Multitouch support was dropped from the Android platform, and therefore the T-Mobile G1, after Apple requested it not be included. That’s the latest rumor, apparently confirmed by an unnamed Android team member, who described the arrangement as an attempt by Google to avoid the IP aggression we’ve recently seen between Apple and Palm.
While the G1’s capacitive touchscreen certainly recognizes multitouch input – as recent hacks have demonstrated – and earlier builds of Android code included what’s believed to be Google-written, but subsequently disabled, multitouch support, the functionality did not ship in the released device. At the time, this was generally put down to Google’s ambitious launch schedule, promising an Android device by the end of 2008, and that lack of timing meaning that multitouch fell by the wayside. However it now looks as though its omission was purposeful, with Google prioritizing their good working relationship with Apple – and, some might say, common foe in Microsoft – over the handset’s eventual capabilities.
The unnamed source also confirmed the rumors that Intel is expending great efforts in supporting Android netbook development, suggesting that the chipset company is keen to be further involved in open-source budget ultraportable hardware. While Intel’s specific plans are unknown, the Android team member revealed that there are many different Android-based netbooks – as well as other, non-phone and non-netbook hardware – in development at present.
Working with Apple and not licensing anything under Apple while working around patents for you for free, for their gain is a smart move.
I agree, this seems plausible. Google heavily develops for the iPhone, they have alot to lose to make apple their enemy...
Working with Apple and not licensing anything under Apple while working around patents for you for free, for their gain is a smart move.
I usually get flamed (and most likely will right now) but this is clear evidence of Apple patenting a very broad spectrum covering touch screens and they will sue anyone whom uses any technology similar or the same. I could see if Google had opened the source for Apple's multi-touch system and implemented their code but they didn't that isn't the case and this is purely a clear case of patent trolling.
Just because Apple patented any process which involves putting more then one finger on a capacitive screen everyone is hostage to yet another frivolous patent which stifles innovation.
http://w2.eff.org/patent/wp.php
This crap needs to end, all these damn software patents and crippling innovation and the progression of technology.
However, now having come to light certain details about the patents Apple has been awarded, I think now would be prime time for Google and OHA to add certain multi-touch features to the OS and give access to multi-touch to developers to be incorporated into further application development. You see, in reality, the patents which Apple was recently awarded are very limited: they have not, and indeed, cannot patent gestures like pinching to zoom. This was in the original brief submitted by Apple for patent, but was not included in the final patents awarded to them based on that brief (likely on the grounds that such gestures had been in use long before Apple incorporated them into the iPhone).
Inasmuch as the multi-touch features do not infringe on the very limited patents recently awarded to Apple, there should be no legitimate case against Google and OHA for incorporating them. Does this mean Apple will not blow some smoke? Certainly not. Though they too have their relationship with Google to consider.
And if you guys think Apple is bad....sheesh...you should deal with some other companies. Honeywell, I'm looking squarely in your direction.
This is going to cost the devs that were hopeful, sitting waiting for multi-touch a lot of time and probably money, and i doubt their discouragement from that experience will permit the format change from apple to android any longer.
When you start limiting a platform from achieving what has widely become accepted in the PDA/smartphone world as the future and the new normal, you definitely start limiting the longevity of that platform as well.
I am going to go back to work now.. sit and check the market every once in a while for the apps that for months now haven't come, and won't be coming today...
The question becomes.. When these limited functionality paid apps start dropping, will the be written extemely well and make the android platform retain the mark of mediocrity, or will they be just as fail crazy and buggy as the rest of the platform and applications for it and let any idea of an Android Phone become the new razor....? I think netbooks, sure I'll buy an andoird netbook.. but when it has been beaten and abused for so long now in this market.. no thanks..
I need to see some exciting impressive stuff pretty soon or I will be hitting up ebay to get rid of this thing.. I still get excited about the game and all releases I see for other phones.. All i get excited about concerning G1 is updates to FIX my broke ass $400 phone, and when an app that is worth installing drops; not buying, not using, but merely installing...
OK I FEEL BETTER NOW SORRY. JUST BUMMED TO HEAR THAT. I AM STILL PROBABLY RIGHT BUT.. I LIKE MY PHONE. HOPEFULLY THE DEVS WILL COME THROUGH FOR US.
mo⋅nop⋅o⋅ly [muh-nop-uh-lee]
–noun, plural -lies. 1. exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices. Compare duopoly, oligopoly. 2. an exclusive privilege to carry on a business, traffic, or service, granted by a government. 3. the exclusive possession or control of something. 4. something that is the subject of such control, as a commodity or service. 5. a company or group that has such control. 6. the market condition that exists when there is only one seller. 7. (initial capital letter
I agree, this seems plausible. Google heavily develops for the iPhone, they have alot to lose to make apple their enemy...
