Android (operating system)

Android

Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) on Samsung Galaxy Nexus Company / developer Google Open Handset Alliance Android Open Source Project (AOSP) C (core), C++, ava (!") !ni$%li&e Current Open%source ((it) proprietary drivers) Septem*er +,, +--.

Programmed in OS #amily 'or&ing state Source model "nitial release

/atest sta*le release 3ar&eting target Availa*le language(s) Pac&age manager Supported plat#orms 6ernel type !serland :e#ault user inter#ace /icense O##icial (e*site

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Android is a /inu$%*ased operating system designed primarily #or touc)screen mo*ile devices suc) as smartp)ones and ta*let computers1 "nitially developed *y Android, "nc1, ()ic) Google *ac&ed #inancially and later *oug)t in +--;, Android (as unveiled in +--< along (it) t)e #ounding o# t)e Open Handset Alliance= a consortium o# )ard(are, so#t(are, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards #or mo*ile devices1 4)e #irst Android%po(ered p)one (as sold in Octo*er +--.1 Android is open source and Google releases t)e code under t)e Apac)e /icense1 4)is open%source code and permissive licensing allo(s t)e so#t(are to *e #reely modi#ied and distri*uted *y device manu#acturers, (ireless carriers and ent)usiast developers1 Additionally, Android )as a large community o# developers (riting applications (>apps>) t)at e$tend t)e #unctionality o# devices, (ritten primarily in a customi?ed version o# t)e ava programming language1 "n Octo*er +-2+, t)ere (ere appro$imately <--,--- apps availa*le #or Android, and t)e estimated num*er o# applications do(nloaded #rom Google Play, Android@s primary app store, (as +; *illion1 A developer survey conducted in AprilA3ay +-2, #ound t)at Android is t)e most popular plat#orm #or developers, used *y <2B o# t)e mo*ile developer population10

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4)ese #actors )ave contri*uted to(ards ma&ing Android t)e (orld@s most (idely used smartp)one plat#orm, overta&ing Sym*ian in t)e #ourt) Euarter o# +-2-, and t)e so#t(are o# c)oice #or tec)nology companies ()o reEuire a lo(%cost, customi?a*le, lig)t(eig)t operating system #or )ig) tec) devices (it)out developing one #rom scratc)1 As a result, despite *eing primarily designed #or p)ones and ta*lets, it )as seen additional applications on televisions, games consoles, digital cameras and ot)er electronics1 Android@s open nature )as #urt)er encouraged a large community o# developers and ent)usiasts to use t)e open%source code as a #oundation #or community%driven projects, ()ic) add ne( #eatures #or advanced users or *ring Android to devices ()ic) (ere o##icially released running ot)er operating systems1 Android@s s)are o# t)e glo*al smartp)one mar&et, led *y Samsung products, (as 50B in 3arc) +-2,1 "n uly +-2, t)ere (ere 22,.5. models o# Android device, scores o# screen si?es and eig)t OS versions simultaneously in use1 4)e operating system@s success )as made it a target #or patent litigation as part o# t)e so%called >smartp)one (ars> *et(een tec)nology companies1 As o# 3ay +-2,, 0. *illion apps )ave *een installed #rom t)e Google Play store, and as o# Septem*er ,, +-2,, 2 *illion Android devices )ave *een activated1

