Google lays out Android roadmap, devs scheduled to get more love
by Chris Ziegler 
posted Aug 19th 2008 at 12:36PM
Google feels really badly about that several month-long stretch where it kept any and all updates to its Android SDK out of the public limelight, developers, honest, but it wants to make it up to you. It seems that yesterday's 0.9 release, which represented the first official SDK available with a platform even remotely resembling what Google intends to release on retail devices this fall, was just the first in a string of goings-on leading up to the grand 1.0 launch in the coming months according to a new roadmap published on the Android site. To start, there'll be "additional Android 1.0 (pre) SDK releases made available, as necessary" in September, followed by the first 1.0-compatible release in the Q3 to Q4 timeframe (that's any time between now and the end of December, for you calendar-disadvantaged folk). Finally, the Android source will leak out in the fourth quarter along with the first "Android 1.0 devices" -- pay special attention to the plural "devices" there -- and an announcement about Android Developer Challenge II. It gives us a warm fuzzy to see that Google's interested in keeping its devs engaged with these contests on an ongoing basis, because let's be honest: "prize money" has a much nicer ring to it than "VC money" ever will.[Via Talk Android]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gareth @ Aug 19th 2008 12:51PM
Ive been hoping and praying that the things like the icons shown in Android are just beta ones. They have that "ages 6-60" feel that some companies try to foster. What usually happens when your aesthetics try to appeal to everyone is that they appeal to no one.
Anyone else have any inkling what "devices" are being offered besides the Dream?
Patrick @ Aug 19th 2008 1:11PM
You would have to think that an almost free phone would be in the works. Google can only make money if they have a large user base, and nothing gets the attention more than free or almost free.
Arik @ Aug 19th 2008 1:29PM
I agree. Google seems to think that the super simple (read: unpolished) designs ideas that worked for google and gmail will translate to a cell phone. I want to see that polish, not because I like eye candy, but eye-candy implemented right can enhance productivity.
grull27 @ Aug 19th 2008 1:33PM
Is Android going to be on another phone available this year? I ask this because the HTC Dream is fugly.
mitipi1 @ Aug 19th 2008 2:07PM
Android is not a phone, it is the OS or software stack used on phones like the Dream, or whatever other hardware the manufacturers or carriers are planning, T-mobile being the most notable at the moment. All we have seen so far are screens from the standard SDK. I'm sure the UI will be tweaked to fit whatever is necessary.
Grant @ Aug 19th 2008 2:17PM
"devices" could simply be many dreams out there, not necessarily multiple MODELS of devices.
Jeff @ Aug 19th 2008 2:30PM
And how do you know it is fugly? Based on old pictures of a prototype? Do you always make decisions on unreleased products by looking at blurry camera phone pictures of pre-production prototypes that may or may not look anything like the final product?
MobileRoar @ Aug 19th 2008 3:53PM
It doesn't matter what the "icons" and "buttons" look like in the UI to be honest. OPEN SOURCE PEOPLE. You'll be able to mod all that with custom themes, custom buttons, custom UI, custom whatever...
http://androidforums.com
Kevin @ Aug 20th 2008 2:28PM
Google feels bad, not badly.