changed much in decades. I do not know much about the history of printing, but as far as I remember books have been books. We have "better quality" prints now, but that's pretty much it.
Amazon spent 10 years to make e-commerce mainstream, and I think it will do the same to make e-books a reality. It looks like at least a Newsweek editor agrees with me.
I did not get a chance to write (and then there was the thanksgiving holidays, which I'm enjoying very much by the way) but I have to say I'm very positive about Kindle. My initial reaction was that with Amazon's force behind it, this is going to be a revolution in the book industry. This is an industry that has not changed much in decades. I do not know much about the history of printing, but as far as I remember books have been books. We have "better quality" prints now, but that's pretty much it.
Amazon spent 10 years to make e-commerce mainstream, and I think it will do the same to make e-books a reality. It looks like at least a Newsweek editor agrees with me.
Told you it's serious. Here's a video in which Google co-founder Sergey Brin introduces Android. The introduction is followed by demos of multiple applications on two prototype phones:
Last but not least, at the end of the video Brin talks again and announces the $10,000,000 developer prize.
Also, if you're interested in the architecture of the software, you may want to watch this three part video:
Last but not least, at the end of the video Brin talks again and announces the $10,000,000 developer prize.
Also, if you're interested in the architecture of the software, you may want to watch this three part video:
- Android, Part 1: Architecture Overview
-
Android, Part 2: Application Life Cycle
- Android, Part 3: APIs (specially pay attention to the Location Manager and Location Based Notification)
A while ago I wrote about green tech being better than Internet, coming from Bill Joy of KPCB. With him and Vinod Khosla on board it has been obvious that the VC firms in focusing more and more on green tech and energy sectors.
Latest news is that Al Gore is now officially a partner at the firm. His name and image, both politically and from the "Inconvenient Truth" movement, will be a great asset to the firm. And I'm sure the Noble Prize does not hurt...
Latest news is that Al Gore is now officially a partner at the firm. His name and image, both politically and from the "Inconvenient Truth" movement, will be a great asset to the firm. And I'm sure the Noble Prize does not hurt...
Of the two rumors that are out there about Google right now, the one about Google being in talks with Simon Fuller (anybody who has seen American Idol even once must remember him) is really cute and cool. I can't wait to see a TV channel sponsored by Google and hosted by Simon. That will make me actually watch TV.
But the other one, Google looking at buying Sprint, is huge. Following the announcement of Android, Google is pushing in major fronts to get it off the ground. The first step was obviously building an alliance and making Android an open initiative, the second one is the $10,000,000 Developer Challenge Fund for Android developers. That will attract a lot of people to seriously look at developing for Android. Ok, you have the backing of some companies, you have an army of 3rd party developers, what else do you need? The audience to use the applications.
It has been no secret that Google has been bidding for a wireless spectrum to do their own mobile service. I'm sure it will happen at some point. But hey, when you have the money, why not buying out a carrier with an existing customer base and just expose them to a new realm of mobile applications that did no exist before? The US market will pick up mobile applications for the first time. This is going to take as by a storm, it's not trivial to realize the magnitude of what we have in front of us. Today the mobile application market virtually does not exist in the US. With Frucall I have been living and breathing that market and I know what's out there. Pretty much nothing of meaningful consequence. The key reason has been the lack of infrastructure, from handsets to carriers (be it mindset, technology, or pricing).
Google is big enough to change this picture, and it looks like they are doing it. Think of pre-PC and post-PC market, I think we are about to see such drastic shift in the history of technology again.
By the way, the news in the wireless sector probably overshadow what's going on elsewhere: Same shift seems be starting in the Cable market. I'm sure we will see Google's name here too - probably with Simon's :-)
But the other one, Google looking at buying Sprint, is huge. Following the announcement of Android, Google is pushing in major fronts to get it off the ground. The first step was obviously building an alliance and making Android an open initiative, the second one is the $10,000,000 Developer Challenge Fund for Android developers. That will attract a lot of people to seriously look at developing for Android. Ok, you have the backing of some companies, you have an army of 3rd party developers, what else do you need? The audience to use the applications.
It has been no secret that Google has been bidding for a wireless spectrum to do their own mobile service. I'm sure it will happen at some point. But hey, when you have the money, why not buying out a carrier with an existing customer base and just expose them to a new realm of mobile applications that did no exist before? The US market will pick up mobile applications for the first time. This is going to take as by a storm, it's not trivial to realize the magnitude of what we have in front of us. Today the mobile application market virtually does not exist in the US. With Frucall I have been living and breathing that market and I know what's out there. Pretty much nothing of meaningful consequence. The key reason has been the lack of infrastructure, from handsets to carriers (be it mindset, technology, or pricing).
Google is big enough to change this picture, and it looks like they are doing it. Think of pre-PC and post-PC market, I think we are about to see such drastic shift in the history of technology again.
By the way, the news in the wireless sector probably overshadow what's going on elsewhere: Same shift seems be starting in the Cable market. I'm sure we will see Google's name here too - probably with Simon's :-)
IAC announced today that it'll split itself off into five (still public) companies. The announcement is interesting because it gives you a nice summary of how many brand names that you know were operating under the same umbrella company, and how IAC has categorized them. Most probably the categorization has to do with how well they generate revenue - notice how Ticketmaster stands out as one of the five companies.
It's good to finally get rid of all the rumors... Google is not making a phone, it is creating an open platform to be adopted by phone manufacturers. The platform is Linux based and allows third party applications full control of all phone functions. It's called Andriod.
Here's an introduction to what Adndroid is. An early preview release will be out on Nov 2th.
Here's an introduction to what Adndroid is. An early preview release will be out on Nov 2th.
It's one think to talk about a new API, it's a different thing to watch actual demos. OpenSocial went live last night, and while not all platforms or "hosts" are linked yet you can see demos of what they have been busy building here. You can fast forward about the familiar marketing mambo jumbo in the beginning, yes we know OpenSocial is a good thing, and watch what the social sites as well as application developers have to show you:
The way some of these applications are tapping into the activity streams, and also the fact that the application can get separate canvas pages to have "its own" pages within, say, orkut or Ning, is really amazing. Personally I liked the Flixter and iLike demos, and also the Flixter/MySpace integration done in a few hours (last presentation) was amazing.
I feel we are at the beginning of a new online revolutions.
P.S. Obviously whoever arranged this was doing his/her best to make Facebook jealous, and in some instances like the way MySpace was brought to spotlight at the end they overstretched it a little!!
P.S.S. I lost power just as I was finishing this post - a big OH S%$&* - but I have to give it to MovableType, the AutoSave feature had saved pretty much everything I had typed including the embedded video... Thanks Guys!
The way some of these applications are tapping into the activity streams, and also the fact that the application can get separate canvas pages to have "its own" pages within, say, orkut or Ning, is really amazing. Personally I liked the Flixter and iLike demos, and also the Flixter/MySpace integration done in a few hours (last presentation) was amazing.
I feel we are at the beginning of a new online revolutions.
P.S. Obviously whoever arranged this was doing his/her best to make Facebook jealous, and in some instances like the way MySpace was brought to spotlight at the end they overstretched it a little!!
P.S.S. I lost power just as I was finishing this post - a big OH S%$&* - but I have to give it to MovableType, the AutoSave feature had saved pretty much everything I had typed including the embedded video... Thanks Guys!
