Android's mobile
operating system is
based on the Linux
kernel and is the world's
best-selling Smartphone.
There are currently over
200,000 apps available
for Android that are
made accessible through
the Android Market,
which is the online app
store run by Google.
The apps are primarily
written in Java.
The Android
operating system,
including the Linux
kernel, contains
approximately 12
million lines of code.
In this there are: 3
million lines of XML,
2.8 million lines of
C, 2.1 million lines
of Java, and 1.75
million lines of C++.
Android Inc. was founded
in Palo Alto, California in
October, 2003 by Andy
Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick
Sears, and Chris White.
Their goal was to develop
a "smarter mobile device
that was more aware of its
owner's location and
preferences.”
They operated secretively,
admitting only that they
were working on software
for mobile phones.
Google acquired
Android Inc. in August,
2005, making Android
Inc. a wholly owned
part of Google Inc.
Nick Sears was the only
original founder that did
not stay with Android
Inc. after the
acquisition.
At this point in time,
many assumed that
Google was planning to
enter the mobile phone
market with this move.
Once at Google, Rubin
led a team to develop a
mobile device platform
powered by the Linux
kernel.
Google marketed the
platform to handset
makers and carriers
with the intent of
providing a flexible,
upgradable system.
This caused speculation
about Google's
intention to enter the
mobile communications
market to build.
On October 21st, 2008,
Android 1.0 became
available to the public.
"Today's announcement
is more ambitious than
any single 'Google
Phone' that the press
has been speculating
about over the past few
weeks. Our vision is that
the powerful platform
we're unveiling will
power thousands of
different phone models.“
-Eric Schmidt, former
Google Chairman/CEO
Android Market application download and updates through the
Market app
Web browser to show, zoom and pan full HTML and XHTML web
pages - multiple pages show as windows ("cards")Video
Camera support, but no way to change resolution, white balance,
quality, etc.
Folders allow the grouping of a number of app icons into a single
folder icon on the Home screen.
Email provides access to email servers commonly found on the
Internet and supports POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP.
Gmail synchronization with the Gmail app
Google Contacts synchronization with the People app
Google Calendar synchronization with the Calendar app
Google Maps with Latitude and Street View to view maps and
satellite imagery, as well as find local business and get driving
directions using GPS
Google Search of the internet and phone apps, contacts,
calendar, etc.
Google Talk instant messaging.
Instant messaging, text messaging, and MMS.
Media Player enables managing, importing, and playing
back but lacked video and stereo Bluetooth support
Notifications appear in the Status bar - drag down to see
details, also ringtone, LEDs and vibration options.
Voice Dialer allows dialing and placing of phone calls
without typing a name or number
Wallpaper allows the user to set the background image or
photo behind the Home screen icons and widgets.
YouTube video player.
Other apps include: Alarm Clock, Calculator, Dialer
(Phone), Home screen (launcher), Pictures (Gallery), and
Settings.
Other supported features include: WiFi, and Bluetooth.
Handset Layouts
The platform is adaptable to
larger, VGA, 2D graphics library,
3D graphics library based on
OpenGL ES 2.0 specifications,
and traditional smartphone
layouts.
Storage
SQLite, a lightweight relational
database, is used for data
storage purposes
Connectivity
Android supports connectivity
technologies including
GSM/EDGE, IDEN, CDMA, EV-DO,
UMTS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (no
connections through Proxy
server and no Ad hoc wireless
network) LTE, NFC and WiMAX.
Messaging
SMS and MMS are available
forms of messaging, including
threaded text messaging and
now Android Cloud to Device
Messaging Framework is also a
part of the Android Messaging
service.
Multiple Language Support
Several languages are
available on Android. The
number of languages more
than doubled for the platform
2.3. However, it lacks font
rendering of several languages
even after official
announcements of added
support.
Web Browser
The web browser available for
Android uses the open-source
WebKit layout engine, along
with Chrome's JavaScript
engine.
Java Support
Most Android apps are
written in Java, however,
there is no Java Virtual
Machine in the platform
and Java byte code is not
executed.
Java classes are
compiled into Dalvik
executables and run on
the Dalvik virtual
machine.
Dalvik is a specialized
virtual machine designed
specifically for Android
and optimized for Dalvik Virtual Machine
battery-powered mobile
devices with limited
memory and CPU.
Android supports the following
audio/video/still media formats:
WebM MP3
H.263 MIDI
Ogg Vorbis
H.264 (in 3GP or
FLAC
MP4 container)
WAV
MPEG-4 SP JPEG
AMR PNG
AMR-WB (in 3GP GIF
container) BMP
AAC
HE-AAC (in MP4 or
3GP container)
Android has support for
multi-touch which was
originally made
available in handsets
such as the HTC Hero.
The feature was
originally disabled at
the kernel level
(possibly to avoid
infringing Apple's
patents on touch-screen
technology at the time).
Google has since
released an update for
the Nexus One and the
Motorola Droid which
enables multi-touch.
Latest version
available for mobile
phones
Enhanced UI with
more polish and
several refinements
Also adds support
for NFC, which
allows for mobile
payments with only
the use of the
device
Based on Android,
Google TV allows
your TV to be
connected to the
internet and all of
the media content
that it has to offer.
Designed for use
on Tablet devices
Different UI
compared to
Version 2.3
Gingerbread
Android is the
fastest growing
mobile operating
system.
Its growing even
faster than IOS!!
More developers are
choosing to create
Android applications
There are more
than 200,000 apps
available.
Soon, Android will be able to
communicate with your own home
and automate your life with
Android@Home!
Android “Ice Cream”
will combine
Gingerbread and
Honeycomb into one
unified seamless
operating system.
Android will continue
its growth and
dominance in the
mobile operating
system race.
Started as a small Fastest growing
idea by a few and most popular
developers mobile OS available
Purchased by Google The future of
First open source mobile computing
mobile operating is Android!
system Puts Stucki’s
Set higher standards Iphone to shame.
for what a
smartphone should
be