“It’s nothing personal, guys… But even if the decision to shaft its closest Android partners and biggest customers is an aberration, a one-off, a fling that Google will later regret – then the size of the parties involved means it’s going to have lasting repercussions,” Orlowski reports.
“There are over a dozen Google phones. Only one is a real Google phone. Only one is a Google superphone. And you can only get that from Google. Won’t Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Acer and Samsung be feeling pleased today? Sony Ericsson’s X10 has a fairly identical spec (plus Sony branding) or better – but it’s not a ‘superphone.’ And not the ‘real thing,'” Orlowski reports.
MacDailyNews Take: “Superphone.” We’re still laughing at that one.
Orlowski continues, “If you thought there was a level playing field, you’ve been mugged. If you’re looking for a differentiator, similarly, you’ve been mugged.”
In addition, “Google stoked the bogus ‘net neutrality’ scare (directly writing legislation for the European Parliament, in one instance) which handicapped the network operators’ ability to monetize their network fairly (by say launching a VoD service) ensuring that Google’s own private network (exempt from neutrality rules) becomes more valuable. Neutrality was the Global Warming scare of network world. ManBearPig may not exist, but it’s amazing what you can get legislated if enough people think it does.”
MacDailyNews Take: As we’ve already stated regarding this issue (among others): “We usually prefer the government to be hands-off wherever possible, Laissez-faire, except in cases where the free market obviously cannot adequately self-regulate (antitrust, for just one example). Regulations are static and the marketplace is fluid, so extensive regulations can have unintended, unforeseen results down the road. We sincerely hope that there are enough forces in place and/or that the balances adjust in such a manner as to keep the Net neutral.”
Orlowski continues, “Remind me, what’s open about Google now? Another casualty for the same reasons, is surely the Open Handset Alliance itself. It’s odd to read how: Each member of the Open Handset Alliance is strongly committed to greater openness in the mobile ecosystem. Increased openness will enable everyone in our industry to innovate more rapidly and respond better to consumers’ demands. ‘Innovating in the open’ now means ‘getting ready to shaft you behind closed doors.'”
“As for the winners, Apple suddenly doesn’t look so bad. Operators hate being told what kind of subsidy they may offer, and chafe at the control freakery. But at least the iPhone is a surefire hit, it drags in the punters. None of Google’s models – either demiphones or Superphones – have shown they can,” Orlowski writes. “And Apple’s terms are much less onerous than a year ago.”
Full article – very highly recommended – here.
Funny to see Orlowski attacking Google. He used to attack Apple over iTunes DRM.
I can’t believe Noodle err Google is calling it a “SuperPhone”! Thats hilarious.
If Sony and all of the other also-ran hardware makers don’t bother to develop their own OS, I don’t see how they can bitch about the free one they got from Google.
You get what you pay for.
What amazed me most about “Net Neutrality” was how many people seemingly just read the name, then assumed All Is Good.
My brother had a Rottweiler named “Buddy”. Didn’t mean “Buddy” wasn’t put down after attacking his then 5 year old nephew!
Anyone know how to change the default google search in Safari into something else? I Did it on my iPhone and I’m ready to make the switch on my browser now.
MacDailyNews says: “Regulations are static and the marketplace is fluid, so extensive regulations can have unintended, unforeseen results down the road. We sincerely hope that there are enough forces in place and/or that the balances adjust in such a manner as to keep the Net neutral.”
Laissez-faire capitalism has never really been tried, for obvious reasons. Even the most libertarian economist on the planet agrees that the rule of law (that is, regulation) is always necessary to keep the bullies from stealing your lunch money.
I might add that the Constitution, like most regulation, is basically static and that’s a good thing. The marketplace PREFERS to have stable regulation so that it can plan long-term instead of constantly reacting to the shifting playing field. Note, too, that a wisely written regulation (not unlike a good Constitution) is sufficiently broad and fair, with no special loopholes carved in it, that the playing field remains as lever as possible for everyone. There is not a corporation on this planet, however, who doesn’t have paid lobbyists clamoring for changes to regulation that, in effect, guarantee special privileges to enhance profits. Google just happens to be the easiest one to spot right now because they’re one of the few companies today willing to flash all their cash.
gRen,
MDN has links for changing Safari’s search engine here:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/23558/“
Mike,
You obviously missed this part of MDN’s Take:
“We usually prefer the government to be hands-off wherever possible, Laissez-faire, except in cases where the free market obviously cannot adequately self-regulate (antitrust, for just one example). “
So, are you disingenuous or just retarded?
Google also shafts non-Islamic religions:
What’s Islam? Don’t Ask Google
1. When can I vote for MDN’s Take writer for U.S. President?
2. By the end of 2009, Gallup reports that 40 percent of Americans self-identified as conservative, up from 37 percent in 2008. Moderates clocked in at 36 percent, down from 37 a year earlier. And 21 percent of Americans self-identified as liberal, down a point from 2008.
