Google Earth Now Available in the Google App Market

But it's not.

It's like when a company releases "The most advanced itemx ever!" it will only be the most advanced until something else comes out. Here's the thing, the Droid is still more than capable of throwing all that you can at it. Honestly I don't know what's holding up 2.1, I'm hoping it's for a valid reason.

But The Droid Does, apparently the Marketplace doesn't know that. It's not the phones fault.

🤣

This has been my issue with the Android platform from day one. The DROID is still a Google phone that had Google's input as well- there isn't even the "It's running Sense/Etc" excuse.

The Iphone is currently obsolete when you compare it to modern devices (screen resolution, processor, technology, etc) and yet I wouldn't say it is "useless."

Computers are ALWAYS obsolete the moment they hit the market. That's the nature of the business. The iphone skirts this by locking their platform to a single device that they update only once a year. Limiting the innovation of the device might make you feel better, but it doesn't solve the problem of products becoming obsolete

That is an excellent point. Far more eloquent than I would have put it. I usually just start hurling insults and throwing tantrums. Don't get me wrong, I agree that Android has some issues. But to bag on an older (and in this instance 'older' is purely relative) device because an app came out for a newer device/OS version, is dumb. It doesn't make the Droid any less capable than it was yesterday. And why does everyone cry foul when their device isn't updated to the newest OS immediately upon its release? If you can't wait, why don't you code it? BTW, the Droid WILL get 2.1, and then WILL get Google Earth. So quit whining.

It's a 3 month old device and it's already getting table scraps. If I dropped $200.00 on a state-of-the-art smartphone the day it came out only to find out a month later it's not even able to run the latest version of the OS but will "down the road" I'd be ticked.

There's no other way to spin it other than Google has no idea what they're doing managing this platform.

please tell me what 2.1 adds besides for cosmetic changes? even people reviewing it said there was no real reason to jump from the Droid.

2.1 for the Droid exists, a stable copy "leaked" (I think it was intentional)

There is something else holding them up. All Motorola Promised is 2.1 in Q1 of 2010. It's not the end of Q1 yet, so if you are ticked, you're not paying attention.

2.1 is perfectly capable of running the latest version of the OS, but it's not optimized for the device yet

Believe it or not, updating a phone is a lot more intensive than just flipping a switch and downloading the new software. The software has to be optimized for each device, then stress tested. Even Apple goes through this, but since they only ha...
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"Believe it or not, updating a phone is a lot more intensive than just flipping a switch and downloading the new software. "

Right, that's why when you manage a platform you ensure everyone (or almost everyone) is on the same page, and you time and stagger updates so that the platform is moving together- that's a fundemental rule. Microsoft, whose platform is ancient by comparison, does a better job than this.

And frankly, these are both "With Google" devices - not the "go run off and do what you want" devices.

A device is obsolete when it is no longer being actively developed for. You can say "this phone X has a higher resolution therefore the iPhone 3GS is obsolete" but that isn't true- the iPhone 3GS is currently in active development for the platform.

The DROID, by contrast, is getting table scraps and it's what, 3 months old now? That's a new record. That type of development is what limits innovation. A higher screen resolution isn't really innovation for the platform, but creating a unified market for new applications that push the boundaries is.

When Google Earth came out for the iPhone it was groundbreaking because EVERYONE with an iPhone could use it. But now with Android people who bought the flagship phone that DEBUTED 3 months a...
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The droid is still being actively developed. There are dozens, if not hundreds of apps that are released every week for it, there are quite a few that are droid only.

The Droid has one of the strongest development communities, and not everything they release is rooting (I had the news and weather widget, swype keyboard, 2.1 keyboard, and a lot of other things on my device well before root)

Motorola IS STILL DEVELOPING 2.1 FOR THE DROID. This is something you seemingly forgot. So this means the phone is still being developed for. As soon as it gets 2.1, it can get Google Earth.

You are saying a phone is obsolete because it can't get one STUPID APP (google earth is cool, but it's hardly needed)

I guess that makes the Iphone obs...
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I'm well aware 2.1 is coming...

but further versions are already coming to the Nexus One. This handset is 3 months into its life and it's already getting treated as legacy hardware- 6 months from now do you honestly think it'll be better or worse?

Tell me, which API are developers supposed to develop for, 2.1 for the latest features, 2.0, 1.6, 1.5? For a developer this is a HUGE deal.

And you still don't have multitouch in the browser, keyboard, or web.

Browser and web are the same thing.

and I do have a multi touch in my browser (Dolphin or xscope) and a multitouch keyboard is one of the few things 2.1 will offer, but honestly I don't miss it that much (word prediction>the benefits of multi touch imo). Still it will be a nice option.

I don't know enough about developing to know how difficult it is to code across platforms, but considering that 90%+ of all apps can be used on any version of android, I can't imagine it being too difficult.

and from the other post:
Android,even on "with google" devices are optimized for each device. WINMO, like normal Windows is created with so much extra code to handle every contingency it's one of the things that people hated about windows be...
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Well, it's actually like writing software for 12 different devices, whereas writing for Palm, Blackberry, iPhone, or likely upcoming WinMo7 is writing for one.

