Android OS 101

By Arthur Madrick


The Android platform is similar to the Windows OS you use on your PC. But bear in mind, it is mainly designed to operate on small, low power handsets like smartphones and tablets. It is developed to run as efficiently as is possible while using as little power as possible. Android Incorporated received world wide recognition when in Aug 2005 Google acquired the company and then immediately announced that they will be making the operating system Open Source in order that anyone can use it without having to pay for it or pay out any royalties.

The Android OS is actually based on a modified variant of a Linux Kernel, Linux of course already an established open sorce alternative to Microsoft Windows and Apple OS X. At its most rudimentry level, an os delivers the layer between the hardware and software developed to operate on it. With regards to Android it must be able to pass instructions to the processor, microphone, camera, GPS, touchscreen as well as keypad and so on. Different programs can then be developed to operate on Android Operating System to make the device useful.

The Android operating system is undoubtedly an advanced software program and delivers a big punch in a small package. It utilizes a compact relational database called SQLite to store and retrieve data for the assortment of apps that you install. It also provides built-in playback capability for quite a few various media types like WebM, H.263, H.264, PNG, GIF, BMP, MPEG, MP3, MIDI, WAV and JPEG.. In terms of connectivity it can deal with the latest technologies out of the box like GSM, IDEN, CDMA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WiMax, SMS and MMS types of messaging rendering it the perfect platform for application developers to develop innovative new software.

At the time of writing, Android has overtaken virtually every other smartphone operating system around, as well as Apple's iOS which powers the iPhones and Blackberry's own OS. By the end of 2010, some Thirty-three million smartphones ended up being bought which came with a version of the Android operating system and research analyst NPD Group now predicts that 50 percent of all smartphone purchases are for an Android smartphone.

The driving factor powering this swift uptake is the open source aspect of the OS. This means that any smartphone, tablet or mobile device maker on the planet can download the source files, modify and customize it to their particular requirements and distribute it on devices developed by them. The royalty free nature of Android has encouraged many of the biggest names in the smartphone business like LG, Samsung, HTC and Motorola to build extremely appealing devices utilizing Android.

Another reason for the high demand of Android phones is that towards the end of 2010 there were over 200,000 apps for download including everything from games to utilities, image editing to location services. Unlike Apple's iTunes store, a lot of Android apps are free or have free versions, which encourages users to use Android gadgets.




About the Author:



No Response to "Android OS 101"

Post a Comment

Powered by Blogger