At Google, we are constantly experimenting with new products and technologies, and often ask employees to test these products for quick feedback and suggestions for improvements in a process we call dogfooding (from "eating your own dogfood"). Well this holiday season, we are taking dogfooding to a new level.
We recently came up with the concept of a mobile lab, which is a device that combines innovative hardware from a partner with software that runs on Android to experiment with new mobile features and capabilities, and we shared this device with Google employees across the globe. This means they get to test out a new technology and help improve it.
Unfortunately, because dogfooding is a process exclusively for Google employees, we cannot share specific product details. We hope to share more after our dogfood diet.
58 comments:
So wait. If I am following this analogy correctly then that makes us (the google consuming public) the dogs?
Thanks.
No really. One question. I have until Dec 18th to return my VZW Droid. Should i do it?
How does the screen resolution compare?
Thx.
could this be the rumoured gPhone?
@Ted: "eating your own dogfood" is a term often used to indicate a company who makes the product, actually uses it them selves too.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_one%27s_own_dog_food for the full history on the terminology.
So no, this doesn't imply anything about the species of our customers :)
The Droid is WVGA, so the resolution is more then twice the HVGA screens of the other Android or i phones.
It's not without issues, I'll be returning mine tomorrow due to screen blackout issues on sliding. However I wouldn't consider replacing it with anything except another droid :) Best phone ever made.
If this IS the rumored Google Phone, I am all ears. My contract with T-Mobile ends next month and I have been drooling over the Droid (a buddy has it but I was highly unimpressed with GPS functionality)
I would love the idea of being on board with the first Google Phone!!
Wow....can't wait to play with this myself!
Is this why the AT&T 3G network crashed yesterday?
Wow! That is amazing.
When will this "product" be available to purchase by the mere mortal?
When will we see official specs?
If I sit up beg and roll over will you tell me more? I'm not proud, really.
Gosh, android users seem to be a cranky lot. Lighten up people-it's a phone, not life support!
@Chris, woof woof.
I will be more than interested in a phone like that. The question is, how many 'restrictions' will the carrier put on it through the data plans. For instance I would love to change my iPhone for an Android phone, provided that I am allowed to tether. AT&T doesn't allow you to do that (why the heck do you call it an 'unlimited data plan' then). I am curious as to how much leverage will Google have over the telecom company and their plan.
I am for sure looking this closely and if/when it becomes available and what the full list of features will be.
Just when I was ready to leave Verizon for good and switch to T-Mobile (come on, they're half price!), now I wonder if I wait another six months or a year I could get one of these. I know phones already could do data only, but none of them are based around it.
Will be interesting to see what kind of service plans this supports. If they can run the phone data-only with VOIP for voice, the monthly fee may be half what of what other smartphones cost. That will be a real "iphone killer".
I really hope this is ad supported, i.e., totally free... I'd even put up with a 30 second commercial before making a phone call
Voice ads aren't going to work. I expect the ads will be on the screen, like the way Google already places ads on the Gmail and Google search web sites. With GPS data from the phone, etc., there are all kinds of new ways that Google can advertise to you.
If the ads were relevant (like discounts at nearby businesses) and not obtrusive (like flashing an ad after you hang up the call), most people would put up with that in exchange for a much lower monthly rate (vs. what other cell phones cost).
No ads, or no more then now. Just. Make it a UMA vice that is compatible with T-Mobile Hotspot at home or can use google voice over wifi. let it use prepaid sims otherwise.
i would return my droid, actually i did return my droid about 2 weeks ago. I knew google was coming out with a phone, but i dont think this is it. I think the official google phone will be even better, and i can deal with my g1 for another few months.
I'm dying to know what it looks like! Please post a picture of said "dogfood" :)
I hope it will be available in other markets (Australia!) soon. The carriers here could do with some disrupting...
For those asking about ditching the droid for this phone, rumor has it that this is a GSM phone, meaning you would have to switch from Verizon. A deal breaker for most.
when did you guys change your 'dogfooding' policy ? i can remember the BETA sign over everything ....
dogfood for all !!!
;-)
It'd be interesting to see what hardware it will be using.
I can't see Google Employees being happy with anything Underpowered or Short on Storage.
If it only has a 1GHz Snapdragon and no GPU, it still won't even touch an iPhone. If it has less than 2GB Internal RAM, it won't be able to run many Android Apps either.
i assume you mean ROM?
and android phone with 2GB RAM would kick ass though....
If you have any phone left I'll give you some feedback too. My address:
C/ Cisne, 21
28500 - Arganda del Rey
Madrid (SPAIN)
Thanks a lot!
Please post a photo, we are all excited with this phone ^_^
Google, I love you. Please let this be a Google phone, and please make it on your own network (Google Voice + Gizmo5) and please please please make it available in Canada. Mobile phone carries SUCK here, and we need you to stir 'm up. I, for one, can't wait.
One word: WANT!
Well I am anxious waiting for the so called HTC Nexus One and hope as the ads are saying its an iphone with steroids, its gonna prove itself as a google device.
Also I hope the price tag is also gonna b an attractive one for the masses and it wont be just as exclusive as some of the other bests in market.
I hope google try be more nutty and make GPS available via satellite and not just by the provider! ;)
Whats the estimated date : Jan'10?
I am sure google understands that to move into the product market, they not only need a superb device, but a great marketing strategy.
The opponents are smart and specially Apple. The product in itself is a star product for Apple and with the cash flows and penetration in market, Apple have a lot of unutilized power which even they dont recognize as of now but can leverage later.