History
Android, "nc1 (as #ounded in Palo Alto, Cali#ornia in Octo*er +--, *y Andy 7u*in (co%#ounder o# :anger), 7ic) 3iner (co%#ounder o# 'ild#ire Communications, "nc1), 9ic& Sears (once FP at 4%3o*ile), and C)ris ')ite ()eaded design and inter#ace development at 'e*4F) to develop, in 7u*in@s (ords >smarter mo*ile devices t)at are more a(are o# its o(ner@s location and pre#erences>1 4)e early intentions o# t)e company (ere to develop an advanced operating system #or digital cameras, ()en it (as realised t)at t)e mar&et #or t)e devices (as not large enoug), and diverted t)eir e##orts to producing a smartp)one operating system to rival t)ose o# Sym*ian and 'indo(s 3o*ile (Apple@s iP)one )ad not *een released at t)e time)1 :espite t)e past accomplis)ments o# t)e #ounders and early employees, Android "nc1 operated secretly, revealing only t)at it (as (or&ing on so#t(are #or mo*ile p)ones1 4)at same year, 7u*in ran out o# money1 Steve Perlman, a close #riend o# 7u*in, *roug)t )im G2-,--- in cas) in an envelope and re#used a sta&e in t)e company1 Google acEuired Android "nc1 on August 2<, +--;, ma&ing it a ()olly o(ned su*sidiary o# Google1 6ey employees o# Android "nc1, including 7u*in, 3iner and ')ite, stayed at t)e company a#ter t)e acEuisition1 9ot muc) (as &no(n a*out Android "nc1 at t)e time, *ut many assumed t)at Google (as planning to enter t)e mo*ile p)one mar&et (it) t)is move1 At Google, t)e team led *y 7u*in developed a mo*ile device plat#orm po(ered *y t)e /inu$ &ernel1 Google mar&eted t)e plat#orm to )andset ma&ers and carriers on t)e promise o# providing a #le$i*le, upgrada*le system1 Google )ad lined up a series o# )ard(are component and so#t(are partners and signaled to carriers t)at it (as open to various degrees o# cooperation on t)eir part1

Speculation a*out Google@s intention to enter t)e mo*ile communications mar&et continued to *uild t)roug) :ecem*er +--51 7eports #rom t)e 88C and t)e Wall Street Journal noted t)at Google (anted its searc) and applications on mo*ile p)ones and it (as (or&ing )ard to deliver t)at1 Print and online media outlets soon reported rumors t)at Google (as developing a Google%*randed )andset1 Some speculated t)at as Google (as de#ining tec)nical speci#ications, it (as s)o(ing prototypes to cell p)one manu#acturers and net(or& operators1 "n Septem*er +--<, InformationWeek covered an Cvalueserve study reporting t)at Google )ad #iled several patent applications in t)e area o# mo*ile telep)ony1 On 9ovem*er ;, +--<, t)e Open Handset Alliance, a consortium o# tec)nology companies including Google, device manu#acturers suc) as H4C, Sony and Samsung, (ireless carriers suc) as Sprint 9e$tel and 4%3o*ile, and c)ipset ma&ers suc) as Dualcomm and 4e$as "nstruments, unveiled itsel#, (it) a goal to develop open standards #or mo*ile devices1 4)at day, Android (as unveiled as its #irst product, a mo*ile device plat#orm *uilt on t)e /inu$ &ernel version +151 4)e #irst commercially availa*le p)one to run Android (as t)e H4C :ream, released on Octo*er ++, +--.1; "n +-2-, Google launc)ed its 9e$us series o# devicesHa line o# smartp)ones and ta*lets running t)e Android operating system, and *uilt *y a manu#acturer partner1 H4C colla*orated (it) Google to release t)e #irst 9e$us smartp)one, t)e 9e$us One1 4)e series )as since *een updated (it) ne(er devices, suc) as t)e 9e$us 0 p)one and 9e$us 2- ta*let, made *y /G and Samsung respectively1 Google releases t)e 9e$us p)ones and ta*lets to act as t)eir #lags)ip Android devices, demonstrating Android@s latest so#t(are and )ard(are #eatures1 On 3arc) 2,, +-2,, it (as announced *y /arry Page in a *log post t)at Andy 7u*in )ad moved #rom t)e Android division to ta&e on ne( projects at Google1 He (as replaced *y Sundar Pic)ai, ()o also continues )is role as t)e )ead o# Google@s C)rome division, ()ic) develops C)rome OS1 Since +--., Android )as seen numerous updates ()ic) )ave incrementally improved t)e operating system, adding ne( #eatures and #i$ing *ugs in previous releases1 Cac) major release is named in alp)a*etical order a#ter a dessert or sugary treatI #or e$ample, version 21; Cupcake (as #ollo(ed *y 215 Donut1 4)e latest released version is 01, Jelly BeanI )o(ever, version 010 KitKat (as announced on Septem*er ,, +-2,1

