Says Google employee:
“we are focused on shipping the first devices”
So we ARE going to get Android phones this year, and it is not only manufacturers that work on it. It is Google too - and possibly more Google than manufacturers.
New SDK v.m5-rc14. Yes, Google timed it to MWC week. Apparently it is a last minute release, the Congress is almost over. Developers say there are some stability issues, and no change to much waited telephony stack. I hold my judgement till we deploy it and test thoroughly.
Uh-oh. My startup just hit its first major challenge. Google Android Challnege deadline was extended by 6 weeks to April 14 !
In other words, upgraded (with many needed features) SDK is weeks away at best. That means my business strategy must be modified and my product roadmap must be modified. Better and more complex products, different customer focus (maybe), different budget and benchmarks - start steering off to the new course.
Welcome to the real world, Mr. Ammosov.
PS. Other developers also face similar strategy challenges.
http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/browse_thread/thread/e02649f553aace46?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/android-challenge/browse_thread/thread/d52a5f17d3a71136?hl=en
http://groups.google.com/group/android-challenge/browse_thread/thread/c5985763892219a5?hl=en
A blog reader asks if we plan any more software releases. Yes, stay tuned.
So, here we go, ladies and gentlemen. I am starting the Sadko Mobile blog with news that it is January 2, 6-01 pm Pacific standard time, and Android Challenge is LATE. Android homepage states clearly “Android Developer Challenge I: We will accept submissions from January 2 through March 3, 2008… A submission form will be available on this page starting on January 2, 2008.” - and the submission page is nowhere to be found. In places like Europe and Asia it is already December 3. So we now have the first major failure on behalf of Google to deliver.
Google Android challenge Usenet group was abuzz about the page from the very morning - see this discussion, for example.
What is most interesting about the Challenge is not the opportunity to submit ASAP itself - although many developers, including myself, already got submission-ready applications and stand ready to go - but rather, what the submission package will look like and what will be the terms of the contest.
I am looking forward primarily to legal stuff that can be either very favorable to the developer or get us sign away all our precious IP - depends on how the contest terms are phrased. A lot of us in the Android community bet heavy on the new platform and might be very willing - or very reluctant - to play the Challenge, depending on what’s in it for us (except for a check, which is relatively modest for Phase 1, compared to expected business benefits).
One more Challenge homepage refresh… no form. “Publish”.
PS. It turns out the problem is not legal but with the software.
Hello, Developers!
As you probably know, the Android Developer Challenge submission period for the first round is scheduled to run from today, 2 January, through 3 March.
Unfortunately final testing revealed some cross-browser bugs in the application we’ll be using to allow you submit your work. We’re fixing those now, and will have the site up and running as soon as we possibly can. At the same time that the submission application becomes available, we’ll also make the final Terms and Conditions of the competition available.
We apologize for the delay, and thank you for your patience!
- Dan
http://groups.google.com/group/android-challenge/browse_thread/thread/5fbad987d2b67145