ANDROID.
Android.
Today I’m writing the blog post that made me create this blog in the first place.
Lately, I thought much about the future of the android platform. It’s the first linux based mobile platform, that spread so wide. But it has real, real big problems, which iOS does not have. The freedom, in this case, is also the freedom for the handset makers and providers to worsen the experience the open handset alliance had in mind.
So it came to my mind, that google should influence the platform, but how, without restricting the freedom any more, that providers and handset makers already are restricting?
Well, I think it would be good if google would establish some kind of badges.
- Badges for handset makers.
- Badges for developers.
- Badges for devices.
Certification. By choice.
Nice badges, androids in different colors, with letters on it.
You might see, I have forgotten the carriers in the list above. But when the handset makers comply, the carriers won’t have anything to say but to provide their service as they should. We’ll see that later.
Okay, the certification is all by choice, but google has to make the rules.
Let’s begin from the side the average customer sees. The devices. Today, there is a broad range: candy bar phones, phones with keyboard, even two screens or some kind of flip out device. android 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, updates, no updates, custom UIs. This is so confusing, I heard people buy Samsung’s bada, thinking it is android.
Also, there is much, much technical information. 600mhz processor, 800, 1ghz, 1ghz dual core, samsung exynos, snapdragon, tegra, etc. ram, storage, resolution. It’s all chaos. No one that is not really tech savy knows how those devices with their technical specs compare. So this should be easier.
I would like to give those devices three different badges for comparison. Google introduces three spec sets, and the devices get certified for those. Let’s say those are “Smart” “Pro” and “Ultra”, looking like an android with “S” on it, one star below, “Pro” on it, two stars, and “Ultra”, three stars.
In advertising this would look great. Maybe there will be a “B”, meaning “Business”. Could be a device with a physical keyboard.
Anyway, the smart devices are the beginner phones. low resolution, not too fast processor. the professional devices should have at least a 1ghz processor and should sport a decent resolution and ram. The ultra devices must have a dual-core processor with at least 1ghz, the latest android, and NFC(!).
This way, the user can see which device is the best for his/her needs. Without reading reviews for weeks. Also, google can influence the circulation of technologies they want, as NFC.
Same goes for tablets. Here we could, uhm. Maybe use a blue android. I’m not a designer. Maybe the top-devices need mh. Let’s say HDMI-out and host-usb.
Okay, so now we have the certificates for the devices. I would suggest, to not flood the market with devices, a handset maker gets only 9 certificates for devices. If one device is not sold anymore, you can re-use it. That way we stop the makers to do 100s of versions for carriers and USA/Europe-devices. (Yep, motoLOLa, I’m looking at you. droid/milestone.)
So, if you are a big enough handset maker, and want to get your devices certificated, you have to make sure, your devices get updates. Yes. I think this is pretty important. The usual carrier contract here in Germany is two years, so I would love to see updates for two years, at least for the ultra devices. Maybe one year for smart and professional. Also, the handset makers have to guarantee these updates in fcking time. Maybe, lets say, three months after google releases their new android. Also, I want over-the-air updates, or at least making the update possible from linux, windows and mac os. Without loosing data. No updates, no certification.
If a handset maker is certified, they will send their prototypes to google. As early as they can. And google will send them their developement snapshots of android as soon as possible, and will help them provide help. Before the handset makers deliver the update, google will look into it, if it’s all stable and speedy as such. If not, they make it happen together. This way google ensures the software quality of the certified handsets. Also, if there is any custom UI from the handset maker, the user must have the choice to turn it off. The user must have the choice to unlock the bootloader of its device. (See Sony-Ericsson. Website, type in IMEI (goes to database in case of warranty), get unlock code. easy.) Also, all apps that may come with the device have to be uninstallable, excluding core functionality as SMS or the phone app. But still, if the handset maker includes, let’s say, some cloud storing app, the user has to be able to remove it.
Okay, now we have devices, that are comparable, that get updates guaranteed, that can be reverted to stock android, with unlockable bootloaders. And no device flood anymore. That’s good, now the not-so tech savvy user can pick a phone much more easy without fear.
The next thing is apps. I’ve been developing an app for the iPad, and have seen the appstore. These apps are mostly way better than these on the android market. This really makes me sad. This might be to apple enforcing some principles, which google might do, too. One of those things is UI responsiveness. And UI consistency, through providing easy ways to use the built-in animations, which look good and are speedy. I did not look enough into android developement yet to see if those things are there, too. But most android apps are not… consistent enough, using odd-looking animations, are not responsive, etc. Maybe some guidelines and changes in the SDK could help.
I would recommend google to certify android developers, too. Let’s say, the 100 best-selling developers will get more contact to google. Google will look into their apps. They maybe even could beta-test these apps. And google will not only give those developers the help they need, but also very early access to the new android versions, and even prototypes of devices. This makes shure, if a new version of android appears or a new devices, the most used applications will still work, and maybe even take advantages of new features of the platform or the device, instantly.
Also, google will pick interesting developers. If they see an app, that has a lot of potential, and is not (yet) selling well, they still can give the “google certified developer”-badge to those developers, to help them get to the top. Sure, there will be a badge on these apps on the market.
Sure, for the best apps there will be invitations to the google headquarter. Paid by google. Maybe even some kind of “The 100 best apps of the year”-website.
This way google can influence the android market to a certain degree, to help the apps get better, to increase the quality of apps.
Overall, this is kind of repression. Yes. I know that. But to a certain degree, the android platform need some kind of a helping hand. Think of it as a garden, where many flowers and plants grow. If there is no gardener, it will sure look like a mess after some weeks. If there is a gardener, it really can look beautiful. And that’s what we need in this case.
What do you think, is this a way google could go? Please don’t hesitate to comment!