Android (operating system)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Android

Android 2.2
Company /developer Open Handset Alliance
Programmed in C (core)[1], C++ (some third party
libraries), Java (UI)
Working state Current
Source model Free and open source software
Initial release 21 October 2008
Latest stable release 2.2 (Froyo) / 20 May 2010; 5 days
ago[2]
Supported platforms ARM, MIPS, Power Architecture,x86
Kernel type Monolithic (modified Linux kernel)
Default user interface Graphical
License Apache 2.0 and GPLv2[3]
Officialwebsite android.com
Android is an operating system and software stack for mobile devices that includesmiddleware and key
applications,[4] and uses a modified version of the Linux kernel.[5][6][7] It was initially developed by Android Inc., a
firm later purchased by Google, and lately by theOpen Handset Alliance.[8] It allows developers to write managed
code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries. [9]
The unveiling of the Android distribution on 5 November 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open
Handset Alliance, a consortium of 65 hardware, software, and telecomcompanies devoted to advancing open
standards for mobile devices.[10][11] Google released most of the Android code under the Apache License, a free
software and open source license.[12]
According to NPD Group, unit sales for Android OS smartphones ranked second among allsmartphone OS handsets
sold in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2010.[13][14] BlackBerry OSand the Android OS ranked first and second
respectively.[15]
Contents
 [hide]
1 History
1.1 Open Handset Alliance
1.2 Licensing
1.3 Update history
2 Features
3 Hardware running Android
4 Software development
4.1 Software development kit
4.2 Android Developer Challenge
4.3 Google applications
4.4 Third party applications
4.5 Native code
4.6 Community-based firmware
5 Marketing
5.1 Logos
5.2 Typeface
5.3 Market share
6 Restrictions and issues
6.1 Linux compatibility
6.2 Issues concerning application development
6.3 Issues for specific applications
7 See also
8 References
9 Bibliography
10 External links
[edit]History
Android at Googleplex.
In July 2005, Google acquired Android, Inc., a small startup company based in Palo Alto, California, USA.
[16]
 Android's co-founders who went to work at Google included Andy Rubin(co-founder of Danger[17]), Rich
Miner (co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc.[18]), Nick Sears (once VP at T-Mobile[19]), and Chris White
(headed design and interface development at WebTV[20]). At the time, little was known about the functions of
Android, Inc. other than that they made software for mobile phones. [16] This began rumors that Google was
planning to enter the mobile phone market.[citation needed]
At Google, the team led by Rubin developed a mobile device platform powered by the Linux kernelwhich they
marketed to handset makers and carriers on the premise of providing a flexible, upgradeable system. [citation needed] It
was reported that Google had already lined up a series of hardware component and software partners and
signaled to carriers that it was open to various degrees of cooperation on their part. [21][22][23] More speculation that
Google would be entering the mobile-phone market came in December 2006. [24] Reports from the BBC and The
Wall Street Journal noted that Google wanted its search and applications on mobile phones and it was working
hard to deliver that. Print and online media outlets soon reported rumors that Google was developing a Google-
branded handset.[25] More speculation followed reporting that as Google was defining technical specifications, it
was showing prototypes to cell phone manufacturers and network operators.
In September 2007, InformationWeek covered an Evalueserve study reporting that Google had filed
several patent applications in the area of mobile telephony.[26][27]
[edit]Open Handset Alliance
Main article: Open Handset Alliance
"Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating
about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of
different phone models."
-Eric Schmidt, Google Chairman/CEO[8]
On November 5, 2007, the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of several companies which include Texas
Instruments, Broadcom Corporation, Google, HTC,Intel, LG, Marvell Technology
Group, Motorola, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile was unveiled with the goal
to develop open standards for mobile devices.[8] Along with the formation of the Open Handset Alliance, the OHA
also unveiled their first product, Android, a mobile device platformbuilt on the Linux kernel version 2.6.[8]
On 9 December 2008, it was announced that 14 new members would be joining the Android project,
including ARM Holdings, Atheros Communications, Asustek Computer Inc, Garmin Ltd, Softbank, Sony
Ericsson, Toshiba Corp, and Vodafone Group Plc.[28][29]
[edit]Licensing
With the exception of brief update periods, Android has been available as open source since 21 October 2008.
Google opened the entiresource code (including network and telephony stacks [30]) under an Apache License.[31]
With the Apache License, vendors can add proprietary extensions without submitting those back to the open
source community.
[edit]Update history

