Right now, that’s not terribly interesting in and of itself. The Linux kernel is something that sits between the software and hardware; without drivers for the touch screen etc. it doesn’t actually do anything of any use. (For example, right now it requires a USB keyboard to control it- obviously not very practical for a mobile phone…)

However, this is one small step towards getting Android running on the iPhone. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a big fan of my iphone, but I’d like to have the choice of how it works. I’m a fan of open source and open platforms, and if I want functionality like the ability to download podcasts straight to my phone, or to copy and paste chunks of text, I don’t want to wait for Apple’s approval before I can use it.

There are already some interesting things being done with “Jailbroken” iPhones (that’s phones that have been unlocked so that they can run software other than what’s available through iTunes), so having the choice and being able to switch between the iPhone operating system for day-to-day use and Android for more PC-like functionality would be a very interesting possibility.

Apart from anything else, it would mean I wouldn’t be tied to my home PC and iTunes every time I wanted to move my music on and off my phone.

I’m not expecting anything significant to be released any time soon , but it’s definitely a story I’ll be keeping an eye on.

I think it’s going to be some time before we start to see this being tried and tested, but the potential for this seems to be huge.

Firstly, there’s the possibility of bypassing the computer. Steve Jobs has talked of the iPhone as being Apple’s entry into the “netbook” market; doing the same job as a small, compact laptop. An Android device like the G1 phone but larger could be a similar kind of device- but without the constraints of the iPhone.

Similarly, it could be used to bypass mobile networks; a portable, wireless, internet-enabled device without the need for an expensive subscription commitment to a mobile network could offer something closer in size and functionality to the iPod Touch than the iPhone. Taking away that commitment allows for a cheaper device with network functionality that you can afford to not use- compared to spending £100 on an iPhone, using it as an iPod and paying an extra £35 a month for something you might never use.

This opens up a whole world of possibilities-things that might seem to have no benefits whatsoever in having some sort of communication system suddenly have new possibilities. (For example, you might think that a plant has no need for a communications network- but there’s a company making devices that monitor plants’ water levels and phones you when they need watering.)

These are just a few of my ideas of how Android could function in devices other than mobile phones;

TV/video- with an internet connection, you could access your TV/video/PVR from another device; use your mobile phone as an EPG, to set reminders for when programmes you want to watch are on, or even stream your programmes, slingbox-style, to other devices.

MP3 player- the iPod touch turned Apple’s iPod into a web surfing, emailling device that also allows you to download music and applications from iTunes. An Android-powered device could sever the reliance on the PC (still essential for managing your music and video library, podcasts, photos etc.)

Digital camera- not only removing the need to carry round a USB cable to transfer pictures from your camera to your computer, Android could also allow your camera (at a wifi hotspot) to transfer files directly to your favourite online photo service- Flickr, Facebook, Picasa, your blog etc. Or to download photos from those services to your camera.

Ebook- download your eBooks, daily news or anything else you want to read straight to your ebook reader- in any format. (I think Amazon’s Kindle is already a step in this direction- still awaiting the UK launch so I can get my hands on one for myself.)

PDA/Diary- keep your electronic organizer synchronized with the cloud whenever you are in a wifi hotspot. Share your diary, so others can send invitations or make plans around your availability.

Wallet- an electronic credit card which, rather than being the key to allow shops to connect to your bank account/credit card details, actually stores your details. Virtual cash, in a form that let’s you check your balance and statements, which could also be remotely locked if it was stolen.

Car- your carphone, built into your car. Open standards would let you use your Android phone as the actual phone, or as the car keys for anyone approved to drive it (remembering your preferred seat and temperature settings and automatically changing them when your partner uses theirs to drive), as well as keeping your music, doing the job of the CD changer in the boot. Because it’s open, you’d be able to upgrade the software (and wouldn’t be in the position some drivers have found themselves, with an iPod dock fixed in their car that won’t work with their new iPhone.)

Stereo- download music or radio over your home wifi. Stream it around your house. Store your music collection, and copy music to and from your phone whenever you’re in range. Or set it up to share your music collection over the Internet so that you can play your own collection when you’re at the office/your friends house- whether it happens to be on your phone/MP3 player or not.

Digital recorder- lay down your 4-track demos, mix them down, and upload them straight to MySpace etc. Synchronize a multi-track master and record a studio session without having to be in the same room- or even the same country.

Fridge- in the same way that a hotel minibar can electronically detect when you’ve had a drink, check your fridge from wherever you are to see if you’ve got enough milk/butter, or how long the meat has been defrosting for.

All fairly ambitious ideas, no doubt. But in lieu of a string of patent applications that I don’t have the time or money to submit, remember- you read them here first.

I hope…

HTC’s Android-driven Dream revealed in glorious spy photos – Engadget

In case you don’t already know, Android is the operating system that’s being developed by the Open Handset Alliance; an open source system for mobile phones, with Google apparently leading the project. (Early reports are that the Google brand will be prominent on the handset, which should be available via the T-Mobile network in the US towards the end of October.)

Essentially, it seems to be a blend of iPhone (big touch screen) and Blackberry (convenient ‘real’ keyboard.) Bear in mind that, as far as the Android platform goes, this handset is just the beginning; the system has been designed to work with all sorts of combinations of touchscreens, trackballs, cursor keys, QWERTY keyboards, ‘normal’ phones with numeric keyboards and whatever other user interfaces the future might hold.

This is the platform that I think has spurred on the development of the iPhone; not just in being open to 3rd party applications, but (in theory- we’ll see what happens when it’s released) open to deeper integration of it’s basic workings with those 3rd party applicatations and services; contact list, photos, status messages and so on. If there’s a problem with the platform (such as the problem with the iPhone’s lack of copy/paste ability), it won’t be a question of when Google will release a fix. Anyone will be able to release a fix as soon as they come up with it.

My guess is that the distinguishing factor between iPhone and Android will be the nerd factor; people who want a phone that they can control and customize will love Android. People who want a professional sheen and a phone that’s maybe not as fully-featured but easier to use will love the iPhone. But each will lead to more innovation and advances on the other platform.

I think when they reach the stage of full integration with off-and-online services, then it won’t be the question of how the mobile platforms will keep up with desktop Internet as they are trying to do now. It will be about how the Desktop can retain it’s audiences attention and keep up with Mobile.

I look forward to seeing the answer to that question.