The Iphone World

Posts Tagged ‘Android’

Nokia’s new chief executive has made the controversial decision to continue developing its in house operating systems MeeGo and Symbian rather than adopting Google’s Android operating system.

Stephen Elop revealed that the major decision was made owing to Nokia’s dwindling share in the smartphone market. Huge competitors such as Apple and Google have been dominating the smartphone market and have been forcing the Finnish giant out of the competition.

Nokia’s go-it-alone strategy, adopted by CEO Stephen Elop, was promoted at the European conference, targeted at application developers where the company showcased its new MeeGo operating system in a bid to take back its share of the smartphone market.

The decision has faced criticism from analysts, who believe Nokia may be better off getting on board the hugely successful Android bandwagon. Google’s Android platform has become the world’s second largest smartphone operating system in just two years and industry insiders are questioning Nokia’s decision to go-it-alone.

Elop’s decision to stick with MeeGo and Symbian software to operate its midrange smartphone has faced criticism, with some industry experts believing that Nokia could have developed a lot quicker, had it not always insisted so adamantly on being independent.

However, Alberto Torres, Nokia’s executive vice president for MeeGo computers, argues it also would tie its hands in distinguishing its smartphones with new innovations, ultimately benefitting Google’s search business at Nokia’s expense.

Nokia’s decision to push MeeGo over Android stems in part from MeeGo’s capability to support not only smartphones, but a variety of products consumers use including tablets, televisions and even automobiles, it says.

Jonathan Banner, a London-based software developer, said “I think they’ve got a strong chance, but it is early days” he added. “If they get MeeGo sorted out, it’s game on.”

Nokia’s big problem, though, has been Symbian, which has been plagued with complaints from consumers and software developers that it is stodgy and hard to use compared to Android.

This was a possibility we reported on back in January. Thanks to a high degree of API compatibility, those who have developed Android apps should have an easy time porting their work over to the QNX platform that RIM is using on the PlayBook’s OS and leaves open the possibility of having Android apps appearing on QNX flavored BlackBerry smartphones in the future.

Besides adding an app player for Android v2.3 apps, RIM is adding another app player for Java based apps for BlackBerry, which numbers about 25,000. The BlackBerry PlayBook, as we have told you, is expected to launch in the U.S and Canada on April 19th.

According to the press release, Android developers will have to repackage, code sign and submit an entry to RIM for approval.  PlayBook users will be able to download the apps and necessary app players from the BlackBerry App World. With a 1GHz dual-core processor, an open GL solution and the QNX software, RIM is able to bring Android apps to buyers of its first tablet.

Those attending BlackBerry World this May in Orlando (May 3-5) will be able to see demos of the new Java and Android app players. The app players will be available for the PlayBook sometime this summer

High five to whoever thought of that at blackberry. Take everything thats still good about a blackberry and give it a huge jump by allowing the worlds fastest growing app store to be compatable with it as well as its own apps.

“The BlackBerry PlayBook is an amazing tablet. The power that we have embedded creates one of the most compelling app experiences available in a mobile computing device today,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “The upcoming addition of BlackBerry Java and Android apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook on BlackBerry App World will provide our users with an even greater choice of apps and will also showcase the versatility of the platform.”

Developers currently building for the BlackBerry or Android platforms will be able to quickly and easily port their apps to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS thanks to a high degree of API compatibility.  The new optional app players will be available for download from BlackBerry App World and will be placed in a secure “sandbox” on the BlackBerry PlayBook where the BlackBerry Java or Android apps can be run.