Android is a mobile operating system, primarily used on smartphones and tablets, developed by

Google. It's based on the Linux kernel and is known for its open-source nature, allowing for
customization and a vast app ecosystem. Android is the world's most popular mobile operating
system, powering billions of active devices. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Here's a more detailed look:

Key Features and Characteristics:

 Open Source: Android's open-source nature allows device manufacturers and developers to
modify and distribute their own versions, leading to a wide variety of devices and
customization options. [2, 5]
 Linux-based: It is built upon a modified Linux kernel, providing a solid foundation for
managing hardware and software resources. [4, 5]
 Vast App Ecosystem: Android boasts a massive app store, Google Play Store, with a wide
range of applications available for download, many of which are free. [2, 6]
 Customization: Android allows users to customize their devices, including the home screen,
widgets, and even the overall look and feel, through various launchers and themes. [2, 3, 5, 8,
9, 10]
 Multitasking: It supports multitasking, allowing users to run multiple applications
simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly. [1, 5, 11]
 Security: Android includes security features like Google Play Protect, which scans apps for
malicious software, and regular security updates to mitigate vulnerabilities. [1, 6]
 Wide Device Compatibility: Android is used on a diverse range of devices, including
smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, smart TVs, and even in-car entertainment systems. [2,
12]
 Google Integration: Android is deeply integrated with other Google services like Google
Search, Google Assistant, and Google Drive, providing a seamless user experience. [1, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16]

Historical Context:

 Android was initially developed by Android Inc. and later acquired by Google in 2005. [5]
 The first publicly released Android-powered phone was the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1),
launched in 2008. [17, 18]
 Since then, Android has evolved through numerous versions, with each release introducing
new features, performance improvements, and security enhancements. [5, 7]

In essence, Android is a powerful, flexible, and widely adopted mobile operating system that has
become the dominant force in the mobile device market due to its open-source nature, vast app
ecosystem, and continuous innovation. [2, 5, 6]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)
[2] https://trainings.internshala.com/blog/android-operating-system-complete-guide/
[3] https://www.verizon.com/support/android-os-faqs/
[4] https://www.naukri.com/code360/library/android-operating-system
[5] https://www.techasoft.com/post/android-operating-system-os-definition-and-how-it-works
[6] https://www.android.com/intl/en_in/what-is-android/
[7] https://www.elprocus.com/what-is-android-introduction-features-applications/
[8] https://drbtaneja.com/advantages-and-features-of-android/
[9] https://www.bajajfinserv.in/difference-between-android-and-ios
[10] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/android-vs-ios-dr-hitesh-mohapatra
[11] https://www.techtarget.com/searchmobilecomputing/definition/Android-OS
[12] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/android-operating-system.asp
[13] https://hyundaitechnology.com/blog/our-blog-1/why-android-is-the-best-choice-for-your-mobile-
operating-system-6
[14] https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-68987-6_14
[15] https://www.scaler.com/topics/android/android-introduction/
[16] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-android-apps-so-popular-md-amirul-islam-6wpec?
trk=public_post
[17] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)
[18] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history

Not all images can be exported from Search.

What is Android OS?
Android OS is a Linux-based mobile operating system that primarily runs on
smartphones and tablets.

The Android platform includes an operating system based upon the Linux kernel,
a GUI, a web browser and end-user applications that can be downloaded. Although
the initial demonstrations of Android featured a generic QWERTY smartphone and
large VGA screen, the operating system was written to run on relatively inexpensive
handsets with conventional numeric keypads.

Android was released under the Apache v2 open source license; this allows for many
variations of the OS to be developed for other devices, such as gaming consoles and
digital cameras. Android is based on open source software, but most Android devices
come preinstalled with a suite of proprietary software, such as Google Maps,
YouTube, Google Chrome and Gmail.

History and development of Android OS

Android began its life as a Palo Alto-based startup company called Android Inc., in
2003. Originally, the company set out to develop an operating system for digital
cameras, but it abandoned those efforts in lieu of reaching a broader market.

Google acquired Android Inc. and its key employees in 2005 for at least $50 million.
Google marketed the early mobile platform to handset manufacturers and mobile
carriers with its major benefits as flexibility and upgradability.

Google was discreetly developing Android OS when Apple released the iPhone in
2007. Previous prototypes of an Android phone closely resembled a BlackBerry, with
a physical keyboard and no touchscreen. The launch of the iPhone, however, changed
the mobile computing market significantly and forced Android creators to support
touchscreens more heavily. Nevertheless, the HTC Dream, which was the first
commercially available smartphone to run Android OS, featured a QWERTY
keyboard and was met with some critical reception during its 2008 release.
In late 2007, the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) announced its formation. The OHA
was a coalition of more than 30 hardware, software and telecommunications
companies, including Google, Qualcomm, Broadcom, HTC, Intel, Samsung,
Motorola, Sprint, Texas Instruments and Japanese wireless carriers KDDI and NTT
DoCoMo. The alliance's goal was to contribute to the development of the first open
source platform for mobile devices.

