In a recent announcement on his popular personal website, software developer and notable blogger Tim Bray, known primarily for his co-development of XML Web encoding, revealed that he is joining Google’s Android development team to help wage war against the Evil Empire of Apple and their dark minion known as the iPhone.
Previously employed by Sun Microsystems, Bray explains that he simply couldn’t pass up the offer to join Google, even though that meant turning down an intriguing counter-offer by Sun Microsystems themselves. This kind of defection is not uncommon in the tech world, as technology and mobile companies exchange executives faster than a ‘70’s Swingers party.
But what are his reasons for defecting? With the probable increase in salary that accompanies the switch aside, Bray is making sure everyone knows that he’s on a moral crusade to rid the world of the, “sterile Disney-fied walled garden surrounded by sharp-toothed lawyers” that Apple is trying to shove down our throats. “The iPhone vision of the mobile Internet’s future omits controversy, sex, and freedom, but includes strict limits on who can know what and who can say what… I hate it.”
Not only that, but Bray considers the Android OS a technological extension of his own being, and his effusive and extensive gushing over Google’s revolutionary OS makes me think he’s finally found his soulmate…if companies had souls that is. He writes, “Google and I have been a plausible match for a long time. Web-centric, check. Search, check. Open-source, check. The list goes on.” Plus, he probably favours Google’s lax stance on wearing ugly hats in the workplace.
Amidst all this I can’t help but again be reminded of the old adage, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Did Tim Bray really join Google because of its full suite of interfaces, its open-source code, its strong corporate backing, or its lack of app store regulatory controls? Or did he join Google simply because the Android is now the strongest competition for the iPhone?
While perhaps he might want to speak to a professional about his deep-seated hatred for Apple, Bray is justifiably impressed by the fact that Android now poses a serious threat to the technological and mobile hegemony that Apple has enjoyed for far too long; and if you had to pick a phone to back as a growing rival to the iPhone, Google’s Android powered Nexus-One would be the clear choice.
The final question that remains, however, is what will Bray’s official capacity be for Google? Aside from being the head of the Apple smear campaign and the only Google employee to wear Tom Landry’s hat, the short answer is, Bray doesn’t know. He writes, “What I’m Going to Do [at Google]? Not sure yet. Obviously I’ll go on blogging here.” Damn! Where can I find a gig like that?
Did you like this post ? TheTelecomBlog.com publishes daily news, editorial, thoughts, and controversial opinion – you can subscribe by: RSS (click here), or email (click here).
Written by: Matt Klassen. www.digitcom.ca >. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com > by: RSS >, Twitter >, Identi.ca >, or Friendfeed >
