Android OS is a mobile operating system with a Linux foundation that mostly powers smartphones and tablets.
An operating system built on Linux, a GUI, a web browser, and out those that can download that are in the Android platform. The operating system creates to run on reasonably priced phones with conventional numeric keypads, even though the early Android demonstrations used a basic QWERTY smartphone with a huge VGA screen.
The Apache v2 free software license, which is going to using for the distribution of Android, enables the creation of several OS variants for different hardware, including gaming consoles and camcorders. Although most Android smartphones come preinstall with a collection of proprietary applications like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Gmail, Android constructing on open-source software.
Android OS: The past and present
In 2003, Android Inc., a startup firm with headquarters in Palo Alto, was the first Android entity. The company originally intends for creating a computer system for digital photography, but it gives up on that goal in favor of expanding its customer base.
For at least $50 million, Google purchased Android Inc. and its core personnel in 2005. Google promotes the original mobile platform’s flexibility and upgradeability as its main advantages to cell carriers and handset manufacturers.
When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, Google was covertly working on the Android operating system. Previous Android phone prototypes had a full keyboard and no touchscreen, closely resembling a BlackBerry. However, the introduction of the iPhone fundamentally alters the mobile computing market, forcing Android developers to fully support touchscreens. However, the HTC Dream, the first available commercially smartphone to run Android OS, had a QWERTY keyboard and receive some negative reviews when it was released in 2008.
The Humanitarian Handset Alliance
The Humanitarian Handset Alliance (OHA) make its establishment official toward the end of 2007. Over 30 hardware, software, and telecommunications companies together to form the Open Hardware Alliance (OHA), including Google, Qualcomm, Broadcom, HTC, Intel, Samsung, Motorola, Sprint, Texas Instruments, and Japanese wireless providers KDDI and NTT DoCoMo. The alliance’s objective was to aid in the creation of the first free software mobile platform.
Around the time of the group’s announcement, in November 2007, Google launch the public beta of Android 1.0 for developers. The trademark dessert-themed naming system for Android wasn’t implemented until Google launch Android 1.5 in April 2009; the name of this version was “Cupcake.” Each Mobile application is named after a confection since these phones make our lives incredibly sweet, according to a statement issued by Google around the time Android 4.4 KitKat was released. In 2019, Google rebrand Android, dropping the sweet names in favor of calling Android 10 simply Android Q.
Android OS attributes
Actions are starting direct manipulation inputs like touching, swiping, and pinching in the Android operating system’s basic user interface (UI). The device responds to user input by vibrating or alerting them as haptic feedback. A enhance applying, for instance, causes the gadget to vibrate.
The main page, which is the main navigation center for Android devices that contains widgets and app icons, displays when a user powers on a device. Informational displays known as widgets automatically update content like weather or news. Depending on the maker of the device running the OS, the home display settings may vary. Additionally, users can select several home screen themes with third-party apps available on Google Play.
Information about the gadget and its interconnection, such as the Wi-Fi network it attaches to or signal strength displaying in a prestige navigation bar of the home screen. Users can view an alert screen by swiping the status bar to reveal it.
The Android operating system has battery-saving features as well. Applications aren’t helpful to suspend the OS to reduce CPU and battery utilization. Inactive processes saved in Android’s memory are automatically closed with memory management tools.
GSM/HSDPA and CDMA/EV-DO, the two most extensively use cellular protocols, both support Android. Additionally, Android offers:
- Bluetooth
- Edge
- 3G communication protocols, like EV-DO and HSDPA
- Wi-Fi
- Autocorrect
- SMS and MMS messaging
- video/still digital cameras
- GPS
Android OS versions
Google makes incremental changes to the OS with each release. This often includes security patches and performance improvements.
- Sept. 23, 2008, saw the release of Android 1.0. includes a collection of Google applications, such as YouTube, Gmail, Maps, and Calendar.
- 1.4 Android (Cupcake). publish on April 27, 2009. Introduce the architecture for 3rd app widgets as well as an on-screen virtual keyboard.
- Sept. 15, 2009, saw the release of Android 1.6 (Donut). introduce support for CDMA networks as well as the ability for the OS to function on screens of varying sizes and resolutions.
