By Kate Shaw, Ars Technica

Although the human brain is a very complex structure, it’s still not big or efficient enough to process every single thing we see, hear and do. Sometimes this limitation is a good thing, since it forces our brains to filter out minor details that we don’t need to dwell on. Other times it’s more of a hassle, since it interferes with how we process information.

The Google/Motorola purchase is going to test everyone in the smartphone and tablet industry. But it’s also going to test whether Android’s success has come from the strength of the platform itself or if Google was just at the right place at the right time.

Looking back, the conditions for Android’s breakthrough were perfect. Google took advantage of what every other major software company had done in the space, but sidestepped all of their commitments.

• Apple fundamentally transformed the smartphone market. It changed user expectations about what the phones looked like and what they could do....