Android OS For Noobs | The Communication Blog

Monday, December 17, 2012

Android OS For Noobs

By Erika Smith-Jones


The Android OS is a lot like the Windows OS you have on your personal computer. Yet, it is mainly designed to work on small, low power devices like smartphones and tablets. It is meant to operate as efficiently as it can be while using as little power as is practical. Android Inc. received world wide recognition when in August 2005 Google acquired the business then promptly announced that they're going to make the operating system Open Source to ensure anyone can use it without paying for it or pay any royalties.

The Android OS is actually based on a modified adaptation of the Linux Kernel, Linux obviously already an established open sorce alternative to Microsoft Windows and Apple OS X. At its most rudimentry level, an operating-system provides the layer between the hardware and software developed to run upon it. With regards to Android it must be capable of passing instructions to the processor, mic, camera, GPS, antenna, touchscreen display as well as keypad and so forth. All types of apps can then be built to run on Android Operating System to make the device operational.

The Android os is a sophisticated piece of software and packs a big punch in a small package. It utilizes a lightweight relational database known as SQLite to maintain and access data for the variety of applications that you install. It also provides built in playback capability for many various media types including MPEG, MP3, MIDI, WAV, WebM, H.263, H.264, PNG, GIF, BMP, and JPEG. With regards to connectivity it will deal with all the latest technologies out of the box like GSM, IDEN, CDMA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WiMax, SMS and MMS forms of messaging allowing it to be the most suitable platform for app coders to build innovative new software.

At the time of writing, Android has overtaken just about every other smartphone os around, this includes Apple's iOS that powers the iPhones and Blackberry's own OS. Towards the end of 2010, approximately Thirty three million smartphones had been purchased which came with a version of the Android OS and research analyst NPD Group now predicts that 50 % of all smartphone purchases are for an Android smartphone.

The driving factor behind this speedy uptake is the open source design of the OS. This means that any smartphone, tablet or portable device designer on the globe may download the source files, modify and customize it for their exact requirements and then distribute it on handsets developed by them. The royalty free aspect of Android has persuaded most of the biggest names in the smartphone market like HTC, Samsung, LG and Motorola to build desirable devices utilizing the Android operating system.

Another reason for the high demand of Android mobile phones is that towards the end of 2010 there were above 200,000 apps for download which included games to tools, image editing to location services. Unlike Apple's iTunes store, lot's of Android programs are free or have free versions, which in turn encourages people to use Android gadgets.




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