- 2.0 of Android (Eclair). Print on October 26, 2009. added real-time traffic updates, pinch-to-zoom functionality, and turn-by-turn voice navigation.
- 2.2 Android (Froyo). publish on May 20, 2010. speech actions, which let users press an icon and voice command, and a dock that was added to the bottom of a home screen. added Flash support to the internet browser as well.
- On December 6, 2010, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) was released. added black and green to the user interface.
- from 3.0 to 3.2 Android (Honeycomb). on February 22, 2011. This edition, which restricts to tablets, featured a blue, holographic design with a space motif.
- 4.0 Android (Ice Cream Sandwich). Printing on October 18, 2011. introduces a single user interface (UI) for tablets and smartphones and swiping as a navigation technique.
Hardware
The hardware platform for Android is ARM, although later releases of the Android OS support the x86 and x86-64 architectures. Device producers began releasing Android smartphones or tablets with Intel chips in 2012.
The Android operating system’s minimal hardware requirements vary depending just on the device’s screen size, CPU type, and density. A 200 MHz engine, 32 MB of storage, and 32 MB of RAM were the initial specifications set by Google.
For a smartphone to be “Google Approved,” which indicates that it will arrive with approving Google apps, Google publishes paperwork with hardware specifications that device manufacturers (OEMs) must meet. However, because Android is open source, it may also function on less powerful devices and vice versa.
Compared to other mobile operating systems
Initially, the developers of Android thought their operating system would contend with other mobile platforms like Siemens and Microsoft Windows Phone.
A microkernel and UI that serve as the graphical shell were features of the close OS Symbian. Symbian OS was utilized by many mobile device makers, including Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola. Despite being widely useingOS, Symbian does not become particularly well known in North America. However, Symbian’s OS proves to challenge to program, and its design was not as straightforward as that of Android and iOS. In 2014, Symbian OS research stops.
Windows Mobile firstly launched on a Pocket PC 2000
Windows Mobile is first launching on a Pocket PC 2000. And deriving from the embedding OS Windows CE. Microsoft targets companies with its mobile OS marketing. Microsoft had to adapt in response to competition from Android and iOS; in 2010. The corporation is replacing Windows Phone with Windows Phone, a product that gears at consumers. Windows 10 Mobile is replacing Windows Phone as a transitional platform, however, Microsoft also ended support for that OS on January 14, 2020.
Apple iOS is the major foe of Android. Both iOS and Android OS offer comparative characteristics. Android is an open-source operating system that provides greater flexibility. And customization than Apple iOS, which is a proprietary OS with such a fixed UI.
Since 2011, Android dominate the smartphone operating system market. According to Statcounter, Android had a 74.45 percent market share worldwide in 2018 and 2019. Apple iOS had a 22.85% market share worldwide. Samsung claims 24.27 percent of the market share in the U.S., while Apple commands 57.22 percent of it, following LG (5.49 percent) and Motorola (3.66 percent ).
Criticism
The OS’s fragmentation is the main complaint against Android. The adaptable and free and open-source nature of Android leads to a wide range of hardware and software modifications. The majority of smartphones use outdated versions of Android; as of May 2019, only 10.4% of Android phones ran Android Pie, the most recent version. In comparison, over 50% of any iPhones were running iOS 13 26 days after its release.
Developers have difficulties as a result of device fragmentation because it is challenging to create programs that function on all device kinds and operating systems. Businesses must deal with fragmentation because IT personnel find it difficult to manage. And protect devices that use a diversity of software and hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does Android OS mean?
- Android OS is a mobile operating system with a Linux foundation that mostly powers smartphones and tablets. An operating system built on the Linux kernel, a GUI, a web browser, and out throughout that can download are all included in the Android platform.
Importance of Android OS.
- The capacity of the Android OS to run many apps simultaneously is well known. Using Android devices to run multiple things at once is a seamless experience. The idea of the App Store makes it simpler for customers to use software, including games and business apps, without having to trawl around the internet.
What gadgets run Android?
- Smartphones, tablets, and e-readers are examples of common Android gadgets. A small number of additional devices, including netbooks, portable music players, the Binatone iHome Phone, and Odroid handheld game consoles, are also equipped with the Android OS.
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