Comments on: The Google PC future? Free PCs and broadband from Google http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/ Invisible people have invisible rights Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:55:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: cimota|atomic » It’s phone week. Google dips a toe. http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-436599 cimota|atomic » It’s phone week. Google dips a toe. Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:36:22 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-436599 [...] had previously claimed that Google will release specs for mobiles and get someone to build them for as cheap as possible. That’s not exactly what’s happening here. Google is building an advertising platform [...] [...] had previously claimed that Google will release specs for mobiles and get someone to build them for as cheap as possible. That’s not exactly what’s happening here. Google is building an advertising platform [...]

]]> By: mj http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-436578 mj Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:17:00 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-436578 I'm prepared to eat a side-order of Crow but not a full portion. "Google today announced its long-awaited initiative for mobile phones, aiming to overturn the traditionally closed approach to cellphone software design. Now called the Open Handset Alliance, the push will see 34 different companies working together to create an open-source software platform that takes away licensing fees while adding the ability to easily modify code for new devices or features. Handset makers HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung have all pledged to implement the software as part of the group; the Alliance also includes key cellular carriers such as Sprint and T-Mobile in the US, Europe's Telefonica, and Japan's KDDI and NTT DoCoMo. Several component makers including Broadcom, Intel, and Qualcomm are also onboard, Google says. The platform itself, nicknamed "Android," will be Linux-based and will include several of Google's mobile services; unlike other mobile operating systems, however, the OS will not be branded or charge users for each program. The Mountain View, California-based company will instead collect revenues from ads that appear on Android phones. A software development kit (SDK) for programmers interested in writing programs for Open Handset Alliance phones will be available within a week and should give programmers an early start on writing interfaces and applications. This already includes support for touchscreens, GPS, and other hardware features, and can merge information from Google apps with other utilities; a social networking tool can use Google Maps to locate nearby friends, as an example. Phones shipping with the technology are expected in the second half of 2008 but have not been mentioned by name." I’m prepared to eat a side-order of Crow but not a full portion.

“Google today announced its long-awaited initiative for mobile phones, aiming to overturn the traditionally closed approach to cellphone software design. Now called the Open Handset Alliance, the push will see 34 different companies working together to create an open-source software platform that takes away licensing fees while adding the ability to easily modify code for new devices or features. Handset makers HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung have all pledged to implement the software as part of the group; the Alliance also includes key cellular carriers such as Sprint and T-Mobile in the US, Europe’s Telefonica, and Japan’s KDDI and NTT DoCoMo. Several component makers including Broadcom, Intel, and Qualcomm are also onboard, Google says.
The platform itself, nicknamed “Android,” will be Linux-based and will include several of Google’s mobile services; unlike other mobile operating systems, however, the OS will not be branded or charge users for each program. The Mountain View, California-based company will instead collect revenues from ads that appear on Android phones.

A software development kit (SDK) for programmers interested in writing programs for Open Handset Alliance phones will be available within a week and should give programmers an early start on writing interfaces and applications. This already includes support for touchscreens, GPS, and other hardware features, and can merge information from Google apps with other utilities; a social networking tool can use Google Maps to locate nearby friends, as an example. Phones shipping with the technology are expected in the second half of 2008 but have not been mentioned by name.”

]]> By: mj http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-432770 mj Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:32:44 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-432770 Bernie: That's a computer. Just a thin one Bernie: That’s a computer. Just a thin one

]]> By: Bernie Goldbach http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-432495 Bernie Goldbach Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:29:18 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-432495 You don't need a computer in the house to actualise this vision. You simply need a compact black box that plugs into your broadband connection. The black box houses the Google Personal Connection, updates itself dynamically and links over DECT to a handheld device that you prefer. Make mine the DECT/IR remote controller that ports data onto my television via smart SCART. These components already work inside the Nokia connected home which means they could be easily rebranded with the Google Personal Connection logo. You don’t need a computer in the house to actualise this vision. You simply need a compact black box that plugs into your broadband connection. The black box houses the Google Personal Connection, updates itself dynamically and links over DECT to a handheld device that you prefer. Make mine the DECT/IR remote controller that ports data onto my television via smart SCART. These components already work inside the Nokia connected home which means they could be easily rebranded with the Google Personal Connection logo.

