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How to create a process in Android?

Should I use Android as the OS for my product or create my own?

  • I ask this because currently the market is over saturated with cheap tablets and smartphone which run on android. Android has about a billion users, yes. But are they quality? There is a reason why android cannot amount to IOS because IOS has value, I mean you can literally feel the difference between an android and IOS. So wouldn't it be smart to create a new operating system for my product to distinguish it from the rest? I could have developers create apps for it before the product is released so the consumers can actually use it. Wouldn't it be better than trying to replicate what other people are doing?

  • Answer:

    I am assuming you are talking about a Mobile Device with smart capabilities. Couldn't deduct the innovative idea behind the product or anything important from Question Details. So answer will be dependent on assumptions and speculative. From all I know and all I feel as a half-way tech savvy electronics consumer, No. My rantings on your views about Android and IOS First I will comment on the comparison between IOS and Android. I don't know why you are comparing the difference between IOS and Android. Or what basis you have to say that IOS has (more) value (as compared to Android). I respect both the OS for what they are. IOS works flawless because it is designed around ONE phone and TWO tablets...with phenomenally similar structure, electronic construction and even screen types. It makes sense that IOS works smoother than Android. (Again.. layman's view. I am not a software engineering geek.)  Anroid has open source platform and gives amazing freedom to encompass the people's choice in matters of UI, Control and Access to root. That does result in bugs at times.. But that is a very small price Android users pay to get superior features and control over their devices. I support IOS for the flawless operation and simplistic design philosophy. iDevices are beautiful. But try sharing a Facebook photo on WhatsApp in 2 steps and you will know the superiority of Android I am talking about. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This question is not about Android v/s IOS. So let's get back to why I don't feel creating your own OS is not a smart decision. Your reasons to develop your own OS are, it is "smart" and "distinguishable". I feel it is neither. 1.Easier to Consumers: By using Android, you give a sense of familiarity to your users in terms of user interface and features. By developing a new OS, your users will need to adapt to new way of using the device and cope with being the beta user phase while you are perfecting your product. Android and IOS enjoy a long timeline of development and optimization for their interfaces and features. 2.Resourcefulness: By using Android framework, you are cutting through the development process and jumpin straight to production and bug fixes. By trying to develop a new OS, you spend a lot of manpower by going through conceptualization, building framework, alpha-beta-production releases, proof of concepts, verification and validation activities. Let's not forget the effort and strategies required for creating your market and marketting to create a userbase in the first place. Let's say you have a healthy pool of developers and investors who believe in extraordinary success of your product. How much time do you think it will take to give the consumers the MILLION APPS* they enjoy in Android and IOS app stores? 3. Uniqueness: Creating your own path and not following others is sure a brave choice and you will definitely score a lot of manpoints for that choice. But, it is not always "smart". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When thinking about Business Startups revolving around a new product idea , you have to think about funding resources, profitability, market potential, available human resources, intellectual property management among many other CORE areas like product development activities, operations, logistics, finances etc. Sources: 1. Google Play store statistics: http://www.appbrain.com/stats/number-of-android-apps 2. Story about number of apps in iStore: http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/22/4866302/apple-announces-1-million-apps-in-the-app-store

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Do NOT try and create your own OS. There is no intrinsic value in doing so. There are thousands of developers working on improving Android as an open OS. There tens of thousands of developers working to build apps. There are hundreds of devices that leverage Android. And there are a billion users with devices that run Android. No matter how much money you have, you would never catch up. Every other OS besides iOS and Windows has become obsolete, abandoned, or captured a very niche market. And why would a user buy a product that would not inter-operate with everything that they already have? (edit) Note: I have discussed this in terms of "devices" and not desktop or enterprise OSes. Yes, I know all of 'em. Used most of 'em during 30 years in the IT business. And yes, I know that iOS is based on Unix, and that there are still lots of machines running Unix, Linux, OS360, and others. That doesn't change my opinion above. (end-edit) ('nother edit) The real difference between iOS and Android is philosophical. iOS is a closed system. Except for some hacker home-builts, every device running iOS is designed and built by Apple. That means that the universe of possible combinations of hardware and software is very small. Android is an open system,  in that developers anywhere can improve, extend, and apply Android to new devices, applications, and hardware. That means that there are millions of possible combinations by different manufacturers. The difference is that because of the huge number of developers working on Android, the functionality of Android is now beyond what Apple can do, and they are in catch-up mode. This will only continue. If you want to develop a new product or device, then Android is your best choice. If you want to develop a product or application for iOS, you really have to ask Apple's permission. If you want to do it yourself, just consider Palm or BlackBerry. Both owned the market for a while. Neither now exists as an OS/device builder. Why do you think that is? (end-edit again)

Bruce A McIntyre

In the world of computers their have been 2 core operating systems - DOS & Linux Apple's proprietary systems are flavors of Linux. Windows has evolved out of the world of DOS and ran on inferior hardware. Apple maintained proprietary quality control of its hardware and software. The results are that  today apple is a far superior product to any other. However Windows captured huge market share due to being the first to market. The safe (and cheapest) thing for corporate purchasing managers was to buy PC's. Today, operating systems on smart phones and tablets etc are all linux based whether apple or not and the trend is to compact devices that are integrated. For example "smart" TV's are becoming components in the device "collection". As for a "new" operating system ... you might have a better chance of reinventing the wheel. There are thousands of OS out there ... Develop a UNIQUE product. Don't try to reinvent toothpicks or the wheel. That said in the marketing driven world we live in  - sadly, junk is merchandised everyday and fortunes are made from it! It's mostly about perception (thanks to marketing propaganda) and not about intrinsic value and utility.

Carl Leitz

I have a few things to point out firstly, there are other mobile OS' available. I think Windows 8 OS coudle be an option or trailblaze with Sailfish OS, or Ubuntu mobile OS (the version that didn't crash and burn). You could also fork one of the less common versions of Android, but that creates an app shortage problem. There are plenty of OS's to choose from. Find a cheap phone that can handle modern android, so like a Galaxy S3, start throwing OS' on it so you can decide what you like. I just recommended you do it to a phone that you are not in trouble if you brick it.

A. C. Simmons

Creating your own one would create needless competition. I would call it reinventing the wheel (unless you know of some genuine approach to add something to the mix) P.S. I always say iOS is only good for swag

Marek Beno

Creating an OS is a massive task, which involves regulation from standards organizations like IEEE and legal organizations too. Suppose somebody uses your app and your OS and it causes an accident of some sort. If you haven't set up agreements with legal and regulatory bodies, you will be liable to the damages and you'll have to pay compensation for that person. Never ever create something which carries a huge liability.

Yuri Brigadir

Answer to your question is a question - Why do you want to re-invent the wheel? What is the need for doing so? Do you know how much an effort, time, resources it will take? That will be way bigger of an investment than your product itself. So short answer is NO.

Sachin Yadav

For starters, creating your own OS is a waste of energy with all of the options out there already. Remember that it has taken Apple and Google YEARS to get to where they are today. Your ecosystem dream is just that. By creating a new OS you ARE trying to replicate a commodity.

John Pugh

It would be easier to use an existing platform for your app. That way, you do not have to develop/debug an operating system, curate content, and gather user adoption.

Jason Watkins

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