Google is in a position to behave more like Wal-Mart (although I hate to hold them up as an example of good behavior, because they're a horrible comopany) -- basically, they say, "do it our way or don't play with us."
yes, you both are right in that Apple has as much to lose as Google does, but what does Google really have to gain from having a multi-touch android device...right now? If Google is in it for the long haul, they have more to gain from not engaging in frivolous cases making unwated enemies while they "build up" and establish an overwhelming powerful stance in the gadget world (with apps, services and OS/hardware). I believe Google will provide multi-touch at some point, when they have more to gain than to lose by doing so.
Google is immensly powerful, I don't think it's from making bad decisions...
Google is in a position to behave more like Wal-Mart (although I hate to hold them up as an example of good behavior, because they're a horrible comopany) -- basically, they say, "do it our way or don't play with us."
Also - They would never break for that reason, they may hate eachother in the end, they may not be as helpful in future app development, but they will not give up each-other's service. Google gets an additional 20 million eyes and counting from apple's iPhone alone (google is in the business of eyes) (random guess at the # but they sold 7mil units in 4th quarter so..) And apple gets to ride the web wave that google is piloting through the 21st century with dozens of new "features" for their devices and more.. If some CEO made the decision to brush off one or the other, they would be quickly removed and the position reversed.
It would be like if the US suddenly said they won't do business or let its citizens do business with the UK any more because the UK would let us say "Jolly Ho You Cracky Dannigans!"
mo⋅nop⋅o⋅ly [muh-nop-uh-lee]
–noun, plural -lies. 1. exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices. Compare duopoly, oligopoly. 2. an exclusive privilege to carry on a business, traffic, or service, granted by a government. 3. the exclusive possession or control of something. 4. something that is the subject of such control, as a commodity or service. 5. a company or group that has such control. 6. the market condition that exists when there is only one seller. 7. (initial capital letter
How about Google for monopoly? I wouldn't mind. No one else here is complaining. What does that say about us? (Google fanboys?)
I like Apple's UI tho, using Macdroid 2.33
Stock
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GOOG = 390 (+/-)
AAPL = 99 (+/-)
MSFT = 19 (+/-)
Everyone here is missing a critical part of this. Google didn't leave it out because Apple warned them, they left it out intentionally to boost Apple.
Google CEO Eric Schmidt is ON THE APPLE BOARD. Until he isn't, we will never, ever see anyone budge on the multi-touch at Google.
The only hope at this point is for Apple to back down on the scope of their claims.
Or that people in the open source community defy Google and start releasing the Android dev kit with multi-touch. But that is far less ideal because none of the android built-in apps will come with multi-touch awareness so this will continue to set us back.
I'm really hoping that all the myriad of prior art out there (I've posted the link to the TED multi-touch demos and other patents before apple) causes Apple to ease up on their claims.
Jeff Han full demo of multi-touch with pinching zoom, flick motions, etc.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcKqyn-gUbY"]YouTube - Multi-touch interface (from Adobe TED)[/ame]
Several Universities have multi-touch patents loooong before Apple or fingerworks.
A few references here too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-touch
mo⋅nop⋅o⋅ly [muh-nop-uh-lee]
–noun, plural -lies. 1. exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices. Compare duopoly, oligopoly. 2. an exclusive privilege to carry on a business, traffic, or service, granted by a government. 3. the exclusive possession or control of something. 4. something that is the subject of such control, as a commodity or service. 5. a company or group that has such control. 6. the market condition that exists when there is only one seller. 7. (initial capital letter
I don't know.. all speculation really but.. just don't think they can be considered at all monopolistic, or at all "the future". You pay them too great a compliment.
Just because Apple patented any process which involves putting more then one finger on a capacitive screen everyone is hostage to yet another frivolous patent which stifles innovation.
...
This crap needs to end, all these damn software patents and crippling innovation and the progression of technology.
Google is free to license Apple's (or any other company's) technology for use in their products; they had already done so with NavTech/NAVTEQ until a falling-out occurred. Google opted not to, much like Google was free to use a J2ME implementation for Android but instead opted to potentially fork Java by using the Dalvik VM, presumably because they don't want to pay royalties for things (note that abundance of open source technology used at Google, including the Linux kernel and the Python language).
You can hate Apple for whatever puerile reasons you have, but all companies patent things -- including precious Google, who tried to patent delivering ads to users based on their geolocation and customer behavior, something that another company put the kabosh on due to prior art. Google has, however, patented a data center in a shipping container, something seems pretty self-explanatory but Google will not doubt enforce that patent should another company put a data center in a shipping container and call it a day.
APPLE STOPE BING SCARED AND SUCH A BITCH AND LET ANDROID HAVE MULTI TOUCH.
This is also very unfair to all the other industry as well. Just cause of Apple Patent you have wait for Apple to come up with muti touch. Imagine every peach of technology you own is only patent and made by 1 Company.
