Android-powered G1 phone is an enticing platform for app developers
The free and open source software community has been waiting for the G1 cell phone since it was first announced in July. Source code for Google's Android mobile platform has been available, but the G1 marks its commercial debut. It's clearly a good device, but is it what Linux boosters and FOSS advocates have long been anticipating?
Aha. Lets look at the details.
You won't forget for an instant that the G in "G1" stands for Google. The phone is preloaded with a cornucopia of Google-branded applications, including Google Talk, Google Maps, and a YouTube viewer. There is a POP/IMAP mail client, which works great, and a dedicated Gmail client with additional bells and whistles. When first setting up the phone, you must "associate" it with a Google Account, which allows the device to synchronize calendar, contacts, and Gmail messages over the air.
Aha. So the phone ties into your google account and now they can read your mail , address book , and everything. And know it's all you. And they're adding your phone to the list. Man , the US FEDS can't do that without a search warrent and suspicion you did something naughty, why are you letting this for profit company spy on your entire life ?
Ultimately, the importance of the G1 depends on what you as a buyer bring to it. If all you want is a good phone, or even a good Linux-based phone, the G1 is a winning proposition. If you want a "free software" phone, buy the Dev Phone 1 instead.
And if you work at Yahoo or Microsoft or anyone in competition with Google , stay the heck away from it you don't need them reading your private email and finding out what microsoft / yahoo is up to before anyone else does !
Yeesh ! Americans !
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