A cupcake was placed beside Android atGoogleplex to commemorate the 1.5 release of Android.
Android has seen a number of updates since its original release. These updates to the base Operating System
typically fix bugs and add new features.
On 30 April 2009, the official 1.5 (Cupcake) update for Android was
released.[32][33] There were several new features and UI updates included in
the 1.5 update:
Ability to record and watch videos with the camcorder mode
Uploading videos to YouTube and pictures to Picasa directly from the
phone
1.5 (Cupcake)
A new soft keyboard with an "autocomplete" feature
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.27
Bluetooth A2DP support
Ability to automatically connect to a Bluetooth headset within a certain
distance
New widgets and folders that can populate the Home screens
Animations between screens
Expanded ability of Copy and paste to include web pages[34]
On 15 September 2009, the 1.6 (Donut) SDK was released. [36][37] Included
in the update were:
An improved Android Market experience
An integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery interface
Gallery now enables users to select multiple photos for deletion
Updated Voice Search, with faster response and deeper integration with
1.6 (Donut)
native applications, including the ability to dial contacts
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29[35]
Updated search experience to allow searching bookmarks, history,
contacts, and the web from the home screen
Updated Technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPN, Gestures,
and a Text-to-speech engine
Support for WVGA resolutions
Speed improvements in searching and camera applications [35]
2.0/2.1 (Eclair) On 26 October 2009 the 2.0 (Eclair) SDK was released.[39] Among the
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29[38] changes were:[40]
Optimized hardware speed
Support for more screen sizes and resolutions
Revamped UI
New Browser UI and HTML5 support
New contact lists
Better white-black ratio for backgrounds
 Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
Microsoft Exchange support
Built in flash support for Camera
Digital Zoom
MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events [41]
Improved virtual keyboard
Bluetooth 2.1
Live Wallpapers
The 2.0.1 SDK was released on 3 December 2009.[42]
The 2.1 SDK was released on 12 January 2010.[43]
On 20 May 2010 the 2.2 (Froyo) SDK was released.[2] Changes included:
[46]

General Android OS speed, memory, and performance optimizations [47]

Additional application speed improvements courtesy
of JIT implementation[48]
Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application
Increased Microsoft Exchange support (security policies, auto-discovery,
GAL look-up, calendar synchronization, remote wipe)
2.2 (Froyo)[44] Improved application launcher with shortcuts to Phone and Browser
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.32[45] applications
USB tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality
Updated Market application with "batch" and automatic update features [47]
Quick switching between multiple keyboard languages and their
dictionaries
Voice dialing and contact sharing over Bluetooth
Support for file upload fields in the Browser application [49]
Support for installing applications to the expandable memory [50]
Adobe Flash 10.1 support [51]
Confirmed new features:
Gingerbread,[52] [53]
[45] Support for WebM video playback 
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.33 or 34
Improved copy–paste functionalities [54]
[edit]Features
The Android Emulator default home screen (v1.5).
Current features and specifications:[55][56][57]
Handset The platform is adaptable to larger, VGA, 2D graphics library, 3D graphics library based
layouts on OpenGL ES 2.0 specifications, and traditional smartphone layouts.
Storage SQLite, a lightweight relational database, is used for data storage purposes
Android supports connectivity technologies including GSM/EDGE, IDEN, CDMA,EV-
Connectivity
DO, UMTS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX.
Messaging SMS and MMS are available forms of messaging including threaded text messaging.
The web browser available in Android is based on the open-source WebKitapplication framework.
Web browser
The browser scores a 93/100 on the Acid3 Test.
Software written in Java can be compiled to be executed in the Dalvik virtual machine, which is a
specialized VM implementation designed for mobile device use, although not technically a
Java support
standard Java Virtual Machine. Android does not support J2ME, like some other mobile operating
systems.
Android supports the following audio/video/still media
formats: H.263, H.264 (in3GP or MP4 container), MPEG-4 SP, AMR, AMR-WB (in 3GP
Media support
container), AAC,HE-AAC (in MP4 or 3GP container), MP3, MIDI, Ogg
Vorbis, WAV, JPEG, PNG,GIF, BMP.[57]
Additional Android can use video/still cameras, touchscreens, GPS, accelerometers,magnetometers,
hardware accelerated 2D bit blits (with hardware orientation, scaling, pixel format conversion) and
support accelerated 3D graphics.
Development Includes a device emulator, tools for debugging, memory and performance profiling, and
environment a plugin for the Eclipse IDE.
Market Like many phone-based application stores, the Android Market is a catalog of applications that can
be downloaded and installed to target hardware over-the-air, without the use of a PC. Originally
only free applications were supported. Paid-for applications have been available on the Android
 Market in the United States since 19 February 2009.[58] The Android Market has been expanding
rapidly. As of April 30, 2010, it had over 50,000 Android applications for download.[59]
Android has native support for multi-touch which was initially made available in handsets such as
the HTC Hero. The feature was initially disabled at the kernel level (possibly to avoid infringing
Multi-touch
Apple's patents on touch-screen technology[60]). Google has since released an update for the Nexus
One and the Motorola Droidwhich enables multi-touch natively.[61]
Bluetooth Support for sending files over bluetooth was added in version 2.0.
Not supported by default, but as seen with the HTC Evo 4G, which runs Sense , it is possible to
Videocalling
implement.[citation needed]
Multitasking Multitasking of applications is available.[62]

