Software for the Android Operating System
(Excerpted from wikipedia) Android is a mobile operating system based on the Linux kernel and currently developed by Google. With a user interface based on direct manipulation, Android is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, with specialized user interfaces for televisions (Android TV), cars (Android Auto), and wrist watches (Android Wear). The OS uses touch inputs that loosely correspond to real-world actions, like swiping, tapping, pinching, and reverse pinching to manipulate on-screen objects, and a virtual keyboard. Despite being primarily designed for touchscreen input, it has also been used in game consoles, digital cameras, regular PCs, and other electronics. As of 2015, Android has the largest installed base of all operating systems.
As of July 2013, the Google Play store has had over one million Android applications ("apps") published, and over 50 billion applications downloaded. An April–May 2013 survey of mobile application developers found that 71% of them create applications for Android; another 2015 survey found that 40% of full-time professional developers see Android as the "priority" target platform, which is more than iOS (37%) or other platforms. At Google I/O 2014, the company revealed that there were over one billion active monthly Android users, up from 538 million in June 2013. On September 3, 2013, Google announced that one billion activated Android devices were in use worldwide. In January 2015, Android devices accounted for approximately 62% of the US smartphone and tablet market, 82.7% of the Chinese market, and 73.3% of the European market.
Android's source code is released by Google under open source licenses, although most Android devices ultimately ship with a combination of open source and proprietary software, including proprietary software developed and licensed by Google. Initially developed by Android, Inc., which Google bought in 2005, Android was unveiled in 2007, along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) – a consortium of hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices.
Android is popular with technology companies which require a ready-made, low-cost and customizable operating system for high-tech devices. Android's open nature has encouraged a large community of developers and enthusiasts to use the open-source code as a foundation for community-driven projects, which add new features for advanced users or bring Android to devices which were officially released running other operating systems. The operating system's success has made it a target for patent litigation as part of the so-called "smartphone wars" between technology companies.
Android is the operating system that powers more than one billion smartphones and tablets. Since these devices make our lives so sweet, each Android version is named after a dessert (in alphabetical order). Whether it's getting directions or even slicing virtual fruit, each Android release makes something new possible. The version history of Android started in November, 2007 with the beta. (The November 5 date is popularly celebrated as Android's "birthday".) So far, we've got 5.0-5.1.1 Lollipop, for watches and more; 4.4-4.4.4 KitKat, which introduced "OK, Google"; 4.1-4.3.1 Jelly Bean, 4.0-4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, 3.0-3.2.6 Honeycomb, 2.3-2.3.7 Gingerbread, 2.2-2.2.3 Froyo, 2.0-2.1 Eclair, 1.6 Donut, 1.5 Cupcake, 1.1 Beta (from 2/2009), and 1.0 Alpha from 9/2008.
Chuck presented the following about the Android Operating System at the June, 2015 club meeting:
What is it?
It is a Google-developed OS for mobile devices.
How does it affect me?
Will I ever use it?
Current Android Facts:
Runs on my Samsung S3 cellphone, on Google Nexus phones and tablets and Amazon Fire Phones, not to mention most other off-brand phones.
What should I know about it?
How did Android happen?
Android was unveiled in 2007, along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) – a consortium of hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. It is popular with technology companies which require a ready-made, low-cost and customizable operating system for high-tech devices. Android's open nature has encouraged a large community of developers and enthusiasts to use the open-source code as a foundation for community-driven projects, which add new features for advanced users or bring Android to devices which were officially released running other operating systems.
OHA Member firms include Google, HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, T-Mobile, Sprint Corporation, Nvidia, and Wind River Systems. As part of its efforts to promote a unified Android platform, OHA members are contractually forbidden from producing devices that are based on incompatible forks of Android.
What's the future for this OS?
If you have a question or comment about Android, send it to the club president.