Description

;A4J4@s #irst device to run Android (as t)e 3otorola 8ac&#lip1

Interface
Android@s user inter#ace is *ased on direct manipulation, using touc) inputs t)at loosely correspond to real%(orld actions, li&e s(iping, tapping, pinc)ing and reverse pinc)ing to manipulate on%screen o*jects1 4)e response to user input is designed to *e immediate and provides a #luid touc) inter#ace, o#ten using t)e vi*ration capa*ilities o# t)e device to provide )aptic #eed*ac& to t)e user1 "nternal )ard(are suc) as accelerometers, gyroscopes and pro$imity sensors are used *y some applications to respond to additional user actions, #or e$ample adjusting t)e screen #rom portrait to landscape depending on )o( t)e device is oriented, or allo(ing t)e user to steer a ve)icle in a racing game *y rotating t)e device, simulating control o# a steering ()eel1 Android devices *oot to t)e )omescreen, t)e primary navigation and in#ormation point on t)e device, ()ic) is similar to t)e des&top #ound on PCs1 Android )omescreens are typically made up o# app icons and (idgetsI app icons launc) t)e associated app, ()ereas (idgets display live, auto%updating content suc) as t)e (eat)er #orecast, t)e user@s email in*o$, or a ne(s tic&er directly on t)e )omescreen1 A )omescreen may *e made up o# several pages t)at t)e user can s(ipe *ac& and #ort) *et(een, t)oug) Android@s )omescreen inter#ace is )eavily customisa*le, allo(ing t)e user to adjust t)e loo& and #eel o# t)e device to t)eir tastes1 4)ird party apps availa*le on Google Play and ot)er app stores can e$tensively re%t)eme t)e )omescreen, and even mimic t)e loo& o# ot)er operating systems, suc) as 'indo(s P)one1 3ost manu#acturers, and some (ireless carriers, customise t)e loo& and #eel o# t)eir Android devices to di##erentiate t)emselves #rom t)eir competitors1 Present along t)e top o# t)e screen is a status *ar, s)o(ing in#ormation a*out t)e device and its connectivity1 4)is status *ar can *e >pulled> do(n to reveal a noti#ication screen ()ere apps display important in#ormation or updates, suc) as a ne(ly received email or S3S te$t, in a (ay t)at does not immediately interrupt or inconvenience t)e user1 "n early versions o# Android t)ese noti#ications could *e tapped to open t)e relevant app, *ut recent updates )ave provided en)anced #unctionality, suc) as t)e a*ility to call a num*er *ac& directly #rom t)e missed call noti#ication (it)out )aving to open t)e dialer app #irst1 9oti#ications are persistent until read or dismissed *y t)e user1

Applications
Android )as a gro(ing selection o# t)ird party applications, ()ic) can *e acEuired *y users eit)er t)roug) an app store suc) as Google Play or t)e Ama?on Appstore, or *y do(nloading and installing t)e application@s AP6 #ile #rom a t)ird%party site1 4)e Play Store application allo(s users to *ro(se, do(nload and update apps pu*lis)ed *y Google and t)ird%party developers, and is pre%installed on devices t)at comply (it) Google@s compati*ility reEuirements1 4)e app #ilters t)e list o# availa*le applications to t)ose t)at are compati*le (it) t)e user@s device, and developers may restrict t)eir applications to particular carriers or countries #or *usiness reasons1 Purc)ases o# un(anted applications can *e re#unded (it)in 2; minutes o# t)e time o# do(nload, and some carriers o##er direct carrier *illing #or Google Play application purc)ases, ()ere t)e cost o# t)e application is added to t)e user@s mont)ly *ill1 As o# Septem*er +-2+, t)ere (ere more t)an 5<;,--- apps availa*le #or Android, and t)e estimated num*er o# applications do(nloaded #rom t)e Play Store (as +; *illion1 Applications are developed in t)e ava language using t)e Android so#t(are development &it (S:6)1 4)e S:6 includes a compre)ensive set o# development tools, including a de*ugger, so#t(are li*raries, a )andset emulator *ased on DC3!, documentation, sample code, and tutorials1 4)e o##icially supported integrated development environment (":C) is Cclipse using t)e Android :evelopment 4ools (A:4) plugin1 Ot)er development tools are availa*le, including a 9ative :evelopment 6it #or applications or e$tensions in C or C++, Google App "nventor, a visual environment #or novice programmers, and various cross plat#orm mo*ile (e* applications #rame(or&s1 "n order to (or& around limitations on reac)ing Google services due to "nternet censors)ip in t)e People@s 7epu*lic o# C)ina, Android devices sold in t)e P7C are generally customi?ed to use state approved services instead15