There is hundred of application to Multi touch and now its not possible NO THANKS TO APPLE.
I my self own a Macbook and love but Apple come on give it up plz!
Google is biding its time to get their content (GoogleMaps, Gmail) entrenched in all mobile phone platforms. Once that's accomplished, they will be free to write their own ticket.
This reminds me of how M$FT took over the IBM PC. They did whatever they needed to do to make DOS the dominant OS on the PC platform, and the rest is history. At that time, it was M$FT's SW vs IBM's HW, and SW won. This time it will be Google's content vs Apple's SW, and I think content will win out in the end.
Limit their applications to the functional restrictions (requests) place upon their OS by Apple.
Limit their applications to the functional restrictions (requests) place upon their OS by Apple.
It makes absolutely no business sense to hold a grudge and intentionally damage your product on a competitor's platform.
I'm quite surprised (and saddened) that none of you have thought that Google would out-Apple Apple by inventing something better than multitouch, patenting it, and offer Apple to license its patent.
Limit their applications to the functional restrictions (requests) place upon their OS by Apple.
What's puzzling is why the GoogleMaps code on the G1 isn't open sourced. I wish they would release the code so we could get multi-touch on it like the browser in JF 1.41-RC33 (thanks JF & Luke!)
Apple (hate it or love it) will always be around like the macs are. Their fanboys are always going to be just a little annoying to talk to, but just knowing that Google is slowly taking over everything makes it all better.
APPLE STOPE BING SCARED AND SUCH A BITCH AND LET ANDROID HAVE MULTI TOUCH.
This is also very unfair to all the other industry as well. Just cause of Apple Patent you have wait for Apple to come up with muti touch. Imagine every peach of technology you own is only patent and made by 1 Company.
There is hundred of application to Multi touch and now its not possible NO THANKS TO APPLE.
I my self own a Macbook and love but Apple come on give it up plz!
Anyways..
@@Icky
@@Icky
Right now google has been using eyeball tracking tech to see where peoples vision is drawn... Wouldn't that turn into a great "input device"?
Just the twitch of a pupil and flick of an eyebrow to get to your favorite site lol.. No but seriously that will be fun to play with as we start seeing cameras put on the user side of the phone, passing 6mp, etc...
It makes absolutely no business sense to hold a grudge and intentionally damage your product on a competitor's platform.
I'm quite surprised (and saddened) that none of you have thought that Google would out-Apple Apple by inventing something better than multitouch, patenting it, and offer Apple to license its patent.
icky is absolutely correct that spiteful retaliation has no place in development/business because the consumers suffer and progress stalls.
but eventually, maturity will set in.
There is so much more to the Android platform than this. There's more to the Android platform than anything that Apple can muster with the iPhone and their self-imposed regulations on cross-platforming. Android is a platform for connectivity and application development and execution. It has potential far beyond the G1 or even mobile phones for that matter. In the very near future we will see Android on MIDs and netbooks. We will see Android in many embedded systems. Before long, Android will be in our living rooms, kitchens, cars, restaurants, hotel rooms, "you are here" terminals at the mall; the horizons for this platform are enormous. Oh, and we will see a bevy of smartphones based on Android this summer from multiple handset makers and cell carriers. Do we think for a moment that the inability to zoom in on pictures with a pinch (without making poor Apple vewy vewy angwy anyway) is going to hold back this platform? Can we really imagine multi-touch not becoming a part of this platform as time goes on?
Also, there are applications of multi-touch beyond what Apple has patented that many developers can and will take advantage of in the very likely event that Google allows developers to begin to take advantage of the capacitive touch capabilities (again, with time. Let things surrounding the multi-touch controversy cool down a little and little by little multi-touch capabilities will creep into Android; likely from third party developers first as Google begins to allow it).
Anyway, just my thoughts. We are not chasing Apple, people. Google is a company of innovators and Android is the ultimate platform for innovation; both by Google and, most especially, for third-party devs.
#2. This is not news. This was asked as a question at the G1 launch event and they said that the G1 was certainly multi-touch capable but it was not included as a feature due to IP reasons. Did anybody actually watch the launch event?
google needs to leak the info on how to include multi touch, someone else needs to make an application or an update file out of it. That way, google doesn't infringe, g1 users get the feature that their phones were designed with.
The g1 had multi touch capabilty from the get go. that fact is enough for me to justify mass infdrigement of apple's patent.
if you like that, check out the photosynth video. very cool. TED is a great site.
The demonstration clearly showed that the multitouch system was not implemented correctly - it took shortcuts that would have made it unfeasible for some applications (even though it worked fine for others).
Google nixed it because it wasn't ready, not because of Apple. Get over yourself with these rumors.
google needs to leak the info on how to include multi touch, someone else needs to make an application or an update file out of it. That way, google doesn't infringe, g1 users get the feature that their phones were designed with.