@ tired of retards: I was agreeing with MDN. Keep your snide comments to yourself if they don’t add to the conversation.
iPhone must be a SUPER DUPER PHONE
Let the carnage begin
Common Sense,
Ol’ purple lips is a one-termer.
@superior being: to what yahoosoft or bing?
Historian,
I asked my doctor if Obama’s purple lips could be an indication of an oxygen supply issue.
My doctor replied, “Well, it is rather hard to breathe when your head is up your ass most of the time.”
Sony Ericsson’s X10 (it’s forthcoming “flagship phone) also will come with Android 1.6, not 2.1. Pretty stupid for both Sony and Google.
If Google had any sense at all, they would at least bribe, cajole, threaten and/or entice the OEMs to use the latest Android OS builds. Having 4 or 5 versions of Android being offered simultaneously is absolutely idiotic.
If all these idiots continue to use the Android OS, it will simply turn in to a commoditized business just like how the PC industry is. Eventually, the only thing they can compete on will be price and each of them will be fighting for pennies.
iPhone is a Megaphone!
There is never a reason to click the whores at the Reg. Ever. They are such whores, they make Pelosi look like Mary Poppins.
Apple should correct the limits of search engines in safari, the best way to find neutrality in the war of search engines is to propagandize metasearch engines like mamma, pandia, Etc. The most effective for me is http://Www.ixquick.com
so metasearch is the answer Mr
“Superphone”??
I don’t get it, I prefer a device that ACTUALLY DOES everything and not a device that COULD do almost everything.
I don’t understand how people like things that “look alike” and not the real thing.
What was the title of this thread again? I’m confused.
Google pulls a Zune.
I wish apple would get into the search biz
@Genius Onsite
No the iPhone is a “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” phone!
“The roots of the word have been defined[3] as follows: super- “above”, cali- “beauty”, fragilistic- “delicate”, expiali- “to atone”, and docious- “educable”, with the sum of these parts signifying roughly “Atoning for educability through delicate beauty.” ” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Sorry, the Nexus One is not a Super phone.
The iPhone is not a smart phone, Super Phone, Mega Phone, Superduper Phone, or any of the same.
But it is a GOD phone!
@Jubei
Google is calling the Nexus-One as a “Super Phone”, because after hours of no customer support and being transferred from Google to T-Mobile to HTC, the Google phone, thanks to it’s frustrated former owner, is able to “leap” tall buildings by a single toss! : )
“it’s amazing what you can get legislated if enough people think it does.”
Amazing? I’d say sad, predictable, crippling, mind-numbingly stupid … but amazing? No.
To keithbporter: yeah, I agree with you that is why I think apple should buy a metasearch engine, it is like be seated on top of the google and its competitors.
@Brau
Brace yourself for Health Care!
Coming to an Emergency Ward near you!
Funny how Andrew Orlowski is excoriated on this site as a horrible journalist when he attacks Apple, but is “highly recommended” when he attacks Google.
(And really, the righties are attacking Obama’s facial features now? Wow, you guys aren’t even trying to hide your true color any more.)
——RM
2009: Googlists believe Google should rightfully be given the title of “God”
2010: Google SUCKS
Breaking news – at CES in Vegas users cannot get their iPhones to work; Android users on Sprint and Verizon uneffected:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/01/at_the_worlds_largest_high-tec.html
@Marlo
It’s unaffected, not uneffected!!!!!!!!!!!!
@LordRobin
“(And really, the righties are attacking Obama’s facial features now? Wow, you guys aren’t even trying to hide your true color any more.)
You hit the nail on the head. Republican/Conservative = Racist.
It was only a matter of time before they showed their true colors!
“but it’s not a ‘superphone.’ And not the ‘real thing,'”
Just what the hell IS a superphone?!?!?
. . . other than a marketing catch phrase?
and isn’t the “real thing” made by HTC?
Sounds like a “Supperphone” about to be eaten by Apple.
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shafting android partners? more like showing them how it’s done
None of this BS from Apple. Verizon will get the iPhone – nothing more nothing less.
Verizon now doubt is not happy with Google about the Nexus One when they are trying to promote the Droid.
I have two words for Nexus One purchasers: ‘Nexus Two’…
Reading this kind of rape-the-collaborator story is sooo Microsoft.
And it also brings to my mind how unusual Apple really is. Often Apple are considered a PITA by collaborators, locking up their control of their products, required certification for iPod hardware, certification of iPod Touch and iPhone software, general control freaks! But remarkably rare is a royal rape job on their collaborators.
As the story above indicates: Google’s dumbass attitude and blunders makes one realize that Apple isn’t ‘all that bad’, Apple are remarkable.
So anti-Mac-fanbois. Are you getting the hint about why we put up with you little twerpy trolls and always have a sane, sensible retort to send you on your way? It’s not hard to defend companies that aren’t out to screw you.
Just leave it at that. Apple aren’t out to screw you.
As for Google and Microsoft and Sony and Walmart and …