If I'm creating a game I've got two distinct levels of hardware acceleration (and Android lacks some of the API's Apple has provided to assist with things like texture mapping differences on device performance) , two distinct screen sizes, a variety of input methods (some don't support multitouch on a hardware level, some don't on a software level) , not to mention the issue of a d-pad or scroll button only being sometimes there. Oh, don't forget the keyboard issue.

Palm solved this with a flexible canvas for app development (if they can make it more efficient it will be a str...
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If it's getting worse, why are apps increasing and more "name" apps starting to appear. What I mean are apps that made it big on the apple store, or companies that are well known are starting to develop apps.

Keyboard issue? If the app needs a keyboard, they make it use the keyboard. pretty sure that's not an issue. I have yet to see one app that required a physical keboard (or takes advantage of it) besides some early Emulators, and most of them switched to wholly screen now.

And Blackberry has quite a few app issues. Storm being one, but also there are apps that run on the Tour that don't on the Curve, or at least they don't run well.


Apple didn't solve this problem, it wasn't a problem for them because they're control frea...
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Key word you're missing is "this year." As opposed to a definitive timeframe- that. isn't. good. And actually a lot of big-name companies are leaving or cancelling Android projects for this very reason (and look at the monetization of the Android marketplace if you have any doubts as to why.)

Next up, Adobe AIR is possibly the worst thing that could happen to Android- Adobe AIR applications will never perform as well or as efficiently as native applications. If there's more incentive for me as a developer to develop for Adobe AIR than with the native Android SDK, Android is in even more trouble.

Moreso when you consider that Adobe is now worse than Microsoft in terms of platform security and laziness. If AIR is how Android is going t...
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Definate time frames typically mean 1) rushed development 2) intentionally throttled development. You can't give a "set date" for something and be 100% sure, and continually setting dates and having to change them (even if this is only once every dozen times) harms your reputation.

The Droid launched when it said it would (not all phones do), the first update was pushed through when they said it would be, the

What big name companies are leaving android? I only read of one, and then I read a story a month later where they were coming back. On top of that,the number of paid apps IS increasing on the android market. not as fast as it might've on apple (since it's easier to get an app approved with Google, there are more people maki...
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The Droid launched when it said it would (not all phones do), the first update was pushed through when they said it would be, the third will be a bit delayed, but they said Q1 2010, so they still have more than 30 days.

Apple has set dates because they give themselves a YEAR to work on things or refuse to announce updates until they happen. It's easy to be "always on time" when no one announces what you're doing.

It's also easy to be "on time" when you've planned for development and haven't 'bitten off more than you can chew.' That's why managing your platform is essential to the strength of it.

Blizzard, Activision, Relic, RIM, etc. all are companies that do very well for themselves and don't give set launch dates until very close to actual launch, and even then have been known to push those updates back.

There is more than one way to run things

I really have to wonder is bluecoyote a apple troll?? I mean his so far beyond fanboy is is sicking. Blue android is here to stay, its set to come to your blessed AT&T in the next Q and we both know it. What are you going to do when VZ allows Iphone on its network? Trash it? I sell both VZ and AT&T and don't see either as all that special. The biggest difference I see is that agent reps and mangers for VZ work lot harder that the AT&T guys do. Other that that I sell what the people want. Man get real life and get over your hate for VZ.

I understand the concept of Android, but I've got the knowledge to call Google's BS. Their goal is noble- one platform able to run on a variety of devices in an open environment.

Unfortunately, you can't just say that and make it work, you have to establish a definition of the platform. You have to organize and manage development, collaboration and set up guidelines. That's what Google has been claiming to do, except you tell me why your 3 month old phone can't run the latest Android apps- from Google themselves nonetheless.

(BTW for your reference, that "Apple won't give Adobe access" thing is BS, they do have access to Core Animation and hardware acceleration (no other codec maker seems to have issues) - they've just b...
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No, they need access to the CPU layer, not core animation. Adobe works so much better on windows machines because it has native access to the processor and GPU. Apple refuses to allow them (or any other company) this level of access, which is why Flash can crash a Mac, but run fine on a bargin PC with a decent amount of ram.

And no, you don't need to be a development Nazi for things to work. Again, look at Google Wave, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Docs Templates. These are all programs that Google created, with very few limits on development, and look at how popular they are (with the exception of Wave because it's still new... but if you have it, you know how awesome it is)

Google likes creating a Sandbox (framwork) for developers ...
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How is this "table scraps"? That doesn't even make sense. Its one friggin' app. Why do you post here? Is it just to rag on Android at every available opportunity? Do something productive.

Totally agree. Do you really have nothing better to do then sit here and post negatively on every Android news update? You think Android sucks, I think we all get the picture. Just let it go, you only make yourself look bad because you fall down and worship a phone that censors EVERYTHING!!!!

What has the Pre censored?

you don't worship the pre, you tolerate it

I hate on crap, it's that simple, and Android's development model is crap.

So this 3 month old former flagship phone, what innovations has the Android platform brought on it? None- it's practically been forgotten about- Google is giving priority development to the Nexus One. That's pathetic.

Nexus one is directly in googles control. EVERY OTHER PHONE has to go through a manufacturer and a carrier.