Prepare for the Android Invasion!

Think less Klaatu Barata Nikto and more along the lines of the ubiquitous cell phone development platform known as Google Android.

Google recently took some time to demo their new Android mobile phone platform, giving many expectant users a taste of what’s to come.

Android is based on the open source Linux OS, aims to be the premiere cell phone software platform, allowing for open access and date transmission across carriers. Google envisions a cell phone market that works just like the Internet market does now, with a free flow and exchange of information available at your fingertips. You pay a flat fee and e-mail, SMS, web-browsing, along with any number of functions and applications will be available to you.

The home screen turns out to be very iPhone-like. The key difference is the ever-present status bar, that lets the user check their notifications no matter what application they are using. The use of Open-GL effects and transitions is easy on the eyes. Multiple “desktops” (for lack of a better term) and customizable widgets are also great features.

The device is very capable, and one of the more popular features is the built in compass integration into Google Streetview. It’s the closest thing I can imagine to looking though a portal, but watch the video below to get a better idea of what I mean:

Also present is the seamless integration of other Google products like Gmail and Google Calendar. However, because this is an open source project, expect many of your favorite web-services to be available shortly after the release. This is a very exciting project, and one which will, with Google’s and the Open Handset Alliance’s influential backing, proliferate across a great number of platforms. (And no, I’m not going to joke about welcoming our new robot overlords).