Google’s big hardware moment is also its biggest test

Few would argue Android got off to a slow start. Back in 2008, it was the eagerly anticipated Google mobile platform that was supposed to take on the barely year-old Apple iPhone and venerable RIM (BlackBerry). The first Android phone, the HTC-built G1, was unusual and distinctive. It even had a dedicated, physical search button (so Google), but it didn't inspire or sell very well. For a long time, Android appeared to have a failure-to-launch problem.