"Android is an operating system." Pretty stupid statement, is it?
Well, I keep finding myself saying this over and over again to friends of mine who have bought either Motorola Cliq or Motorola Droid, both of which are Android devices. Folks never seem to stop being amazed that my G1 device has same menu system and tons of other interface elements.
Here are some of the the questions and statements I've seen, with their corresponding explanations in parenthesis:
- You have Verizon phone? Interface looks just like my Droid. (No, this is G1 phone that only works on T-Mobile GSM network. Verizon is CDMA. The reason it looks the same is because your phone and mine have the same operating system.)
- This phone has cube navigation, not sure I like this phone. (It's Samsung Behold II, it's Android operating system phone, you can get rid of the cube.)
- You have G1, but Cliq has so many apps! You should look into it. (Cliq and G1 are both using Android operating system, hence same apps will work on both devices.)
- There are not many apps for Droid, perhaps because it's brand new phone. (Phone is brand new, but operating system is not.)
- I'll take Droid and use it on T-Mobile. (No, Droid is a phone for CDMA networks, T-Mobile is GSM network. Android is an operating system that runs on the phone. Because T-Mobile has Android phones, doesn't mean you can take Verizon or Sprint phones and just use them on T-Mobile network.)
- I hear Android nowadays, what is this an application? (No, Android is an operating system.)
In addition, cell phone companies in USA aren't helping Android cause either. For example, Sprint calls their phones "Google phone", they do not mention "Android" in the ads.
The problem is clearly observed. A while ago, my friend said that he's worried for lack of identity/direction of Android. I dismissed that notion then, but now I am starting to have some thoughts about that as well.
I reckon it would be proper to mention this once again for closing — Android is an operating system.