Technology the Android (Google Phone/Open Handset Alliance) Thread

[sponge]

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So... kinda old news: Google is developing an open source phone operating system called Android and asking developers to make programs for it (Links: Wikipedia; Google Blog; Washington Post Blog). The Software development kit is already out. It's due to come out in 2008; let's just hope it comes out (with a drug database program designed for it available) in the first half of the year (I'll be a third year by the end of June).

Anyways, hopefully we can use this thread for updates for Android as they come out.

Questions so far (post if you know/find out something):
When will it come out?
2008, but don't know when exactly.

Will there be a drug database program?
I imagine so. The SDK is out already, and Android may be pretty popular. Plus, it's open source, so this development should be easy and encouraged (unlike the iPhone when it came out). Hopefully most phone carriers won't try to offer a locked-down version of Android.

Will it be any good?
I hope so. Here's a video of a demo: [YOUTUBE]g4m73NXn7hY[/YOUTUBE]
Or look here for screenshots, or you can download the sdk which includes an emulator.

What phones will it be on?
::Shrug::

 

[16846]

We'll just have to wait and see. So far what I have read is kinda disappointing, but nothing is usually wonderful right from the start.

 

[doctorp82]

One drawback would be that it is open source, meaning that those who work to improve it are likely those who benefit from improvements (the selfish prigs! ). That said, I think medical software support would come maybe as a result of opening up support to palm or windows mobile based programs. Not sure if that stands to happen (I haven't researched Android, so be free to correct me). The other means of doing so would be for those who do the open source work to put in the programming time themselves to ensure things like ePocrates, MedMath, whatever else, works. That's less likely, simply because those savvy enough to do so are likely younger, and it's the younger docs who are pulling long hours in residency and what not.

Of course, there's always the ambitious radiologist with enterprising ambitions (e.g. Vikas) who might have the spare time to do this.