Development
Android is developed in private *y Google until t)e latest c)anges and updates are ready to *e released, at ()ic) point t)e source code is made availa*le pu*licly1< 4)is source code (ill only run (it)out modi#ication on select devices, usually t)e 9e$us series o# devices1 'it) ot)ers, t)ere are proprietary *inaries ()ic) )ave to *e provided *y t)e manu#acturer in order #or Android to (or&1 4)e green Android logo (as designed *y grap)ic designer "rina 8lo&1

5Kun Ding, /iau1 >P)onema&ers ma&e Android C)ina%#riendly1> ZD Net, 2; Octo*er +-2+1 <At )ttp=//source1android1com

Linux
Android consists o# a &ernel *ased on /inu$ &ernel version ,1$ (version +15 prior to Android 01- Ice Cream Sandwich), (it) middle(are, li*raries and AP"s (ritten in C, and application so#t(are running on an application #rame(or& ()ic) includes ava%compati*le li*raries *ased on Apac)e Harmony1 Android uses t)e :alvi& virtual mac)ine (it) just%in%time compilation to run :alvi& @de$%code@ (:alvi& C$ecuta*le), ()ic) is usually translated #rom ava *ytecode1 4)e main )ard(are plat#orm #or Android is t)e A73 arc)itecture1 4)ere is support #or $.5 #rom t)e Android%$.5 project, and Google 4F uses a special $.5 version o# Android1 "n +-2,, Lreescale announced Android on its i13M processor, i13M;M and i13M5M series1 "n +-2+ "ntel processors *egan to appear on more mainstream Android plat#orms, suc) as p)ones1 Android@s /inu$ &ernel )as #urt)er arc)itecture c)anges *y Google outside t)e typical /inu$ &ernel development cycle1 Android does not )ave a native M 'indo( System *y de#ault nor does it support t)e #ull set o# standard G9! li*raries, and t)is ma&es it di##icult to port e$isting /inu$ applications or li*raries to Android1 Support #or simple C and S:/ applications is possi*le *y injection o# a small ava s)im and usage o# t)e 9" li&e, #or e$ample, in t)e agged Alliance + port #or Android1. Certain #eatures t)at Google contri*uted *ac& to t)e /inu$ &ernel, nota*ly a po(er management #eature called >(a&eloc&s>, (ere rejected *y mainline &ernel developers partly *ecause t)ey #elt t)at Google did not s)o( any intent to maintain its o(n code1 Google announced in April +-2- t)at t)ey (ould )ire t(o employees to (or& (it) t)e /inu$ &ernel community, *ut Greg 6roa)%Hartman, t)e current /inu$ &ernel maintainer #or t)e sta*le *ranc), said in :ecem*er +-2- t)at )e (as concerned t)at Google (as no longer trying to get t)eir code c)anges included in mainstream /inu$1 Some Google Android developers )inted t)at >t)e Android team (as getting #ed up (it) t)e process,> *ecause t)ey (ere a small team and )ad more urgent (or& to do on Android1 "n August +-22, /inus 4orvalds said t)at >eventually Android and /inu$ (ould come *ac& to a common &ernel, *ut it (ill pro*a*ly not *e #or #our to #ive years>1 "n :ecem*er +-22, Greg 6roa)%Hartman announced t)e start o# t)e Android 3ainlining Project, ()ic) aims to put some Android drivers, patc)es and #eatures *ac& into t)e /inu$ &ernel, starting in /inu$ ,1,1 /inu$ included t)e autosleep and (a&eloc&s capa*ilities in t)e ,1; &ernel, a#ter many previous attempts at merger1 4)e inter#aces are t)e same *ut t)e upstream /inu$ implementation allo(s #or t(o di##erent suspend modes= to memory (t)e traditional suspend t)at Android uses), and to dis& ()i*ernate, as it is &no(n on t)e des&top)1 Google maintains a pu*lic code repository t)at contains t)eir e$perimental (or& to re%*ase Android o## t)e latest sta*le /inu$ versions1

