By-Kavita Khandekar

What is Android?
It is a software cluster for mobile devices that

include a operating system.

Key Applications and middle ware. An Open Handset Alliance(OHA) Project. Based on Linux Kernel 3.0

Timeline
Open handset alliance announces Android on November 5 th ,

2007. Android market (Open content distribution system) announced on august 28 th , 2008 to connect users and developers. Android 1.0 SDK release 1 available on September 23 rd , 2008 and android developers have access to first 1.0 compatible SDK. Android open source project released android source on

October 21 st , 2008. Worlds first Android mobile (T-Mobile G1) launched on October 22 nd , 2008.

What is Open Handset Alliance?

It's a consortium of several companies.

Devoted to advancing open standards FOR mobile

devices.

Develop technologies that will significantly lower the

cost of developing and Distributing mobile devices and services.

Architecture diagram

Android Versions
Versions 1.0 1.1 1.5 1.6 2.0 2.1 2.2 Names Beta Beta Cupcake Donut Eclair Eclair Froyo

2.3 3.0
3.1 3.2 4.0

Gingerbread Honeycomb
Honeycomb Honeycomb Ice-Cream-Sandwich

Ice Cream Sandwich

Gingerbread + Honeycomb

Linux Kernel
Works as a HAL Device drivers Memory management Process management Networking

Libraries
C/C++ libraries

Interface through Java

2D and 3D graphics Media codecs, SQLite, Browser engine

Application Framework
API interface

Activity manager manages application life cycle.

Content Providers Content Providersenable

applications to access data from other applications

1. An Open Accessory API

Allows external USB hardware (an Android USB

accessory) to interact with an Android-powered device in a special "accessory" mode

2. Cloud Music
Users will be able to upload their libraries, playlists,

etc.

Access them virtually anywhere from various

devices whether online or offline

3. One OS for all

Bridge the gap between tablets and phones

4. NFC Sharing (Near Field Communication)

Bring the devices together and the data shared

without launching an application or navigating

through the UI.

5. Gaming Improvements
Neat 3D stuff Better processor optimization

6.Expanding, Resizable widgets

For enhanced multitasking and visual access to

applications.

7. Ability to be a USB host

We can hook up keyboards, mouse etc.

8. Face Detection
Allow better coordination of a video

chat/conference session by being able to highlight the speaker over and above the listener.

Advanced Face-record

9. Uses a single UI interface

UI inspiration from Honeycomb for Phone form

factor

Holographic UI Multitasking UI

10. Web Pages can be saved for reading offline

Advantages
Free to customize All applications are equal

A more mature platform

More apps (because of its age) Fast and easy development

Limitations
Very unstable and often hang or crash
Extremely inconsistence in design among apps Difficult to use because if the above Relatively few if any update because the updates

come from phone manufacturer not Google.

Conclusion
Solid, proven, popular, open platform Used on wide range of devices

Support from Google, telecom

Low barriers to entry Major opportunity for new developers Creativity, hard work

References
www.gizmodo.com www.knowyourmobile.in

www.readwriteweb.com
www.techradar.com