Andy Rubin

New Google Maps 5.0 previewed on Nexus S

The multi-touch Maps application that Andy Rubin demoed last week will be on the Nexus S for official launch.

The Maps application that was loaded on that Motorola(MOT) tablet that Andy Rubin demonstrated last week at the Dive into Mobile event isn't just for prototype tablets.  It appears that it will be joining the Nexus S for its release according to a video posted on the Nexus S YouTube account.

Of particular interest is MORE

Andy Rubin: Google activates 300,000 phones every day

Google may now be the biggest smartphone vendor on earth.

Andy Rubin just Tweeted that Google (GOOG) is activating 300,000 phones a day.  That passes Apple's (AAPL) iOS, that passes Blackberry (RIMM).  That even matches any figures that Symbian has ever put up (though Canalys says Nokia might be at 325,000/day).

Google is closing in on an astounding 10 million phones per month.  Recall that Apple just had its biggest quarter MORE

Today in Tech: iPad 2, Android 3.0, and Google ebooks

Every day, the Fortune staff spends hours poring over tech stories, posts, and reviews from all over the Web to keep tabs on the companies that matter. We've assembled the day's most newsworthy bits below.

Andy Rubin hints at Nokia relationship, shows Motorola tablet

At this evening's AllThingsD conference, Google's Andy Rubin let a few surprises out of the bag.

There weren't many new items from Google (GOOG) VP Andy Rubin's talk at the AllThingsD conference, but some were notable.  Here is what I dug out:

On Nokia (NOK) considering using Android:  They've talked! (7:00 into the video below):

Rubin: The company has new leadership, referring to CEO Stephen Elop. They are evaluating lots of alternatives. I'm MORE

Has Android's growth slowed down?

After a stratospheric rise this summer, Google has been stuck at around 200,000 activations a day since early August.

Update: (Dec. 8th) Well, it looks like Google's numbers aren't flat. They just waited a little while to report them.

Google's (GOOG) Android has been on a tear lately, dominating growth in the smartphone market in just about every major survey.  But amongst the Gingerbread hoopla today, the number of Android activations has to be MORE

Android Chief Andy Rubin tweets back at Steve Jobs 'openness' claims

What we have here folks is a good old fashioned geek war.

Apple  CEO Steve Jobs spent about five minutes of yesterday's earnings call (embedded below) berating Google's Android Model and its "disingenuous" "smokescreen" while touting Apple's  "integrated, vertical" model where Apple controls most of the hardware and software stack.

Hoping to appeal to software developers, Google's (GOOG) Android VP Andy Rubin last night opened a Twitter account and Tweeted a rebuttal to Jobs' comments:

the definition of open: "mkdir MORE

Andy Rubin on Windows Phone 7: 'The world doesn't need another platform'

The head of Google's Android doesn't understand why the world would want a Windows 7 phone.

From the interview at PCMag:

PCMag: On Monday, Microsoft is announcing their first Windows Phone 7 phones. What do you think of that platform as a competitor?

Rubin: I think the screen shots I've seen are interesting, but look, the world doesn't need another platform. Android is free and open; I think the only reason you create another MORE

WebOS UI designer Duarte heading to Android

When building the revolutionary Danger Sidekick earlier this decade, current Android leader Andy Rubin relied on Matias Duarte.  The duo are meeting up again in Mountain View.

Matias Duarte was Director of Design at Danger from 2000-2005 under then CEO Andy Rubin.  His work there is described on his LinkedIn profile as:

As Director of Design, at Danger Matias is responsible for making all aspects of the user experience a coherent and appealing whole. MORE

What's next for Google's Android chief

Mobile platforms VP Andy Rubin talks about Android, Chrome, and the smartphone.

The second Google (GOOG) phone in the U.S. had a showcase event last week in San Francisco, and afterward I sat down with Andy Rubin, vice president of mobile platforms at Google.

I asked him about Google's vision for the Android smartphone operating system, whether the search giant is sending mixed messages by promoting both Android and its upcoming Chrome MORE