]]> By: Tiny Planet » Green Google http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-431924 Tiny Planet » Green Google Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:53:00 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-431924 [...] Perhaps it will help fuel the Google global conquest that Damien has predicted. [...] [...] Perhaps it will help fuel the Google global conquest that Damien has predicted. [...]

]]> By: mj http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-431734 mj Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:55:00 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-431734 The problem with your "vision", Damien, is that it isn't new. CHRP, Amiga....and others tried to give away designs but where's the advantage of freely available hardware designs? No advantage to the hardware manufacturer for sure. Google won't. Trust me. The problem with your “vision”, Damien, is that it isn’t new. CHRP, Amiga….and others tried to give away designs but where’s the advantage of freely available hardware designs? No advantage to the hardware manufacturer for sure.

Google won’t. Trust me.

]]> By: Damien http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-431732 Damien Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:49:30 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-431732 The issue with anything Mac is they will not allow it to be given away for free. Same as the iPhone. Google will release specs for mobiles and get someone to build them for as cheap as possible but Apple will never go for that. Cheapen their brand! The issue with anything Mac is they will not allow it to be given away for free. Same as the iPhone. Google will release specs for mobiles and get someone to build them for as cheap as possible but Apple will never go for that. Cheapen their brand!

]]> By: Fintan Palmer http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-431716 Fintan Palmer Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:39:42 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-431716 Agree with previous comments about how the Google PC you describe sounds a bit like the Mac Mini - although a lot cheaper. For some disturbing reason I also get visions of an Amstrad (but from a company with a lot more style and money). Agree with previous comments about how the Google PC you describe sounds a bit like the Mac Mini – although a lot cheaper. For some disturbing reason I also get visions of an Amstrad (but from a company with a lot more style and money).

]]> By: mj http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-431649 mj Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:59:18 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-431649 Hi Emmet, The Mac mini is not ...ahem... discontinued. And the AppleTV probably represents more of the "thin client" that Damien was suggesting. That said - the only time I would consider a machine without multi-GB internal storage would be the day I sign up with a telco I can trust. Hi Emmet,
The Mac mini is not …ahem… discontinued. And the AppleTV probably represents more of the “thin client” that Damien was suggesting.

That said – the only time I would consider a machine without multi-GB internal storage would be the day I sign up with a telco I can trust.

]]> By: Emmet http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/comment-page-1/#comment-431630 Emmet Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:41:43 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/2007/10/30/the-future-free-pcs-and-broadband-from-google/#comment-431630 Just to focus in on the hardware aspect of this, I think you're totally right that stripped-down PCs are going to be the big trend in the future. There's no need for the capabilities that are provided by Moore's Law to keep being reflected in personal computers, especially since we're effectively outsourcing most of our processing work to centralised servers now. As MJ says, the Mac Mini (although sadly now discontinued) was probably an early leader here. While we're predicting though, my guess is that the PC of the future won't have a built-in HD at all -- on the rare occasions that you need local storage, just plug in a nice big USB key. Other that that, store everything online. You might be interested in checking out <a href="http://www.linutop.com/" rel="nofollow">Linutop</a> (and <a href="http://blog.thoughtwax.com/2006/11/linutop-less-is-more" rel="nofollow">my post</a> about it), a low-power Linux computer that kind of fits this description. Just to focus in on the hardware aspect of this, I think you’re totally right that stripped-down PCs are going to be the big trend in the future. There’s no need for the capabilities that are provided by Moore’s Law to keep being reflected in personal computers, especially since we’re effectively outsourcing most of our processing work to centralised servers now. As MJ says, the Mac Mini (although sadly now discontinued) was probably an early leader here.

While we’re predicting though, my guess is that the PC of the future won’t have a built-in HD at all — on the rare occasions that you need local storage, just plug in a nice big USB key. Other that that, store everything online. You might be interested in checking out Linutop (and my post about it), a low-power Linux computer that kind of fits this description.

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