. A+ Stracciatella Leed*ac& N agged Alliance + Android Stracciatella Port 7C+ 7elease A please test on t)e 8ear@s Pit Lorum, Octo*er ,, +-22

4)e #las) storage on Android devices is split into several partitions, suc) as >/system> #or t)e operating system itsel# and >/data> #or user data and app installations1 "n contrast to des&top /inu$ distri*utions, Android device o(ners are not given root access to t)e operating system and sensitive partitions suc) as /system are read%only1 Ho(ever, root access can *e o*tained *y e$ploiting security #la(s in Android, ()ic) is used #reEuently *y t)e open%source community to en)ance t)e capa*ilities o# t)eir devices,O *ut also *y malicious parties to install viruses and mal(are1 ')et)er or not Android counts as a /inu$ distri*ution is a (idely de*ated topic, (it) t)e /inu$ Loundation and C)ris :i8ona, Google@s open%source c)ie#, in #avour1 Ot)ers, suc) as Google engineer Patric& 8rady disagree, noting t)e lac& o# support #or many G9! tools, including gli*c, in Android1

Memory management
Since Android devices are usually *attery%po(ered, Android is designed to manage memory (7A3) to &eep po(er consumption at a minimum, in contrast to des&top operating systems ()ic) generally assume t)ey are connected to unlimited mains electricity1 ')en an Android app is no longer in use, t)e system (ill automatically suspend it in memory A ()ile t)e app is still tec)nically >open,> suspended apps consume no resources (e1g1 *attery po(er or processing po(er) and sit idly in t)e *ac&ground until needed again1 4)is )as t)e dual *ene#it o# increasing t)e general responsiveness o# Android devices, since apps don@t need to *e closed and reopened #rom scratc) eac) time, *ut also ensuring *ac&ground apps don@t (aste po(er needlessly1 Android manages t)e apps stored in memory automatically= ()en memory is lo(, t)e system (ill *egin &illing apps and processes t)at )ave *een inactive #or a ()ile, in reverse order since t)ey (ere last used (i1e1 oldest #irst)1 4)is process is designed to *e invisi*le to t)e user, suc) t)at users do not need to manage memory or t)e &illing o# apps t)emselves1 Ho(ever, con#usion over Android memory management )as resulted in t)ird%party tas& &illers *ecoming popular on t)e Google Play storeI t)ese t)ird%party tas& &illers are generally regarded as doing more )arm t)an good1

Update schedule
Google provides major updates, incremental in nature, to Android every si$ to nine mont)s, ()ic) most devices are capa*le o# receiving over t)e air1 4)e latest major update is Android 01, Jelly Bean1

