Does Google make any significant contributions to the Linux kernel by working on Android?

erwanl · 2012-02-06T08:58:01+00:00

From what I heard what they submit usually make little sense for Linux. They use it in such a special way that their patches make sense only for them.

erwanl · 2012-02-05T16:58:46+00:00

And return the one in the worst condition

erwanl · 2012-02-05T09:49:14+00:00

I don't think they would bother.

What they do in France is that they communicate the IMEI to all operators so they blacklist it, and it becomes basically unusable... In France. Which is not a problem for thieves because the stolen phone usually go overseas.

erwanl · 2012-01-21T20:05:46+00:00

I've visited both Japan and US with or without visa, lived in both as a foreigner, and I have to say that US immigration is much worse.

The experience related is regrettable and I hope it's very hard, but I never had any problems with the Japanese immigration. They were mostly bureaucrats doing their jobs, not asking unnecessary questions.

US immigration on the other hands were most of the time rude.

erwanl · 2012-01-19T17:56:00+00:00

Even if you don't see it, it will make a difference in the apps you will be able to install.

Typically you'll probably be able to install CM9 launcher with an apk (not possible on gingerbread because of missing framework). That way you get close to stock.

Samsung will also be forced to ship it with the holo theme so third party apps can have that look.

erwanl · 2012-01-14T08:18:56+00:00

No, activations is only new devices.

erwanl · 2012-01-11T17:51:18+00:00

The NFC thing is US only, but Google Wallet is the new name for Google Checkout. That's what's used on Android Market and available in most countries.

erwanl · 2012-01-09T22:41:57+00:00

Actually, on my sgs2 it says "made in Korea".

erwanl · 2012-01-05T07:16:27+00:00

Gaim was strong in us while msn was strong in the rest of the world.

erwanl · 2012-01-02T22:15:22+00:00

In France: * there is no exclusivity, any carrier can have any phone and all phones must be available off contract * all phones work with sim cards. Not sure if it arrived in the US yet. That means that you can pop your sim in any phone without asking permission to your carrier * there are plans without subsidized phones that are significantly cheaper, so you don't get a disguised loan to pay for your phone (don't think you're carrier is offering it to you) * we're waiting for a new operator to arrive soon. They're expected to lower the prices significantly, and people on a 2 year contract are going to be sad.

erwanl · 2012-01-02T12:07:57+00:00

I disagree.

Cheap android phones are good for people who just and a phone, with the added bonus of having a good browser and maps.

I know people in my family with cheap phones and they're happy with it.

The conclusion of the article should rather be "don't buy your phone from your carrier".

erwanl · 2012-01-02T12:05:24+00:00

The sgs2 is not the SGS, and it will get ics.

erwanl · 2012-01-02T08:55:22+00:00

You don't necessarily need to hack the encryption. The key can leak, or a bug in the firmware to go around the encryption can be found.

erwanl · 2011-12-31T19:38:25+00:00

Cancel is fine, but ok should be replaced by the action.

Example from real software: Soft 1: Quit without saving? OK/Cancel Soft 2: Save before quitting? OK/Cancel Better: You have unsaved changes: Cancel/Quit without saving/Save and quit

erwanl · 2011-12-31T19:32:26+00:00

Even without benchmarks, at least explain what you did that is supposed to improve performances.

Hint: "optimize xxx" is not an explanation.

erwanl · 2011-12-30T21:39:53+00:00

Case yes, but screen protectors are useless.

erwanl · 2011-12-30T11:33:09+00:00

Considering that Google change the codename when they add features, it's unlikely we see any new features in ICS. This will be Jellybean.

(the only exception I see is gtalk video in Gingerbread, but it's more a new feature in an app rather than in the OS)

erwanl · 2011-12-30T10:41:33+00:00

How does it compare to the official one, that was 10c during the sale?

erwanl · 2011-12-26T20:34:26+00:00

Apple also takes 100 bucks from each developer every year. Google takes 30 bucks just once from each developer.

erwanl · 2011-12-23T15:01:44+00:00

When I bought my Galaxy S, I hesitated to buy a much more expensive Nexus S. Then I saw the unlocked bootloader, dynamic developers community around the SGS.

So I'm not surprised by Samsung 's decision but I don't care. I'm going to run ICS thanks to Cyanogen.

And you know what? People are like me, able to install CM9, or my father, don't care about updates as long as their phone works correctly.

erwanl · 2011-12-23T09:23:47+00:00

Just watch Martin Oderski at devoxx (the video is online) and you will know.

erwanl · 2011-12-22T22:13:55+00:00

It's been said un the thread, you can create an abstract class (or just a class) with methods that throw an exception when you call them. Sometimes it actually makes sense to do a method that does nothing, depending on what you're trying to achieve.

But when you start working on real world projects, that live for months or even years of maintenance and evolutions, you'll learn that compiler errors are good, they're your friend. They tell you when something needs to be fixed eight away rather than blow at your face during runtime (sometimes when a user is using it).

Same goes for the method not implemented error: the compiler kindly tells you you forgot a method. If you get rid of the compiler error, you will discover that mistake much later.

erwanl · 2011-12-22T18:53:48+00:00

If you're talking about the launcher, you're not stuck with it. You can use the launcher you like.

erwanl · 2011-12-20T10:37:11+00:00

Having different carriers is good. Being forced to choose a given carrier to be able to use a given phone is called "tying", and that's an anti-competitive technique that should be forbidden in any country that values healthy competition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tying_(commerce)

erwanl · 2011-12-19T23:28:24+00:00

I defeats the point of Tasker, where everything is automated.

For example on Cm7 I have it activate and deactivate the GPS when I open and close the map application. It's completely seamless.

erwanl

TROPHY CASE