Architecture Diagram
[edit]Hardware running Android
Main article: List of Android devices
The first phone to run the Android operating system was the HTC Dream, released on 22 October 2008.[63]
[edit]Software development

Early Android device.

The early feedback on developing applications for the Android platform was mixed. [64] Issues cited include bugs,
lack of documentation, inadequate QA infrastructure, and no public issue-tracking system. (Google announced an
issue tracker on 18 January 2008.)[65] In December 2007, MergeLab mobile startup founder Adam MacBeth
stated,"Functionality is not there, is poorly documented or just doesn't work... It's clearly not ready for prime
time."[66] Despite this, Android-targeted applications began to appear the week after the platform was announced.
The first publicly available application was the Snake game.[67][68] The Android Dev Phone is a SIM-unlocked and
hardware-unlocked device that is designed for advanced developers. While developers can use regular consumer
devices purchased at retail to test and use their applications, some developers may choose not to use a retail
device, preferring an unlocked or no-contract device.
[edit]Software development kit
The Android SDK includes a comprehensive set of development tools. [69] These include a debugger,libraries, a
handset emulator (based on QEMU), documentation, sample code, and tutorials. Currently supported
development platforms include x86-architecture computers running Linux (any modern desktop Linux
distribution), Mac OS X10.4.8 or later, Windows XP or Vista. Requirements also include Java Development
Kit, Apache Ant, and Python 2.2 or later. The officially supported integrated development environment (IDE)
is Eclipse (3.2 or later) using the Android Development Tools (ADT) Plugin, though developers may use any text
editor to edit Java and XML files then use command line tools to create, build and debug Android applications as
well as control attached Android devices (e.g., triggering a reboot, installing software package(s) remotely). [70]
A preview release of the Android software development kit (SDK) was released on 12 November 2007. On 15 July
2008, the Android Developer Challenge Team accidentally sent an email to all entrants in the Android Developer
Challenge announcing that a new release of the SDK was available in a "private" download area. The email was
intended for winners of the first round of the Android Developer Challenge. The revelation that Google was
supplying new SDK releases to some developers and not others (and keeping this arrangement private) has led to
widely reported frustration within the Android developer community. [71]
On 18 August 2008 the Android 0.9 SDK beta was released. This release provides an updated and extended API,
improved development tools and an updated design for the home screen. Detailed instructions [72] for upgrading
are available to those already working with an earlier release. On 23 September 2008 the Android 1.0 SDK (Release
1) was released.[73] According to the release notes, it included "mainly bug fixes, although some smaller features
were added". It also included several API changes from the 0.9 version.
On 9 March 2009, Google released version 1.1 for the Android dev phone. While there are a few aesthetic updates,
a few crucial updates include support for "search by voice, priced applications, alarm clock fixes, sending gmail
freeze fix, fixes mail notifications and refreshing intervals, and now the maps show business reviews". Another
important update is that Dev phones can now access paid applications and developers can now see them on the
Android Market.[74]
In the middle of May 2009, Google released version 1.5 (Cupcake) of the Android OS and SDK. This update included
many new features including video recording, support for the stereo bluetooth profile, a customizable onscreen
keyboard system and voice recognition. This release also opened up the AppWidget framework to third party
developers allowing anyone to create their own home screen widgets. [75]
In September 2009 the "Donut" version (1.6) was released which featured better search, battery usage indicator
and VPN control applet. New platform technologies included Text to Speech engine (not available on all phones),
Gestures & Accessibility framework.[76]
Android Applications are packaged in .apk format and stored under /data/app folder on the Android OS. The
user can run the commandadb root to access this folder as only the root has permissions to access this folder.
[edit]Android Developer Challenge
The Android Developer Challenge was a competition for the most innovative application for Android. Google
offered prizes totaling 10 millionUS dollars, distributed between ADC I and ADC II. ADC I accepted submissions
from 2 January to 14 April 2008. The 50 most promising entries, announced on 12 May 2008, each received a
$25,000 award to fund further development. [77][78] It ended in early September with the announcement of ten
teams that received $275,000 each, and ten teams that received $100,000 each. [79] ADC II was announced on 27
May 2009.[80] The first round of the ADC II closed on 6 October 2009.[81] The first-round winners of ADC II
comprising the top 200 applications were announced on 5 November 2009. Voting for the second round also
opened on the same day and ended on November 25. Google announced the top winners of ADC II on November
30, with SweetDreams, What the Doodle!? and WaveSecure being nominated the overall winners of the challenge.
[82][83]