The g1 had multi touch capabilty from the get go. that fact is enough for me to justify mass infdrigement of apple's patent.
This has been going on for the last 25 years. Someone claims a patent, someone gets around it.... Someone blatantly violates it and then goes to court... Settlement normally forces a reasonable royalty.
Give it a few months and I'm sure we'll see Samsung or Palm get around it and Apple threaten to sue - it will go to court - and it will get settled.... Along with a proper revenue/royalty method to pay off Apple... Then you will see the original designers who may have "stale" patents come out of the wood work to sue Apple.
Someone will get around the patent, with likely a better way then the written up patent - or someone may not and violate it - forcing Apple's hand to settle.
Us hyping about monopoly isn't going to address this. If anything Apple has a significant patent portfolio, but so does Google. I see a settlement out of this within a few months. Likely it's down to how much will Google pay - and vice versa how much will Apple pay for Google patents they think they may not be violating.
In 25 years, none of these issues has presented a major product from shipping - it's how clever you are to get around the patent legitimately or can you trump the patent with something better. That has been Silicon Valley's legacy for years.
if you like that, check out the photosynth video. very cool. TED is a great site.
that fool sounds 100% like kip from napoleon dynamite
There is so much more to the Android platform than this. There's more to the Android platform than anything that Apple can muster with the iPhone and their self-imposed regulations on cross-platforming. Android is a platform for connectivity and application development and execution. It has potential far beyond the G1 or even mobile phones for that matter. In the very near future we will see Android on MIDs and netbooks. We will see Android in many embedded systems. Before long, Android will be in our living rooms, kitchens, cars, restaurants, hotel rooms, "you are here" terminals at the mall; the horizons for this platform are enormous. Oh, and we will see a bevy of smartphones based on Android this summer from multiple handset makers and cell carriers. Do we think for a moment that the inability to zoom in on pictures with a pinch (without making poor Apple vewy vewy angwy anyway) is going to hold back this platform? Can we really imagine multi-touch not becoming a part of this platform as time goes on?
Also, there are applications of multi-touch beyond what Apple has patented that many developers can and will take advantage of in the very likely event that Google allows developers to begin to take advantage of the capacitive touch capabilities (again, with time. Let things surrounding the multi-touch controversy cool down a little and little by little multi-touch capabilities will creep into Android; likely from third party developers first as Google begins to allow it).
Anyway, just my thoughts. We are not chasing Apple, people. Google is a company of innovators and Android is the ultimate platform for innovation; both by Google and, most especially, for third-party devs.
To sum it up the source that claims the same thing from a source over at Apple, they also say they didn't include a 3.5mm headphone jack because Apple asked them not to do to another patent they have on that .
I found the 2nd part hard to believe, but no official multitouch didn't surprise me, this OS is still in beta, a very stable and well built beta but beta nonetheless. They'll give us multitouch eventually i presume, if not no worries.
As for Apples patents, well let's see how they hold up when they go against Palm who have some very interesting patents of their own that the iPhone is in clear violation of .( read an article about it once, you can probably find it somewhere on digg if you're interested )
I also agree with everyone else saying that punishing Apple over the multitouch patent is just a bad business move, especially considering who Apple and Google are really against, the guys over at Microsoft.
I can almost believe the first part of the rumor. But one has to wonder about the validity when you look at the larger picture. First the fact that Apple would supposedly ask HTC and/or Google to leave a 3.5mm headphone jack off of the phone brings everything about the rumor into question. And, it's doubtful that Apple really has a patent on a 3.5mm jack on phones. I've owned phones before the iPhone came out that had 3.5mm jacks.
Then when you take into account that the new iPhone and Windows Mobile sync offered by Google is Microsoft's Exchanged licensed by Google. So trying to say that Google would leave it off of the G1 because of warm fuzzy feelins for Apple, and hatred of MS doesn't hold up. If Google really hated MS they wouldn't license Exchange to offer it to the general public for free.
I'm not saying that Apple maybe didn't ask Google to leave multitouch out of Android, but it seems less likely when you consider addtional information.
To sum it up the source that claims the same thing from a source over at Apple, they also say they didn't include a 3.5mm headphone jack because Apple asked them not to do to another patent they have on that .
I found the 2nd part hard to believe...
The fact that someone actually believes Apple did this takes the laughable notion to a much, much higher level of lol -- possibly over 9,000 lolmeters per millisecond.
If only one could find a way to harness the stupidity of the internet and convert it into clean energy, humanity would be set for a lifetime.
The fact that someone actually believes Apple did this takes the laughable notion to a much, much higher level of lol -- possibly over 9,000 lolmeters per millisecond.
If only one could find a way to harness the stupidity of the internet and convert it into clean energy, humanity would be set for a lifetime.
http://inventors.about.com/library/i...use_patent.htm