Google released the public beta version of Android 1.0 for developers around the
same time of the alliance's announcement, in November 2007. It wasn't until Google
released Android 1.5 in April 2009 that Google introduced Android's signature
dessert-themed naming scheme; the name of Android 1.5 was "Cupcake." Around the
time of the release of Android 4.4 KitKat, Google released an official statement to
explain the naming: "Since these devices make our lives so sweet, each Android
version is named after a dessert."

What are Android OS features?

The default UI of Android relies on direct manipulation inputs such as tapping,
swiping and pinching to initiate actions. The device provides haptic feedback to the
user via alerts such as vibrations to respond to actions. If a user presses a navigation
button, for example, the device vibrates.

When a user boots a device, Android OS displays the home screen, which is the
primary navigation hub for Android devices and is comprised of widgets and app
icons. Widgets are informational displays that automatically update content such as
weather or news. The home screen display can differ based on the device
manufacturer that is running the OS. Users can also choose different themes for the
home screen via third-party apps on Google Play.

A status bar at the top of the home screen displays information about the device and
its connectivity, such as the Wi-Fi network that the device is connected to or signal
strength. Users can pull down the status bar with a swipe of a finger to view a
notification screen.
Android OS also includes features to save battery usage. The OS suspends
applications that aren't in use to conserve battery power and CPU usage. Android
includes memory management features that automatically close inactive processes
stored in its memory.

Additionally, Android OS has generative AI features that improve Google searches.

The Circle to Search feature allows users to highlight, circle, scribble or tap on
images, videos or text in search to learn more about elements of the photo. Users can
also point the smartphone camera and ask questions about what the camera sees using
the Google app. The feature is available on high-end Android phones, including the
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Android runs on both of the most widely deployed cellular

standards, GSM/HSDPA and CDMA/EV-DO. Android also supports:

 Bluetooth

 Edge

 3G communication protocols, like EV-DO and HSDPA

 Wi-Fi

 Autocorrect

 SMS and MMS messaging

 video/still digital cameras

 GPS

 compasses

 accelerometers

 accelerated 3D graphics

 multitasking applications

Android OS versions
Google makes incremental changes to the OS with each release. This often includes
security patches and performance improvements.

 Android 1.0. Released Sept. 23, 2008. Included a suite of Google apps, including
Gmail, Maps, Calendar and YouTube.

 Android 1.5 (Cupcake). Released April 27, 2009. Introduced an onscreen virtual
keyboard and the framework for third-party app widgets.

 Android 1.6 (Donut). Released Sept. 15, 2009. Introduced the ability for the OS
to run on different screen sizes and resolutions; added support for CDMA
networks.

 Android 2.0 (Eclair). Released Oct. 26, 2009. Added turn-by-turn voice
navigation, real-time traffic information, pinch-to-zoom capability.

 Android 2.2 (Froyo). Released May 20, 2010. Added dock at the bottom of the
home screen and voice actions, which allows users to tap an icon and speak a
command. Also introduced support for Flash to the web browser.

 Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Released Dec. 6, 2010. Introduced black and green
into the UI.

 Android 3.0 to 3.2 (Honeycomb). Released Feb. 22, 2011. This release was
exclusive to tablets and introduced a blue, space-themed holographic design.

 Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Released Oct. 18, 2011. Introduced a
unified UI to both tablets and smartphones; emphasized swiping as a navigational
method.

 Android 4.1 to 4.3 (Jelly Bean). Released July 9, 2012, Nov. 13, 2012, and July
24, 2013, respectively. Introduced Google Now, a day planner service. Added
interactive notifications and improved voice search system.

 Android 4.4 (KitKat). Released Oct. 31, 2013. Introduced lighter colors into the
UI, along with a transparent status bar and white icons.

 Android 5.0 (Lollipop). Released Nov. 12, 2014. Incorporated a card-based

appearance in the design with elements such as notifications and Recent Apps list.
Introduced hands-free voice control with the spoken "OK, Google" command.
 Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). Released Oct. 5, 2015. This release marked
Google's adoption of an annual release schedule. Introduced more granular app
permissions and support for USB-C and fingerprint readers.

 Android 7.0 and 7.1 (Nougat). Released Aug. 22, 2016 and Oct. 4, 2016,
respectively. Introduced a native split-screen mode and the ability to bundle
notifications by app.

 Android 8.0 and 8.1 (Oreo). Released Aug. 21, 2017 and Dec. 5, 2017,
respectively. These versions introduced a native picture-in-picture (PIP) mode and
the ability to snooze notifications. Oreo was the first version to incorporate Project
Treble, an effort by OEMs to provide more standardized software updates.

 Android 9.0 (Pie). Released Aug. 6, 2018. This version replaced Back, Home and
Overview buttons for a multifunctional Home button and a smaller Back button.
Introduced productivity features, including suggested replies for messages and
brightness management capabilities.

 Android 10 (Android Q). Released Sept. 3, 2019. Abandoned the Back button in
favor of a swipe-based approach to navigation. Introduced a dark theme and Focus
Mode, which enables users to limit distractions from certain apps.