[edit]Google applications
Google has also participated in the Android Market by offering several applications for its services. These
applications include Google Voicefor the Google Voice service, Sky Map for watching stars, Finance for their
finance service, Maps Editor for their MyMaps service, Places Directory for their Local Search, Google Goggles that
searches by image, Google Translate, Google Shopper, Listen for podcasts and My Tracks, a jogging application.
[edit]Third party applications
With the growing number of Android handsets, there has also been an increased interest by third party developers
to port their applications to the Android operating system.
Famous applications that have been converted to the Android operating system include Shazam, Backgrounds,
and WeatherBug.
The Android operating system has also been considered important enough by a lot of the most popular internet
sites and services to create native android applications. These include MySpace and Facebook.
[edit]Native code
Libraries written in C and other languages can be compiled to ARM native code and installed using the Android
Native Development Kit. Native classes can be called from Java code running under the Dalvik VM using
the System.loadLibrary call, which is part of the standard Android Java classes. [84][85]
Complete applications can be compiled and installed using traditional development tools. [86] The ADB debugger
gives a root shell under the Android Emulator which allows native ARM code to be uploaded and executed. ARM
code can be compiled using GCC on a standard PC.[86]Running native code is complicated by the fact that Android
uses a non-standard C library (known as Bionic). The underlying graphics device is available as
a framebuffer at /dev/graphics/fb0.[87] The graphics library that Android uses to arbitrate and control access to this
device is called the Skia Graphics Library (SGL), and it has been released under an open source license. [88] Skia has
backends for both win32 andCairo, allowing the development of cross-platform applications, and it is the graphics
engine underlying the Google Chrome web browser.[89]
[edit]Community-based firmware
There is a community of open-source enthusiasts that build and share Android-based firmware with a number of
customizations and additional features, such as FLAC lossless audio support and the ability to store downloaded
applications on the microSD card.[90] This usually involves rooting the device. Rooting lets users load modified
firmwares allowing users of older phones to use applications available only on newer releases. [91]
Those firmware packages are updated frequently, incorporate elements of Android functionality that haven't yet
been officially released within a carrier-sanctioned firmware, and tend to have fewer limitations. CyanogenMod is
one such firmware.
On 24 September 2009, Google issued a cease and desist letter [92] to the modder Cyanogen, citing issues with the
re-distribution of Google's closed-source applications [93] within the custom firmware. Even though Android OS is
open source, phones come packaged with closed-source Google applications for functionality such as the
application store and GPS navigation. Google has asserted that these applications can only be provided through
approved distribution channels by licensed distributors. Cyanogen has complied with Google's wishes and is
continuing to distribute this mod without the proprietary software. He has provided a method to back up licensed
Google applications during the mod's install process and restore them when it is complete. [94]
[edit]Marketing
[edit]Logos

Android robot logo.

