Google’s Device Seeding Program to Boost Android Development
So just in case you haven’t noticed, in the Android world, there are a lot of phones running very different versions of the Android OS. Phones like the CLIQ and Hero running version 1.5, the Magic and G1 running 1.6, the Droid running 2.0.1, the Nexus running 2.1, etc.
Google is getting concerned that there are developers out there using the older OS’s and developing apps on them that end up not being compatible with newer versions like 2.0 and up. So what are they going to do about it you ask? How about a phone giveaway?
Sounds good to Google who has begun their “Device Seeding Program” in a few countries around the world. The concept of the Device Seeding Program is to get all the developers up to speed by giving them 2.0 or higher devices that they can develop on.
In order to qualify you must have an app already in the Market and it must be rated three stars or better or at least have 5000 downloads or more.
So what device do developers get? Well that depends slightly on where you are located. Developers in the US will receive either a Verizon Droid or a Nexus One (at random) while all other developers (only Canada, the EU, Hong Kong, Lichtenstein, Norway Switzerland, Singapore, or Taiwan will receive devices) will be receiving a Nexus One.
It’s good to see Google realizing the issues their rapid development is creating and try to nip it in the butt before it gets worse (and just in time for the Game Developers Conference, too).
Think this will spur development for Android so it can catch up with the iPhone or what?
And how does a developer in Canada go about getting a nexus one?
Puleen,
Do you meet this criteria?
Hopefully we will be receiving a Nexus One for our development, since many devices will be jumping to Android 2.1 relatively soon.
I think your requirements are wrong. The email i recieved stated you must have at least a rating of 3.5 stars AND 5,000+ unique downloads for one of your applications. In addition these requirements must have been satisfied by 2/28/2010 in order for you to qualify.
Cheers
Technogeek00,
Thanks for the clarification! What we have is what we were told, but if you have the email then you’d be a better source. Fixing it now (hey our sources were close, 3 stars/3.5 stars 🙂
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I think it is a very good move by google for thier own good and as a reward to android programers.