Android: making linux mainstream?

[bwhite82]

Never before have I heard so much chatter about things that used to largely be relegated to Linux geeks (like myself). As an example, a coworker of mine recently joined the Android phone ranks with a purchase of the Moto Droid. She was coming from the iPhone and to be quite honest, not the "techiest" of persons. Nonetheless, this is the conversation that recently took place (basically. can't remember word for word):

"I took your advice and jumped ship." *holds up Droid*

"Niiicce." *smiles* "Hows it coming along then?"

"I like it! I recently installed Cyanogenmod with the undervoltage kernel."

"Wow! not wasting any time are we? You had no problems with this?"

"Well, I had to root first, had a little trouble with that, but then it was easy."

I didn't feel the need to ask her if she actually knew what "root" and "kernel" actually was and she may very well knew. But my point is, I haven't heard these terms come out of anyone's mouth (other than my own) in real life, as I know no other Linux geeks in person (only on the intertubes).

I read many tech sites religiously for news, I keep coming across non-geek types using terms such as:

kernel, root access, su, superuser, file manager, terminal, open source, etc.

These are exciting times to live in for nerds, not only for the industry as a whole but for Linux. I applaud Google for bringing Linux to the masses, even if it is somewhat hidden under a slick UI.



EDIT: Share your thoughts please. I am interested to know if anyone else sees this happening.

[TetsuoD]

Shall I crank that?

[bwhite82]

Shall I crank that?

Sorry, I must be out of touch with the latest lingo. Could you clarify?

[TetsuoD]

Sorry, I must be out of touch with the latest lingo. Could you clarify?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UFIYGkROII

[bwhite82]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UFIYGkROII

Ah, I see. I used to be more of the *real* soldier-type. Nothing against the musician that you linked to. As far as I know, the only rapper that had a true claim to "soldier" was Master P back in the day. "Make em say uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggg. na na na na."

[ZeroSpawn]

That is hot. I just hope linux can make its way into the world via devices like cell phones, cars and etc.

[TetsuoD]

ah, i see. I used to be more of the *real* soldier-type.

:p

[bwhite82]

That is hot. I just hope linux can make its way into the world via devices like cell phones, cars and etc.

Eh? That is exactly what Android is doing, yes even in cars:

http://mashable.com/2010/03/19/android-roewe-350/

[madjr]

Eh? That is exactly what Android is doing, yes even in cars:

http://mashable.com/2010/03/19/android-roewe-350/

the coolest thing is that Android could also become one of the biggests Gaming platforms of the future:

http://mashable.com/2010/03/24/nvidia-tegra-android-tablet-demo/


unreal engine3 on the tegra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlOTcs-effU


Android trailing in on the iphone, surpasses rim and symbian. windows mobile no where to be found

http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/files/2010/03/AdMob_mobilOS_feb.png

but symbian is also Open source now, hmm.

seeing how Android phones havent even reached my country yet, so when it reaches the rest of the world the numbers will turn

[madjr]

"I took your advice and jumped ship." *holds up Droid*

"Niiicce." *smiles* "Hows it coming along then?"

"I like it! I recently installed Cyanogenmod with the undervoltage kernel."

"Wow! not wasting any time are we? You had no problems with this?"

"Well, I had to root first, had a little trouble with that, but then it was easy."

I didn't feel the need to ask her if she actually knew what "root" and "kernel" actually was and she may very well knew. But my point is, I haven't heard these terms come out of anyone's mouth (other than my own) in real life, as I know no other Linux geeks in person (only on the intertubes).

I read many tech sites religiously for news, I keep coming across non-geek types using terms such as:

kernel, root access, su, superuser, file manager, terminal, open source, etc.

These are exciting times to live in for nerds, not only for the industry as a whole but for Linux. I applaud Google for bringing Linux to the masses, even if it is somewhat hidden under a slick UI.



EDIT: Share your thoughts please. I am interested to know if anyone else sees this happening.


looks sell ;0

makes u do stuff u wouldn't normally do

hardware to the masses

hmm while linux has succeeded , i feel something is missing..

i want it to succeed in the desktop too

linux on the desktop could succeed a lot more today, but are we our own worst enemy ?

[vaustvest]

android phones is selling 60,000 per day (http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/02/16/google-now-shipping-60000-android-handsets-per-day/).

it could overtake iphone in just a year, that is why apple files a lawsuit against it to slow it down.

[madjr]

android phones is selling 60,000 per day (http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/02/16/google-now-shipping-60000-android-handsets-per-day/).

it could overtake iphone in just a year, that is why apple files a lawsuit against it to slow it down.

interesting

did you know 4.0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8) says that mobile devices will become the primary way to access the internet

i wonder if android/chromeOS on the desktop will open up the door for linux in general

[bwhite82]

interesting

did you know 4.0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8) says that mobile devices will become the primary way to access the internet

i wonder if android/chromeOS on the desktop will open up the door for linux in general

My guess is no. I sorta like the direction that Google is going with ChromeOS, but I think it needs to be a little more full-featured. More me at least (and I suspect many others as well), using a computer is for much more than the internet, even though it may account for the most usage on said computer.