Android and Symbian Duke it Out Over Open Source
By Simon Sage on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 6:14 AM PST In Android, Developer, Symbian
“Android is not open, it’s a marketing label. It’s controlled by Google (NSDQ: GOOG). … [It's] just another Linux effort with a popular consumer brand attached to them,” said Symbian Foundation director Lee Williams in a recent interview. Yow. Dem’s fightin’ words. In retort, Google VP of mobile Rich Miner took a stab at the Symbian Foundation: “I’d say that if you need to join some sort of a club in order to get access to the source code – so membership in some consortium or some other group – then it really truly isn’t open.” Oh man, the gloves are off now, aren’t they? Let’s be fair, neither side is entirely clean – one recoups costs by membership, the other through controlled commercial rollouts. Neither is really the utopian epitome of the open source movement, even if it’s at the core of both of their strategies. Any developers in the house have a particular preference?
[via Silicon]
I’ve never used/owned an Android Device. However, I’m pretty sure I’ll be willing to ditch my Symbian phone for an Android device.
Android just seems better.. Symbian is so 2005!
Simon, you should create an OS poll, similar to what Will’s done w/ the iphone and Pre
It would be interesting to see what everyone’s favorite OS is, or what they’re most excited for.
Good call, Zak! After seeing the turnout for that first poll, we’re going to start doing them every week. Probably recycling that same Mortal Kombat background every time, too.