Text logo.
Android uses the Droid font family made by Ascender Corporation.[95]
Android Green is the color of the Android Robot that represents the Android operating system. The print color is
PMS 376C and the online hex color is #A4C639, as specified by the Android Brand Guidelines. [96]
[edit]Typeface
The custom typeface of Android is called Norad, only used in the text logo. [97]
[edit]Market share
The second Android phone was released on 22 October 2008. [citation needed] Research company Canalysestimates that
by Q2, 2009, Android had a 2.8% share of the worldwide smartphone market.[98] By the following quarter (Q3
2009), Android's market share had grown to 3.5%. [99]
In February 2010 ComScore ranked the Android platform as obtaining a 9.0% of the smartphone platform
marketshare. This figure was up from an earlier estimate of 5.2% stated in November 2009. [100]
In October, 2009, Gartner Inc. predicted that by 2012, Android would become the world's second most popular
smartphone platform, behindNokia's Symbian OS, which is very popular outside the US.
Meanwhile, BlackBerry would fall from 2nd to 5th place, iPhone would remain in 3rd place, and
Microsoft's Windows Mobile would remain in 4th place.[101]
Analytics firm Flurry estimates that 250,000 Motorola Droid phones were sold in the United States during the
phone's first week in stores.[102]
In May of 2010, Android's first quarter US sales surpassed that of the rival iPhone platform. According to a report
by the NPD group, Android achieved 28% smartphone sales in the US market, up 8% from the December quarter.
The iPhone's sales fell flat at 21% over the same reporting period. [103]
[edit]Restrictions and issues
[edit]Linux compatibility
Android uses a version of Linux as its kernel (albeit tweaked by Google to fit Android needs and separated from the
main Linux kerneltree),[104] but it is not a conventional Linux distribution; it does not have a native X Window
System, neither does it support the full set of standard GNU libraries like its system libraries (GNU C Library). This
makes it difficult to reuse existing Linux applications or libraries on Android. [105]
Google no longer maintains the Android code they previously contributed to the Linux kernel,
effectively branching kernel code in their own tree, separating their code from Linux. The code which is no longer
maintained was deleted in January 2010 from the Linuxcodebase.[5][6][106] However, Google announced in April 2010,
that they will hire two coders to work with kernel.org. [107]
[edit]Issues concerning application development
Android does not use established Java standards, i.e. Java SE and ME. This prevents compatibility among Java
applications written for those platforms and those for the Android platform. Android only reuses the Java language
syntax, but does not provide the full-class libraries and APIs bundled with Java SE or ME. [108] However, the Myriad
Group claim that their new J2Android tool allow conversion of Java MIDlets into Android applications. [109][110][111]
Developers have reported that it is difficult to maintain applications working on different versions of Android,
because of various compatibility issues between versions 1.5 and 1.6, [112][113] specifically concerning the different
resolution ratios of the various Android phones.[114] Such problems were specifically encountered during the ADC2
contest.[115]
The rapid growth in the number of Android-based phone models with different hardware capabilities also makes it
difficult to develop applications which work on all Android-based phones. [116][117][118][119]. As of May 2010, only 32% of
Android phones run the 2.1 version, and 37% still run the 1.5 version [120]
Garbage collection will slow down programs that make too many memory allocations allowing Dalvik to keep a
pool of free memory. This may noticeably affect responsiveness. [121]
Android does not readily support Bluetooth file exchange,[122] video call or native Java ME, as do other mobile
operating systems, such asSymbian OS and Windows Mobile, however some of this, such as Bluetooth file
exchange, may still by possible with some amount of hacking [123]. Additionally, applications like Qik allow live
broadcasting (but not receiving).
[edit]Issues for specific applications
Unlike other mobile closed platforms like Apple's iPhone OS, Google tracks issues and feature requests at Google
Code's site.[124] The following outstanding issues have been highly debated or voted for by the user community:
A source of criticism has been the lack of standards-based iCalendar/CalDAV functionality in the Android calendar
client. Currently, the Android calendar is restricted to synchronisation with Google Calendar service.[125] In the
meantime, CalDAV based calendars can be incorporated into Google Calendar for later synchronization to Android
devices.
As of May 2010, the second most requested ("starred") feature is the support for Bi-directional text (right-to-left)
such as Arabic, Persianand Hebrew.[126]
Hands free dialing and call answering is not supported. Voice dialing can be used to find/input a number, but
selection requires interaction with the screen. This makes it illegal to initiate or answer calls while driving in some
areas, and very difficult to use while on a bicycle or motorcycle. [127] Some vendors provide hands-free dialing, as on
the Motorola Milestone. This issue has been partially addressed by Android 2.2 which supports voice dialing
through bluetooth.
Android did not support animated GIF files. It only showed the first frame.[128] However, some 3rd party apps that
can play animated GIFs such as "Image Viewer (with Animation)" [129] and "Chandroid Animated
ImageViewer"[130] have started to surface. Additionally, some manufacturer variations of Android such as HTC's
Sense UI come with their own image viewing applications which support animated GIFs. As of 2.2, the Android
Browser natively supports the rendering of GIF images, but the Gallery does not.