Android is a software stack for portable devices such as mobiles and tablets. The Android operating system is based on modified Linux kernel. The Android developer community extends the functionality of the devices beyond the stock applications. Currently more than hundred thousand Android apps are available in the Google Play Store.
Coding for these applications is mainly done in Java using Google-developed Java libraries. The Android platform is coded in C for its core, C++ for third party libraries, and Java for the user interface. Most of the coding is stable under the Apache license as free and open source software. The recent stable release for the Android operating system is an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, for Smartphones and Tablets. It supports ARM, MIPS, and Power and x86 platforms.
Coding for these applications is mainly done in Java using Google-developed Java libraries. The Android platform is coded in C for its core, C++ for third party libraries, and Java for the user interface. Most of the coding is stable under the Apache license as free and open source software. The recent stable release for the Android operating system is an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, for Smartphones and Tablets. It supports ARM, MIPS, and Power and x86 platforms.
Android's open source stack runs on a Java-based, object oriented application framework. It can be operate on the Java core libraries running on the Dalvik Virtual Machine (VM). Prior to execution, Android applications are converted into Dalvik Executable (DEX) format. This format is widely suitable for portable devices with memory and processing speed constraints. That is all because it is a register based architecture, unlike the stack machines of Java VMs.
The database management system is based on SQLite. Android uses Open Graphics Library Systems to embed (OpenGL ES) 2.0 3D graphics application programming interface (API).
The database management system is based on SQLite. Android uses Open Graphics Library Systems to embed (OpenGL ES) 2.0 3D graphics application programming interface (API).
Features of Android:
The platform is adaptable for large VGA displays, 2D graphics library and 3D library based on OpenGL. It supports all ranges of connectivity technologies such as GSM/EDGE, CDMA, EV-DO, UMTS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WiMAX. The stock web browser is based on the open source WebKit layout engine coupled with chrome's V8 JavaScript engine to render web pages. Android supports several media formats such as H.264, MPEG-4, AMR, AAC, MP3, WAV, Ogg, JPEG, PNG and GIF. It supports camera (video and still), touch screen, GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, proximity and pressure sensors, thermometers and accelerated 3D graphics; giving an application developer several options to mull over while developing compelling apps. The software development kit (SDK) comprises an emulator (the Android Virtual device), debugging tools, memory and performance profiling.
The platform is adaptable for large VGA displays, 2D graphics library and 3D library based on OpenGL. It supports all ranges of connectivity technologies such as GSM/EDGE, CDMA, EV-DO, UMTS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WiMAX. The stock web browser is based on the open source WebKit layout engine coupled with chrome's V8 JavaScript engine to render web pages. Android supports several media formats such as H.264, MPEG-4, AMR, AAC, MP3, WAV, Ogg, JPEG, PNG and GIF. It supports camera (video and still), touch screen, GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, proximity and pressure sensors, thermometers and accelerated 3D graphics; giving an application developer several options to mull over while developing compelling apps. The software development kit (SDK) comprises an emulator (the Android Virtual device), debugging tools, memory and performance profiling.
Comprehensive: Android is a comprehensive platform, i.e. it has all the complete software stacks to run on a portable device. The SDK consists of all required tool and framework for developers to write and deploy efficient applications.
Made for Smartphones and Tablets: Android was built with the idea of being incorporated in predominantly battery-powered smaller-sized devices restricted in memory and processing speed; thus delivering to a platform with a unique and better user experience. It doesn't assume a device's screen size, resolution, chipset, etc. And its core is designed for portability.
Incentive for Google: You may wonder how Google makes money if Android is released under a free and open-source license. The ideology that Google adopted while acquiring Android Inc. in 2005 was to proliferate Android devices in the market. Not just a device but also development of a platform that would lure multiple manufacturers to imbibe this in their handsets. Predominantly being a media and advertising company, Google aspires to provide additional services to its advertisers through handheld services.
Versions: Android has released several versions as listed in the image above. Version numbers changes each and every time there when considerable amount of bug fixes for an issue or when the API is revised, or simply bring some advanced features and upgrades.
Did you know?
The first version of Android SDK was released without an actual device in the market. You don't need a phone for Android development; the SDK provides you with all the bits you need for developing on this platform. Android, as such is owned by the Open Headset Alliance - a non-profit formed by major mobile operators, device manufacturers and carriers and led by Google. It is committed to openness and innovation for mobile user experience.
That's it for now! Stay tuned with Chromigos.com for more cool stuff! :)
Article written by Varun Kaushik, Senior Writer, Chromigos.com
Did you know?
The first version of Android SDK was released without an actual device in the market. You don't need a phone for Android development; the SDK provides you with all the bits you need for developing on this platform. Android, as such is owned by the Open Headset Alliance - a non-profit formed by major mobile operators, device manufacturers and carriers and led by Google. It is committed to openness and innovation for mobile user experience.
That's it for now! Stay tuned with Chromigos.com for more cool stuff! :)
Article written by Varun Kaushik, Senior Writer, Chromigos.com
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