I am sure you guys have already noticed the Indian government’s plan to launch a $35 tablet PC for students. They are planning to bring it down to $10 in near future. Many of the big gadget websites have covered it.
Is this tablet running on Android Operating system by Google ? Or a modified version of it ? Okay, lets check out two screenshots.
First Screenshot is from a random Android phone. Search android UI in Google and you will find many of them.
Now, let us see how a screen capture from a video report on a National channel about our Indian tablet, ( wish it had a name !! ).
Click on the image above, to view full size. I’ve added the original video also, in case you don’t believe this .. So now you tell me, Is Indian government’s new Tablet PC running Android ? Did they announce on the press meet ?
I have been reading about the phone a lot these days, and all those android blogs I am following is filled with Nexus one news pictures and videos these days.
What is the latest News ?
Well, the latest info is the greatest. Google has invited press persons for an “Android Event” on January 5th, 2010. We have strong reasons to believe that they will be announcing the phone during this event.
Now, the basics for a Newbie.
Wondering what this google phone is ? Let me give you a brief introduction, and all the basic info you need to have, about Google’s new venture.
Why is it called the Google Phone ? : It runs Android, an open source mobile operating system developed by Google. Hardware built by HTC, but sold and supported by Google. Yes, Google is going to sell this phone directly !
Specs of Google Nexus One
Android 2.1
11.5mm thick
512MB RAM,
512M B ROM,
4GB microSD in-box expandable to 32GB
5 megapixel camera with mechanical AF and LED flash
3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display
Sounds good ? Nexus one is going to be one powerful plus beautiful device, and with google supporting it and selling it ( price subsidies, may be ? ), there seems to be a good future for this phone. Apple, iPhone .. watch out !
A few Google Employees were lucky enough to get this device few weeks back, as part of a test run. Google had confirmed this news through a blog post and that’s from where all these pictures of the device come from.
For more pictures, news and videos, click here and also, subscribe to the RSS feed here, and you will get more updates from me too !
Android is being picked up by Laptop and Netbook manufacturing companies. We saw Dell testing Android on their netbooks, and Acer announcing an Android based netbook being developed. So, an important question that we need to find answer for is, about the future of prices for these android based Netbooks and Laptops.
What makes Netbooks popular ? Yes, small, light, compact etc .. agreed, but price is also a very important factor for their growing popularity. When the world started noticing netbooks coming, most of the geeks expected Linux making it big on Netbooks market. Well, it did, to a large amount, and then Microsoft gained their space too, with their Windows XP running most of the netbooks. So, right now, most of androids come with windows XP, and that adds a certain amount to their cost.
Netbooks can go further, if we can bring prices down, and the best way to do this, is to get rid of the additional cost of an Operating System. Now, not everyone will accept Linux on Netbooks, just because it is not windows, or it does not look like Windows. What’s the solution ?
My answer to this question, is Android. As mentioned on another blog post here about Android, google can be a motivation for people to try another OS, it will be a “feel good factor” for this open source OS, that it is from Google, the great. With a free OS that’s popular, and easy to use, prices will come down, and more people can afford a Netbook, and I think that will be really good.
Surprise !! you can now download Android Live ISO file, and test your skills on android OS ! Download it from this page. I will try this cd and let you all know about how it works ! Stay tuned !! and yes, you can follow them on twitter here
I know this is too much to ask for now, but, still I am really interested to learn this. Installing Android on netbook/laptop that is.
It may take some more time before we actually see Android on Netbooks, and Laptops etc. But, there are some news here and there about people installing Android on their netbooks and nokia phones etc. I am still searching for an article that explains how to do this. ( if you guys know something of that kind, please leave a comment here )
I find tutorials on how to install Google Android SDK ( well it works only on Linux, or Apple’s OSX as of now !! ) but no luck on finding something about installing Android OS itself.
I am only a Linux user, not an expert. I feel good to tell you that I am linux user. Because, when I look around, I see only linux geeks, or linux experts and very very less linux users.
Understanding Linux as a user
The open source theory is not my attraction. I use Linux because it is a good operating system and that’s the only reason.When I write about Linux, I am not preaching freedom and open source or any of those theories… but I am trying to tell you about a good operating system that I use.
My job introduced Linux to me as an operating system that does almost everything that windows can do, and lot of things that Windows can not do. I used linux because I had to, and I did not leave Linux because I started loving it.
This will not happen very often. We do not have platforms where general public get introduced to Linux. Linux and most of the things related to it are shared within the Geek Communities around the Internet.
The next step, reach the common man
What Linux should do now, as early as possible, is to introduce Linux to the common man. This should happen online and offline. There is a great community of Linux users. They can easily do this, using their online and offline contacts.
Windows XP should be the most common operating system used in India… right ? .. but we never pay for it .. great !!
When I went to the laptop store of “X” brand, they said they will get pirated XP installed on it if I buy from there. hmm pretty good offer .. So that’s how things are. Most of us use pirated operating systems. We laugh at people if they say they paid for the operating system. But, we seldom opt for free softwares or operating systems. Paying for the OS while purchasing a laptop makes us feel bad .. ( I agree, most them offer windows vista with it, and its a pain …. )
When we discussed the question, if google is going to build an operating system, I told you about the possibility of Google using Cloud Computing, enabling you to store your files in their servers and access them from anywhere. Now, a little ( related ) secret is revealed. A new product that Google is planning, will be called GDrive.
“GDrive provides reliable storage for all of your files, including photos, music and documents. GDrive allows you to access your files from anywhere, anytime, and from any device – be it from your desktop, web browser or cellular phone.”
That is the official description of Gdrive project, accidentally revealed from a file used by Google Pack. So wait for the announcement. I will keep you posted
.. So now you tell me, Is Indian government’s new Tablet PC running Android ? Did they announce on the press meet ?
