AfterDawn: Tech news

Symbian's Executive Director calls Google evil

Written by Rich Fiscus @ 27 Oct 2009 4:55 User comments (9)

Symbian's Executive Director calls Google evil In an interview with GigaOM's Om Malik, Lee Williams of the Symbian Foundation accused Google of using Android to collect user data for questionable purposes.
Symbian is the mobile phone OS used in Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Samsung smartphones. Despite having a relatively small presence in the US market, it is found on more smartphones worldwide than any other OS.

Some industry analysts believe Android could be Symbian's biggest competitor over the next few years.

"First and foremost the goal of a Google system would be to create a situation where you have information about the user and the use of those apps," said Williams.

"Secondarily," he added, "it would be to cookie them, so that you get that unique identifier association with the data you've collected on the individual's habits, routines, and so on and so forth so that you can target apps toward them. So you can build more intelligent cloud-based apps for them."



Williams also complained that Android is fragmenting the market because of differences between the UI of various phone manufacturers.

Asked if he considers Android "more evil than the iPhone," he responded that he only considers Apple greedy, not evil, adding about Google, "When you have to say in your motto that we're not evil right away the first question in my mind is why do you have to tell me that?"

Previous Next  

9 user comments

127.10.2009 05:14

iPhone is evil...it is used to boost the popularity of evil groups such as the Chinese government and AT&T.

Android is open source...it is the only mobile phone OS that can be examined by third parties to see if it is doing wrong. Android was started by Google, but has quickly grown out of their reach. Android is free, fast, and functional...with software that shares the same benifits.

Perhapse Symbian is evil...

227.10.2009 06:38

I've started to question Google the past few years ever since their purchases of some 'questionable cookie vendors' and the move to online-only installers that do questionable things (at least on Windows PCs).

327.10.2009 14:17
LissenUp
Inactive

My Samsung G810 uses Symbian s60. Best OS for phones.........PERIOD! Most flexible and many free creations out there.

427.10.2009 16:07

Googles not evil.. hell who i'm a kidding Google is Satan reincarnate,
But I like it...Mwa-HAHAHAHAHAHA

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 27 Oct 2009 @ 4:09

527.10.2009 23:51

Google IS evil, but sometimes they do something that is good (Google maps with streetview). Android is not only open source, it opens the door for other linux-based operating systems on the same phones. It probably won't be long before we see RedHat mobile and YellowDog Phone edition.

629.10.2009 13:58

why dose the vibrator maker care about what google dose?

*snickers*

729.10.2009 15:54

Quote:
why dose the vibrator maker care about what google dose?
Heh,
Nothing wrongg with being a little immature now and again is there!

829.10.2009 15:59

Quote:
Quote:
why dose the vibrator maker care about what google dose?
Heh,
Nothing wrongg with being a little immature now and again is there!
I have not grown up yet 0_0

931.10.2009 20:41

my only problem with this article is the use of the word "Secondarily". it just doesn't feel like it fits for the sentence used.

but again, you do have to question the move to online only installers. what if i want to do something offline? i just flat out can't because, "we don't do that no mo'".

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Latest news

VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads (16 Mar 2024 4:31)
VLC Media Player, the versatile video-software powerhouse, has achieved a remarkable feat: it has been downloaded over 5 billion times.
2 user comments
Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit (19 Dec 2023 11:09)
Google settled its lawsuit in September 2023, and one of the settlement terms was that the way applications are installed on Android from outside the Google Play Store must become simpler. In the future, installing APK files will be easier.
8 user comments
Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets (06 Jun 2023 9:19)
Roomba Combo j7+ is the very first Roomba model to combine robot vacuum with mopping features. And Roomba Combo j7+ does all that with a very clever trick, which tackles the problem with mopping and carpets. But is it any good? We found out.
Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations (02 May 2023 3:38)
Neato Robotics has ceased its operations. American robot vacuum pioneer founded in 2005 has finally called it quits and company will cease its operations and sales. Only a skeleton crew will remain who will keep the servers running until 2028.
5 user comments
How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp (20 Mar 2023 1:25)
The world's most popular messaging platform, Meta-owned WhatsApp has enabled sending messages to yourself. While at first, this might seem like an odd feature, it can be very useful in a lot of situations. ....
18 user comments

News archive