|
|
|
|
|
|
by OGinparadise
4841 days ago
|
|
|
Like Apple ? If you are going to lose it, bite the bullet, better now than later. Google is about to tighten the screws and Samsung et al will be on the losing end if they don't act now. They are no friendships or handshakes, Google has been fearing Samsung for a while and vice-versa, knives have been sharpened already. What happened to Apple and maps? Nothing, a bunch of bloggers were pissed, iPhones still selling like hot cakes, Samsung did their part but still. Now Apple has their maps and all data goes to Apple, not Google. Soon enough they'll get better, meaning Google loses. It's in Google's interests and they'll pay to have Apple, and Samsung to run Google Search and other G apps. But would you develop if Samsung Galaxy was out of "Android" ? Only time will tell. |
|
|
Look how iPhone vs. Android sentiment changed over time.
At first the majority opinion was that Android was capable but slow and unpolished.
Around 4.0, the majority opinion was that Android was getting closer to iPhone but not quite there.
The most recent sentiments are: Android is starting to outclass iPhone in some important areas (Maps, Google Now).
Obviously, it won't suddenly cause everyone to stop buying iPhones and start buying Androids, but if things continue, the tide will turn.
Simply stated: Google is out-executing Apple on software. Press, bloggers and everyone else are noticing that and people do care about what The Verge writes or that people like MG Siegler go from "Android is crap" to "Android is really, really good".
So yes, things like Maps and Google Now are important and hard to re-create by a company like Samsung (or any company, period). That keeps Samsung (at least for now) from forking Android and trying to squeeze even more revenue out of it for themselves.
Google's future control of Android will depend on how many important and hard-to-recreate pieces they can implement, and given that they are cloud services company first, they are well positioned to execute on that.