OSee rooting

Compared to its c)ie# rival mo*ile operating system, namely iOS, Android updates are typically slo( to reac) actual devices1 Lor devices not under t)e 9e$us *rand, updates o#ten arrive mont)s #rom t)e time t)e given version is o##icially released1 4)is is caused partly due to t)e e$tensive variation in )ard(are o# Android devices, to ()ic) eac) update must *e speci#ically tailored, as t)e o##icial Google source code only runs on t)eir #lags)ip 9e$us devices1 Porting Android to speci#ic )ard(are is a time% and resource%consuming process #or device manu#acturers, ()o prioriti?e t)eir ne(est devices and o#ten leave older ones *e)ind1 Hence, older smartp)ones are #reEuently not updated i# t)e manu#acturer decides it is not (ort) t)eir time, regardless o# ()et)er t)e p)one is capa*le o# running t)e update1 4)is pro*lem is compounded ()en manu#acturers customi?e Android (it) t)eir o(n inter#ace and apps, ()ic) must *e reapplied to eac) ne( release1 Additional delays can *e introduced *y (ireless carriers ()o, a#ter receiving updates #rom manu#acturers, #urt)er customi?e and *rand Android to t)eir needs and conduct e$tensive testing on t)eir net(or&s *e#ore sending t)e update out to users1 4)e lac& o# a#ter%sale support #rom manu#acturers and carriers )as *een (idely critici?ed *y consumer groups and t)e tec)nology media1 Some commentators )ave noted t)at t)e industry )as a #inancial incentive not to update t)eir devices, as t)e lac& o# updates #or e$isting devices #uels t)e purc)ase o# ne(er ones, an attitude descri*ed as >insulting>1 The Guardian )as complained t)at t)e complicated met)od o# distri*ution #or updates is only complicated *ecause manu#acturers and carriers )ave designed it t)at (ay1 "n +-22, Google partnered (it) a num*er o# industry players to announce an >Android !pdate Alliance>, pledging to deliver timely updates #or every device #or 2. mont)s a#ter its release1 As o# +-2,, t)is alliance )as never *een mentioned since1 4o com*at t)is, Google *egan updating many o# its services, including Google 3aps and Google Play 3usic independently o# Android itsel# t)roug) Google Play Services, a system%level component providing AP"s #or Google services, ()ic) is installed automatically and updated directly *y Google, and supports nearly all devices running version +1+ and )ig)er1

Open source community

Android )as an active community o# developers and ent)usiasts ()o use t)e Android source code to develop and distri*ute t)eir o(n modi#ied versions o# t)e operating system1 4)ese community%developed releases o#ten *ring ne( #eatures and updates to devices #aster t)an t)roug) t)e o##icial manu#acturer/carrier c)annels, al*eit (it)out as e$tensive testing or Euality assuranceI provide continued support #or older devices t)at no longer receive o##icial updatesI or *ring Android to devices t)at (ere o##icially released running ot)er operating systems, suc) as t)e HP 4ouc)Pad1 Community releases o#ten come pre%rooted and contain modi#ications unsuita*le #or non%tec)nical users, suc) as t)e a*ility to overcloc& or over/undervolt t)e device@s processor1 Cyanogen3od is t)e most (idely used community #irm(are, and acts as a #oundation #or numerous ot)ers1

Historically, device manu#acturers and mo*ile carriers )ave typically *een unsupportive o# t)ird%party #irm(are development1 3anu#acturers e$press concern a*out improper #unctioning o# devices running uno##icial so#t(are and t)e support costs resulting #rom t)is1 3oreover, modi#ied #irm(ares suc) as Cyanogen3od sometimes o##er #eatures, suc) as tet)ering, #or ()ic) carriers (ould ot)er(ise c)arge a premium1 As a result, tec)nical o*stacles including loc&ed *ootloaders and restricted access to root permissions are common in many devices1 Ho(ever, as community%developed so#t(are )as gro(n more popular, and #ollo(ing a statement *y t)e /i*rarian o# Congress in t)e !nited States t)at permits t)e >jail*rea&ing> o# mo*ile devices, manu#acturers and carriers )ave so#tened t)eir position regarding t)ird party development, (it) some, including H4C, 3otorola, Samsung and Sony, providing support and encouraging development1 As a result o# t)is, over time t)e need to circumvent )ard(are restrictions to install uno##icial #irm(are )as lessened as an increasing num*er o# devices are s)ipped (it) unloc&ed or unloc&a le *ootloaders, similar to t)e 9e$us series o# p)ones, alt)oug) usually reEuiring t)at users (aive t)eir devices@ (arranties to do so1 Ho(ever, despite manu#acturer acceptance, some carriers in t)e !S still reEuire t)at p)ones are loc&ed do(n1 4)e unloc&ing and >)ac&a*ility> o# smartp)ones and ta*lets remains a source o# tension *et(een t)e community and industry, (it) t)e community arguing t)at uno##icial development is increasingly important given t)e #ailure o# industry to provide timely updates and/or continued support to t)eir devices1

