Android is the leading open-source software development platform based on the Linux kernel and several other open source applications, developed primarily for touch screen mobile phones like tablets and smartphones. It is the brainchild of several mobile phone manufacturers like Samsung, HTC and Motorola Mobility. Samsung has its Galaxy series of smart phones and several other devices including the Notebook series. All these devices run on the Android system, which is considered to be the most widely used mobile platform in the world.
With the rising popularity of smartphone operating systems like iOS and BlackBerry OS, it is becoming difficult to find a common platform for these two disparate devices. On the contrary, Android is more mature and more efficient than iOS and BlackBerry. Apart from being the most technically advanced mobile operating system, Android offers a number of unique advantages that have made it so popular in the smartphone market. Android is the first operating system to boast a multitasking platform, allowing the user to multi-task while using the smartphone.
The term ‘Open Source’ is often associated with android definition, but this doesn’t mean that all its applications and features are available for free. In fact, almost all the core features of android can be found in the form of freeware or shareware application. The most commonly used freeware applications include the Google Android Software Removal Tool, Xposed Helper and the Titanium Backup Utility. However, not all users may feel comfortable using these software terms, especially if they are new to the smartphone world. The following explanation will clarify the meaning of android in simple mobile operating system terms.
Android is a free mobile operating system, developed by the Android Software Foundation and other contributors. This implies that all the source code that forms the basis of an android application is free and accessible to the end user. As android is an open-source software platform, all the code modifications, bug fixes and improvements are done by the community. That’s why bugs in this operating system are normally discovered quickly and fixed quickly as well, so users do not have to wait for a long time before getting the latest version of their favorite apps.
Android is not controlled by any one company or developer. Instead, different companies provide different versions of the android operating system, which can be installed on various mobile devices including Smartphones, tablets, digital cameras and media players. In essence, every smartphone has the ability to run an android, so this term is actually synonymous to the entire mobile computing world. Smartphones such as the iPhone, Blackberry, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Android powered laptops and tablets etc. all run on android.
When it comes to android tablets, there are various types of tablets such as tablets that run android os, there are convertibles that allow users to switch from an iphone to an android phone, and so on. It is believed that android phones will overtake the Apple iPhone within the next two years, as more people get used to using these innovative smartphones. The Google smartphone is the first of its kind, though there are many other latest phones such as the HTC Desire, LG Optimus, Samsung Galaxy S, and Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc to name a few. Apart from these devices, you can also use your old android phones for surfing the internet and playing games, all thanks to the android development kit. If you are wondering where you can find the android os download for your smartphone, all you need to do is visit one of the websites that offer free android os downloads.
About Author
