Why People Don’t Care About Open Source Like Android

By on May 10th, 2010 15

Are Android and Open Source projects the future? We find out the opinion of one power user who begs to differ.

The following is a guest post by Kerry Morrison regarding Open Source projects like Android. He is the founder of Reason Intelligent Design, a Vancouver based web marketing company.

Consumers don’t give a $hit about open systems / open source.

A big deal is made about it in the media, but when all is said and done, it doesn’t actually affect product sales or category winners. If it did we’d all be running Linux desktops.

The tech press get in a tizzy when a company, often Google these days, release a new open source device. There are all sorts of cries about how this is how computing should be and thank god a company has the gumption to free us from the chains of the closed system. Sure it’s fun to kick and scream at the big bad companies that build these so called closed systems, but at the end of the day it means very little.

The media-sphere is making a big deal today about the just released sales numbers showing Android outselling the iPhone in the US and how this is a sign of the public rising up and voicing their disapproval, no longer sucking at the teet of Apple and voting nay with their pocketbooks.

Know what I say to that. Blech.

The only two things this tells us is how much AT&T sucks and how fresh and new can, for a time, make sales.

No doubt the hype of a worthy iPhone competitor being available helps, though worthy is debatable when it comes to the current crop of Android phones. I for one also think that competition is healthy, what better way to spur innovation. But to view this as a cataclysmic turn of events in which the iPhone and Apple have been unseated is not only foolish, but flat out wrong. To note nothing of the fact that I don’t think Apple cares a lick about overall smartphone marketshare, or lagging behind Android by the reported 7% in US sales. Apple sold more iPhones last quarter than in any previous reporting period, not to mention that the iTunes store is the closest thing to a license to print money the business world has ever known.

As a sidenote. In my own second hand experience, I can tell you exactly why Apple isn’t worried about Android. Simple fact, people don’t love them. Hardware is nice, OS is ok, app store blows, Keyboard is atrocious ( do you think we’re going to write less on these type of devices, I don’t ). I now know half a dozen folks who excitedly bought the Nexus One when it was released in Canada. Not one of them kept it longer than a week.

For the others who have bought and are keeping their Android based phones…not a one has mentioned it being due to the fact the phone is of the open source nature variety.

Do you agree or disagree with Kerry’s opinion on Open Source projects like Android?

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  • http://twitter.com/lippo Mike LaPlante

    The Android OS is now on several devices, which kind of makes these sales figures that were released seem a bit like comparing apples to oranges. Also, not all Android releases are the same. You could walk into your local wireless carrier kiosk/store and pick up a half dozen Android phones and only two of them MIGHT have the same flavour of Android on it.

    Some phone manufacturers put their own skin on the OS. Others put older versions of Android on the device because the hardware doesn't support the latest version. Not quite the unified buying experience that iPhone buyers encounter when purchasing their smartphone of choice.

  • Pingback: Why People Don’t Care About Open Source Like Android | The Android Phone

  • http://twitter.com/gpmoo7 Mathieu

    99% of the Android users don't care about open source.

    But apps developers care about that.
    By making the Android open source, Google helps a lot the developer to see how to build great apps for Android.

    Not to mention the Android ROMs we can find out there for almost any Android devices. Without theses customs ROMs, my Android experience wouldn't have been the same.
    (Just compare stock Android ROMs on Rogers HTC Dream/Magic and CyanongenMod ROMs (Android 1.6 ou Android 2.1 beta).

  • rzz

    Sure, some folks in the media like to portray every little change in market position as a game-changing cataclysmic event, but this piece sure sounds like equally SEO-driven puff. Taking a blustery “no one cares about open systems” stance on an Android-focused blog? Know what I say to that. Blech. The strength of the open system is that you have choice, lots of choice, you have a choice in keyboard apps, a choice in phone hardware, a choice in just about everything, and if that's not enough choice for you you can even run an open ROM and have complete control. That and as a developer you don't have the overlords at Apple saying “no, sorry mister developer, Grand Theft Auto: Hooker Apocalypse IV is fine, but your Seal Clubbing game is simply too violent for our audience.

  • nostriluu

    I agree with what rzz said. Someday I'd like to see a breakthrough in expectations, free/open source/content as a competitive factor, something people expect. But I know how people are. And I think Kerry Morrison is living in his own perspective, because considering it's potential — people less as consumers than hobbyists, explorers, informed critics, makers — impact I rarely see free/open source mentioned in the mainstream press, even when talking about Android. When it is, the comments are full of support, but for sure today we're on the edges, and I think it's fair to expect that open source products should be good choices in every way past their low level terms of use. Which is one reason to be excited about Android, and there the number of different vendors is a clear strength. iPhone is at its lowest level open source too, but if patents and other legal baffles keep getting piled on it won't mean much for the commodification of what will eventually be most people's main computer.

    Also agree that soft keyboards are inferior, glad some Androids offer a real keyboard.

    Sceptical about the claim of N1 returns, since everyone I've run across who has one loves it.

    Anyway, I'm glad to see Android in Canada actually discussing an issue rather than just rephrasing a press release.

  • http://www.4r4nd0mninj4.ca/ 4r4nd0mninj4

    The first and only reason why I got an android phone was the open source operating system. Without that, I would have been locked into what ever crippled OS the carrier was to bestow upon me. I was tired of having to pay for ringtones, and music on my old phone. I knew that the android phone could be “r00ted” and I could do what ever I wanted with it. I upgraded from the HTC Dream, to the Magic and truly miss the hard keyboard, but have learned to live with out it. I fully intend to upgrade to the Nexus One as soon as I am out of college and back in the work force. Android Rocks! You just have to program it right.

  • DjDATZ

    I think the main thing people are forgetting is that the new iPhone is due out in a month and that is very likely the reason why iPhone sales have stagnated in the past month or two…

  • http://www.reasonid.com kmore

    Further to my original ramblings. Android vs iPhone sales. Bargain basement moves some units
    http://bit.ly/bflQ24

  • nostriluu

    The variety of Androids is a feature and a drawback. You can't get an iPhone with a keyboard, 8mpix cam, super high res screen, social consolidation, etc. But at the low level they're all running Android with the same decent browser, user friendliness, and most apps in common. Froyo is designed to get past the OS version problems.

  • Geoff

    Read his rant, then check out his website, then spend two minutes reviewing his tweet stream and his fb profile.

    He's a troll. It's his schtick. Don't sweat it. Love your Android or your iPhone or whatever works for you. Open v closed is irrelevant.

  • macedonia1903

    “Simple fact, people don’t love them. Hardware is nice, OS is ok, app store blows, Keyboard is atrocious” – According to who?

    If people don't love them, why are sales soaring? why are units still being purchased? why is the rate of returned devices considerably smaller than other smartphones?

    The hardware is amazing. Best parts you'll find a smartphone these days. iPhone doesn't even compare to the Nexus One specs.

    The OS is slick. Manageable. Customizable, with multi tasking and not boring like iPhone OS.

    The app store is great. What makes a Appstore anyway? 500,000 useless apps? yay! lets turn my phone into a starwars sword or sit around and watch a zippo lighter on my screen.

    The keyboard is just as good as any other touchscreen phone. Sure maybe some users find it to be a little flaky but thats a simple software tweek – coming out in a couple weeks.

    Have fun with your iPhone.

  • http://twitter.com/AverageGeek Average Geek

    The guy owns a company that builds iPhone apps. I think that says it all.

  • Pingback: Is Open Source the future? « Mario Trunz

  • http://twitter.com/AverageGeek Average Geek

    The guy owns a company that builds iPhone apps. I think that says it all.

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