10 Ways Google Must Improve Android
Google's upcoming Android "L" version introduces improvements including Android for Work and stronger app security. But Google still has plenty of gaps to fill.
Well, maybe Will Smith isn't so keen on android upgrades. But with Apple's iOS already being supported by 90% of all businesses surveyed in a recent study by JAMF Software, it is clear that Google's mobile operating system needs some serious adjustments if it is going to be a dominant player in enterprise mobility.
Make no mistake; Google badly wants the enterprise customers. It hinted at it with acquisitions like cloud-based mobile device management company Divide back in May, and made it plain as day at the Google I/O conference in early June, when it announced Android for Work.
Also announced at I/O this year was the next flavor of Android, not yet given a sweet-tooth name, just called "L" -- I am voting for "Lollipop" and hoping that Google Now's voice gets replaced with that of Tara Strong, who did the voice of Juliet Starling in the game Lollipop Chainsaw. But I digress.
One of the keys to the new Android for Work is that Google will include new APIs that will allow for secure inclusion -- and separation -- of both work and personal apps on a single mobile device. This is similar to the Extensions program Apple announced even earlier in June, and both are solid steps toward making apps function more securely.
Integrated into Android for Work when the L version is released will be the Knox containerization system from Samsung, which protects corporate data by segmenting it from personal data at the operating system level. Take note: That means every mobile device using L, not just Samsung phones, will have access to Knox.
Well, access to a part of Knox, at least: The Wall Street Journal reports that a Samsung spokesperson said that the core containerization function of Knox would be included in Android L, but that other features will be exclusively available for Knox users on Samsung phones.
But security is not the only area that Android needs to work on, and the enterprise isn't the only customer base it needs to satisfy. Android has some serious catching up to do in the area of cameras, photo software, and overall user experience. However, it has started to eat into Apple's domain with Google Now, and even jumped ahead of Apple in the field of wearables. Now is not the time to ease off on the improvements.
Click through this slideshow to find a list of 10 Android features and functions that Google needs to throw some serious brainpower and money at to get where it needs to be.
OK, so nobody has had a worse user experience than Frank Poole and Dave Bowman at the hands (voice?) of HAL (pictured above). But once you get just one layer deep under the almost-industry-standard initial UI of square buttons with rounded corners, it becomes very clear that Android was built by engineers. And while you and I may think like an engineer (OK, you may) the vast majority of potential enterprise users do not. Some real thought needs to go into the complete UX for Android, not just a slick UI.
Source: metaspatial.net
While I am sure Tony Stark was glad to have so many android versions of his Iron Man suits to save his bacon in "Iron Man 3," Google's Android needs to pare down the flavors it has on the market right now if it wants to be able to consistently apply new features (i.e., security) to phones using Android.
(Source: pagetopremiere.com)
I don't think this is the kind of android anyone has in mind when talking about biometrics on Android. But adding biometrics support directly in the OS -- even if the phone it is on doesn't have the hardware -- would push Android very far along toward being taken seriously as a secure enterprise mobile platform.
(Source: fluffrick.wordpress.com)
Google Now is an amazing interactive experience -- until you compare it to Apple's Siri. Yes, I know, in one area, Maps, Google Now reigns supreme, but in most other areas (particularly that elusive user experience) Siri has the edge. And now with Microsoft introducing Cortana, the competition has increased. Come on, Google engineers -- how tough is it to make an interactive voice assistant that sounds and functions just like Samantha in the movie "Her." Honestly, I would take just "sounds like."
(Source: connorlenahan.com)
Until a few years ago, Android phones had the clear edge over any others when it came to camera quality. But that was because of the hardware, not Android's image software. Then Apple introduced the iPhone 4S with its amazing camera and accompanying image-handling software, and Google started a rapid backslide. Now with Nokia's outstanding software for its newest Lumia phones, Google finds itself in a surprising third place. This is a straight-up software engineering challenge, Google; it should be right up your alley.
(Source: photojojo.com)
Dick Tracy. Kim Possible. Even the most ranger of all the Power Rangers, Tommy, had a wrist-worn communicator. With the introduction of Android Wear, Google has taken a big step forward in presenting visual information on a wristwatch. But it still hasn't done what any such device needs to do -- improve the phone-call experience. Do that, and no one (except fanboys) will even talk about an iWatch.
(Source: powerrangers.wikia.com)
I understand that much of the ability of a phone to pick up a signal is based on hardware and design, not the OS, but it is possible for software to step in and improve reception. I was recently in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and a companion was getting four bars of 3G on his iPhone 5s, while my new Moto-X was struggling to hold one bar. Google, find a way to improve signal handling to boost even the weakest of antennae.
(Source: fansided.com)
Sure, Apple now has Beats by Dre, and other manufacturers have their deals with audiophile tech makers, but none of that matters when the basic music player for Android is so weak. The smartphone is the primary location for most music libraries now, and having a less-than-acceptable music player is just, well, not acceptable.
(Source: Diageo.com)
Seriously, Google. WebOS had the real ability to run multiple apps at the same time, and have them in multiple windows on screen at the same time -- five years ago! How is it that no mobile OS thinks that its enterprise customers want to run multiple apps in separate windows? Yes, I know that Windows 8 and 8.1 can snap two apps to either side of the screen, but webOS allowed the user to have as many apps running as memory would allow, and even group them into clusters of "cards," as it called windows. You want your killer enterprise functionality, Android? Here it is, from half a decade ago.
(Source: dailytech.com)
Seriously, Google. WebOS had the real ability to run multiple apps at the same time, and have them in multiple windows on screen at the same time -- five years ago! How is it that no mobile OS thinks that its enterprise customers want to run multiple apps in separate windows? Yes, I know that Windows 8 and 8.1 can snap two apps to either side of the screen, but webOS allowed the user to have as many apps running as memory would allow, and even group them into clusters of "cards," as it called windows. You want your killer enterprise functionality, Android? Here it is, from half a decade ago.
(Source: dailytech.com)
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