 Android 11 (Red Velvet Cake). Released Sept. 8, 2020. Added built-in screen
recording. Created a single location to view and respond to conversations across
multiple messaging apps. This version also updated the chat bubbles so users can
pin conversations to the top of apps and screens.

 Android 12 (Snow Cone). Released Oct. 4, 2021. Added customization options

for the user interface. The conversation widget let users store preferred contacts on
their home screens. Added more privacy options, including sharing when apps
access information such as camera, photos or microphone.

 Android 12L. Released March 7, 2022.The L stands for larger screens. This
update aimed to improve the user interface and optimize for the larger screen of a
tablet, foldable or Chromebook. This update added a dual-panel notification center
for tablets and foldables.

 Android 13 (Tiramisu). Released Aug. 15, 2022. Included more customizable

options including color, theme, language and music. Security updates included
 control over information apps can access, notification permission required for all
apps and clearing of personal information on clipboard. This update enables
multitasking by sharing of messages, chats, links and photos across multiple
Android devices -- including phones, tablets and Chromebooks.

 Android 14 (Upside Down Cake). Released Oct. 4, 2023. Included more

customization options for the lock screen and wallpapers. OS efficiency was
improved to decrease the strain on a phone’s battery. For accessibility, Google
added larger scalable fonts for vision-impaired users and camera flashes to give
hearing-impaired users another visual cue when they get a notification. Security
updates include notifications of changes in data-sharing policies for third-party
applications, enhanced PIN security features and better support for passkey
authentication across more applications.

 Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream). Released Oct. 15, 2024. Included Private Space
to store sensitive apps such as health and banking in a secure area requiring a
second layer of authentication. Improvements to the camera app included Low
Light Boost for low-light conditions for nighttime photos and scanning QR codes
in dim lighting. Security updates include Play Protect to monitor for suspicious
behavior and a credential manager autofill with single tap sign-in with biometric
prompts. The Circle to Search feature is enhanced to include the ability to identify
songs playing on the device. Additional updates include satellite connectivity
support, partial screen recording, screen recording detection, improved battery life,
additional Health Connect data and accessibility options for physical keyboards.

What hardware platform does Android use?

Android uses ARM for its hardware platform; later versions of Android OS support
x86 and x86-64 architectures. Starting in 2012, device manufacturers released
Android smartphones and tablets with Intel processors.

The minimum hardware requirements of Android depend on the device's screen size
and CPU type and density. Originally, Google required a 200 MHz processor, 32 MB
of storage and 32 MB of RAM.
Google releases documentation with hardware requirements that original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) must meet for a device to be "Google Approved," which
means that it will ship with official Google apps. The open source nature of Android,
however, means that it can also run on lesser hardware, and vice versa.

Comparisons with other mobile OSes

Initially, Android's creators believed that the OS would compete with other mobile
operating systems such as Symbian and Microsoft Windows Mobile.

Symbian was a closed OS with a microkernel and a UI that provided the graphical
shell. Many mobile manufacturers used Symbian OS, including Nokia, Samsung and
Motorola. Symbian was a popular OS worldwide, but it did not gain major popularity
in North America. Symbian's design was not as simple as Android and iOS, however,
and the OS was difficult to program. Symbian OS development was discontinued in
2014.

Windows Mobile originated from Windows CE, an embedded OS, and first appeared
on a Pocket PC 2000. Microsoft marketed the mobile OS toward businesses.
Competition from Android and iOS forced Microsoft to make changes; the company
replaced Windows Mobile with Windows Phone in 2010, aimed at the consumer
market. Microsoft phased out Windows Phone in favor of Windows 10 Mobile, but
that OS was also discontinued; Microsoft declared its end of life for Jan. 14, 2020.

Android's main competitor is Apple iOS. Both iOS and Android OS offer comparative
features. Apple iOS is a proprietary OS with a fixed interface, whereas Android is an
open source OS that offers more flexibility and customization.

Android's global market share in September 2023 was 69.74%, according to a

Statcounter report. Apple iOS' global market share was 29.58%. In the U.S., however,
Apple dominated the market share at 56.44% whereas Android claimed 43.12%.

User criticism
The most significant user criticism of Android is that the OS is fragmented. The
flexible, open source nature of Android results in many variations of hardware and
software. Many devices run older versions of Android. As of September 2023, 34.92%
of Android users run the version 13 operating system, 18.93% run version 12, 18.73%
use version 11 and 9.07% use version 10, according to Statcounter.

Device fragmentation creates challenges for developers because it's difficult to

develop apps that work across all device types and versions. Fragmentation is also a
problem for businesses; IT staff cannot easily secure and manage devices that run on a
variety of hardware and software. Google launched Project Treble as a potential
solution to this problem. The initiative separates the Android OS from OEM
modifications and enables software updates to be deployed faster.

Another criticism of Android OS has been that Android applications can be easily
pirated. With the release of Android Jelly Bean, however, Google offered the ability
for developers to encrypt paid applications.