Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Just What Is The Android OS?

By Jan Everone


The Android operating system is similar to the Windows OS you use on your PC. Yet, it is mainly developed to handle small, low power units like smartphones and tablets. It is meant to operate as efficiently as it can be while using as little electricity as possible. Android Incorporated got worldwide attention when in Aug 2005 Google purchased the company and then immediately announced that they're going to make the operating system Open Source to make sure anyone can use it without paying for it or pay out any royalties.

The Android OS is in fact based on a customized version of a Linux Kernel, Linux of course already being an established open sorce alternative to Microsoft Windows and Apple OS X. At its most basic level, an operating-system delivers the layer between the hardware and software developed to function upon it. In the case of Android it must be capable of passing instructions to the cpu, mic, camera, GPS, touch screen as well as keypad etc. Various applications can then be built to run on Android OS to make these devices functional.

The Android operating system is undoubtedly a sophisticated piece of software and totes a big punch in a tiny package. It uses a lightweight relational database called SQLite to maintain and access data for the various programs that you install. It has built in play back capability for quite a few various media types which includes PNG, JPEG, BMP, MPEG, MP3, MIDI, WAV, WebM, H.263, H.264 and GIF. With regards to connectivity it will handle all of the latest technologies out of the box like GSM, IDEN, CDMA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WiMax, SMS and MMS forms of messaging rendering it the most suitable platform for application programmers to produce innovative new software.

Android has overtaken virtually every other smartphone os available, including Apple's iOS that powers the iPhones and Blackberry's own OS. Towards the end of 2010, 33 million smartphones had been bought which came with a version of the Android OS and research analyst NPD Group now predicts that 50 percent of all smartphone purchases are for an Android phone.

The driving factor behind this swift take up is the open source nature of the operating system. As a result any smartphone, tablet or mobile device designer in the world can get the source code, alter and customize it to their exact requirements and then distribute it on handsets designed by them. The royalty free nature of Android has motivated most of the biggest names in the smartphone industry like Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola to develop highly attractive devices utilizing the Android OS.

One more reason for the big demand of Android devices is that towards the end of 2010 there were over 200,000 apps readily available for download including games to utilities, image editing to location based services. Unlike Apple's iTunes store, the vast majority of Android programs are free or have free versions, which encourages users to use Android smartphones.




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