So when Android, the open source mobile phone platform becomes the “normal”, you know, widely distributed, and of course I imagine it will, we will soon be carrying a cute little personalised Google spy in our pockets!
Hang on a minute, you what?
Ok think about this for a sec. Google Android is open source, it is an operating system, the thing which will make your phone work. Currently there are a variety of operating systems in use for mobile phones and depending on which provider you are signed up with will depend on how much access you have to “tweak” the that operating system.
Open Source
Yes Android is open source meaning the code is available for anyone to look at, therefore anyone can develop applications for. You know, all these widgets will appear, widgets like you see in your Facebook account? Well not exactly I predict many more useful applications will be available.
Personalised Info
Already your phone is capable of sending a signal back to HQ (where ever the HQ application is) stating “hey I am currently here at these coordinates”. Of course where this becomes particularly interesting is when your shopping habits and destinations are “learnt” by these new “lifestyle widgets”, yes folks when the crafty marketing peeps dip their toes in this, it will be game on.
Let’s say you often enjoy a morning pastry at the local Starbucks. Starbucks sign up with the application data service which sends the application server new information about offers they may have on at any point. You walk close to Starbucks and the suddenly “beep beep” you receive a text stating “Starbucks special offer half-price pastries today”.
Life Style Widgets
I’m going to go out on a limb and name these cute data mining packages Life Style Widgets. Do I mind this, will it bother me I can be profiled and offered various different products based on my geographic reference AND passed buying habits? Not at all, I’m really looking forward to the messages I’ll get when I walk passed a lap-dancing bar!
Seriously though folks it is coming, are you going to embrace that, or develop for it?
You Android you!
There’s all kinds of apps you could develop for this – nothing like open source, eh? I personally can’t wait for a news reader that can pull up all the articles having to do with stuff in a one-mile radius around my phone. That’ll be some damn fine hyperlocal reporting.
Of course, I probably need something better than the POS cell phone I have now…
Oh, and kudos for having such a nice Captcha interface – that’s seriously easier than all the ‘squint, stand on one foot, and guess if this is a ‘g’ or a ‘6.’
And thanks for taking note and coming along here.
🙂
Many people are giving quite a lot of their personal information to Google without thinking about it. Many have a G-mail account, use Google Docs, have a blogger blog, regularly use Google search… Your IP is stored and all this can be linked and there can be quite a good analysis of your personality, activites and even your personal information.
Google Docs, have a blogger blog, regularly use Google search… Your IP is stored and all this can be linked and there can be quite a good analysis of your personality, activites and even your personal information.
you have a good monster lineup…
but drop the junk synchrom and breaker and rose warrior..
Why is that then?