Android, The Operating System From Google

Android is dedicated to mobile phones it is an operating system under a free license, as is Linux. It was created by a startup specialized in the creation of software for mobile, Android, that has been acquired by Google in July.


Video of Android 3

Google has federated a lot of players in the mobile domain around its initiative in an entity called Open Handset Alliance whose logo is displayed on the right.
It includes:
- Operators as Telefonica, Telecom Italia.
- Phone manufacturers including LG, Motorola, Samsung.
- Founders components: Intel, Nvidia, Texas Instruments.
- And Net players like eBay.

Comment from Bill Gates:

In response to rumors about the Google Phone Bill Gates in an interview with the New York Time said:

"And to be able to say that there's some challenge for us in the phone market when its becoming software intensive, I don't see that."

Who said that Bill Gates is a visionary?

The platform

Android, is more than an operating system, it is also a user interface and a platform for applications created by Google. Being open, it will enable independent programmers to create software for mobile devices.
The main advantage over current systems such as Windows Mobile, is a full access to the hardware, while it was limited so far.
An SDK is already available for developers.
Applications provided by Google include Gmail, Google Mobile (search engine), Calendar, Google Documents, Youtube, Maps...

The other competitors in the field of mobile platforms apart Windows Mobile are Symbian (Nokia), iOS (Apple), webOS (HP), and Qnx (RIM).

RenderScript

It is a 3D rendering API using the graphics processor and is available for the Android 3.0 tablets.
However it is expected in the near future to merge Android 2 and 3, so we should also have one day this on smartphones.

This interface is part of the SDK, and programmed in a language close to C, compiled in intermediate code.

Android applications on other platforms

The Alien Dalvik compiler is a portable version of Dalvik that runs Android applications.
Running them on other operating systems would allow to make applications portable between various types of smartphones.

The first consumer version is scheduled on MeeGo to the end of the year.

Replacing Dalvik?

To cope with the inconvenience that may possibly arise from the Oracle lawsuit against Google, about Dalvik, the virtual machine for Android, which has the disadvantage to not have been produced by them, the Fosdem foundation launched the IceRobot project. This is another virtual machine entirely based on code licensed under GNU.

Programming for Android

The version 3.0 of the Android SDK still contains an emulator for testing applications on a virtual mobile phone. It is as committed to slates as smartphones and supports larger screens. To do this, the user interface has been completely redesigned.
New components are added to the library. The applications have been rewritten to a more intuitive using.
The support for M3U playlist URL should allow to view TV on a tablet with a tool such as VLC.

Motorola and Android

On August 15, 2011, Larry Page, CEO, announces the acquisition of Motorola's mobile division by Google for $ 12.5 billion.

Thus, Google is also making itself mobile builder, or rather designer as firms now, like Apple, let manufacturing in the East the products they design.
But the main purpose, which is mentioned in the announcement Supercharging Android with Motorola is to have the numerous patents owned by Motorola (24500 on January 2011), an old actor in the field.
Google will be able to take action against companies like Apple and Microsoft which make trials for patent infringement (more or less artificial) to discourage the adoption of Android by manufacturers: it will be able to attack them too ...
Android's future seems assured with this action. It will remain free and open, it is in the Google's announcement. And CEO of Sony and HTC welcome the agreement.
Motorola was saved by Android boosting sales of mobile phones by the manufacturer, it seems that the opposite becomes true.

Many are skeptical that Google can continue to provide Android to manufacturers now its competitors without being tempted to promote his own business.
In fact, Google needs an ecosystem of applications for remaining Android interesting to users. So he needs other manufacturers, unless its own products become so popular that it takes a large share of the market, which is unlikely.

It is expected that Microsoft announces the purchase of Nokia not to be outdone!

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