Also apple has a mature product in the market with an apt pricing strategy and impressive list of apps and who knows if apple itself adapts to one version of Android some day, after all its open source, so what if its google.
Keeping in mind that how google has associated themselves with T-Mobile and partnered with Motorola, it would be interesting how they position themselves in the market.
Am waiting...
So the google phone is here. what do u guys call it? Nexus One?? I'm planning to buy a device from sony ericsson. But now I think it would be better to wait till the arrival of google phone.
(http://teklessons.blogspot.com)
Hope the device would be at least as responsive as the iPhone unlike other sluggish Android devices. And I also sincerely wish that it will available globally.
"Dogfooding"? Come on Google, throw us all a bone or something! We need more info. I certainly don't wanna go to doggy heaven tomorrow without ever seeing the official Google Phone. How about if I just roll over and play dead?
Techcrunch did an article on this earlier - this is where I came across this "official" information.
For those interested in seeing a picture - they have one up there. Not sure if it is a confirmed picture or not, but here is the link:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/12/google-phone-unlocked-confirmed/
@Damion
No, that's the HTC Passion I believe.
I don't think there aren't any confirmed pictures of the real phone yet.
When you need some external testers I'll try and make myself available.
I really hope Google can undercut the iPhone for the cost of monthly service plans (unlimited text, voice, data etc.) !!! $90/month is way too much in this economy! LOL~
Nexus One, Google Phone is out with Real Image -
http://www.machackpc.com/news/nexus-one-google-phone-is-out-with-real-image/
Kinda interesting to see if they'd choose to jump into hardware side as well. Somehow I'm not sure what they would gain from it.. Maybe they can't get enough money from licensing Android since it's mainly open source?
Any way, I suppose little extra competition never hurts, that will hopefully get consumers better products, more choice and lower prices.
Personally I'm still loving Maemo though! :)
I hope the rumors of data plan only + google voice are true. That would make Google a true hero of the mobile computing revolution by bring prices down to the level where frugal people like myself will accept the cost of the plan!
As one writer noted, the opportunity here is for Google to really think strategically and completely redefine the cell phone category. We all saw how iPhone took off, even when grossly overpriced and tethered to AT&T. The cell phone business model, which necessarily reaps gobs of profit from customers for two players (i.e., hardware manufacturers and carriers) at customers' expense deserves to be broken. Google has the investment capital, the know-how, the throw-weight, the brand, the global reach, the momentum and the credibility to not only disrupt the market, but redefine it. Personally, I am a fairly satisfied Verizon customer and I was going to get a Droid in March, but I would strongly consider switching my entire family - and my $260 monthly cell bill - to Google for a better phone that does more for less. It's time for Apple and Google to go head-to-head now that Eric Schmidt is off the Apple Board and that conflict is history. As for now, as the iPhone challenged the smartphone category, let's see Google take it a step further with an integrated product that sacrifices the entire cell phone category. We'll see what the Google computer does next.
Rob I agree!
If Google decides to sell their phone directly to the consumer, I hope the shipping costs are low. I remember the development G1 phone was cheap but shipping it to Canada would've added 200 dollars to the pricetag...
We all want dogfood !!.....
You have already created the buzz...(tick)..so please more details google guys! Christmas is coming and people are ready to buy(postpone) new phones...
Yes... I can wait for more... 1st I waited for Droid, and then i postponed it for X10, and now Nexus One...
As one of the readers noted, the real game would be here if google come up with data plans and let us use google voice... attractive with low price!
Am game!!
"Ted said...
So wait. If I am following this analogy correctly then that makes us (the google consuming public) the dogs?"
The analogy is basically lets say you have a dog food company, you like to claim your dog food is the best. If you willingly and lovingly eat your own dog food, it must be good.
This post is short because there was nothing to share with the public! An anonymous leak would have been a wiser buzz-generating gimmick: Google is then better able to manage the project PR, whatever its outcome. This is a rival's modus operandi, it works well for them.
I would like to See Google Release this product and open Retail stores to compete with Apple...then that would be killer. Google could sell phones and sell instruction time for developers or just basic class on existing Google products. If you want to do it please contact me I would love to work to help create the model.
Holy cow!
I've been using the 'dog food' metaphor for about 35 years now.
the visionaries who figure out how to eliminate the dog food buyers and feed the dogs directly are going to be the people who will propel us out of being slaves.
woof woof
The only question I have left (after, well, googling this) is when can I get one?
anyone else notice that Google's beta level code is more stable than most other provider's gold releases? :-)
At what point can the rest of the pack expect to partake?
The Google phone is to be called the Nexus One, it will run the Android OS, it will be manufactured by HTC and best of all the phone will be unlocked and sold by Google.
Pictures and More information here!
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/12/phone99-htc-dragon-nexus-one-600.jpg
The green point could indicate a front camera...
nice
ne anthane parayunath
As long as the new Android platform detracts from Microsoft's influence, I'm all for it!
I currently have an iPhone and the implementation of Maps has been wonderful.
Once my contract is fulfilled, I will certainly look into the Android product line.
The convergence of Google and consumer electronics has been quite pleasant.
To think that a search engine has done so much for the consumer is profound.
I remember visiting the Googleplex back in 06 during NYLF/Tech. Awesome environment representative of 'the Google ethos.'
Keep up the great work!
Google Phone looks like this, how come it's almost identical to HTC Hero!?
http://jaxov.com/2009/12/google-phone-nexus-one-leaked-pictures-images/
I´m hungry, i want your dog food :)
Woef... where's my device?
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