!ecurity and privacy

Android applications run in a sand*o$, an isolated area o# t)e system t)at does not )ave access to t)e rest o# t)e system@s resources, unless access permissions are e$plicitly granted *y t)e user ()en t)e application is installed1 8e#ore installing an application, t)e Play Store displays all reEuired permissions= a game may need to ena*le vi*ration or save data to an S: card, #or e$ample, *ut s)ould not need to read S3S messages or access t)e p)one*oo&1 A#ter revie(ing t)ese permissions, t)e user can c)oose to accept or re#use t)em, installing t)e application only i# t)ey accept1 4)e sand*o$ing and permissions system lessens t)e impact o# vulnera*ilities and *ugs in applications, *ut developer con#usion and limited documentation )as resulted in applications routinely reEuesting unnecessary permissions, reducing its e##ectiveness1 Several security #irms, suc) as /oo&out 3o*ile Security, AFG 4ec)nologies, and 3cA#ee, )ave released antivirus so#t(are #or Android devices1 4)is so#t(are is ine##ective as sand*o$ing also applies to suc) applications, limiting t)eir a*ility to scan t)e deeper system #or t)reats12-

2-)ttp=//(((1e$tremetec)1com/computing/2-0.+<%android%antivirus%apps%are%useless%)eres% ()at%to%do%instead/+ Android antivirus apps are useless, )ere@s ()at to do instead H access April 2-, +-2+

7esearc) #rom security company 4rend 3icro lists premium service a*use as t)e most common type o# Android mal(are, ()ere te$t messages are sent #rom in#ected p)ones to premium%rate telep)one num*ers (it)out t)e consent or even &no(ledge o# t)e user1 Ot)er mal(are displays un(anted and intrusive adverts on t)e device, or sends personal in#ormation to unaut)orised t)ird parties1 Security t)reats on Android are reportedly gro(ing e$ponentiallyI )o(ever, Google engineers )ave argued t)at t)e mal(are and virus t)reat on Android is *eing e$aggerated *y security companies #or commercial reasons, and )ave accused t)e security industry o# playing on #ears to sell virus protection so#t(are to users1 Google maintains t)at dangerous mal(are is actually e$tremely rare, and a survey conducted *y L%Secure s)o(ed t)at only -1;B o# Android mal(are reported )ad come #rom t)e Google Play store1 Google currently uses t)eir Google 8ouncer mal(are scanner to (atc) over and scan t)e Google Play store apps1 "t is intended to #lag up suspicious apps and (arn users o# any potential issues (it) an application *e#ore t)ey do(nload it1 Android version 01+ Jelly Bean (as released in +-2+ (it) en)anced security #eatures, including a mal(are scanner *uilt into t)e system, ()ic) (or&s in com*ination (it) Google Play *ut can scan apps installed #rom t)ird party sources as (ell, and an alert system ()ic) noti#ies t)e user ()en an app tries to send a premium%rate te$t message, *loc&ing t)e message unless t)e user e$plicitly aut)orises it1 Android smartp)ones )ave t)e a*ility to report t)e location o# 'i%Li access points, encountered as p)one users move around, to *uild data*ases containing t)e p)ysical locations o# )undreds o# millions o# suc) access points1 4)ese data*ases #orm electronic maps to locate smartp)ones, allo(ing t)em to run apps li&e LoursEuare, Google /atitude, Lace*oo& Places, and to deliver location% *ased ads1 4)ird party monitoring so#t(are suc) as 4aint:roid, an academic researc)%#unded project, can, in some cases, detect ()en personal in#ormation is *eing sent #rom applications to remote servers1 "n August +-2,, Google released t)e Android :evice 3anager, a component t)at allo(s users to remotely trac&, locate, and (ipe t)eir Android device t)roug) an online inter#ace1 As it is implemented t)roug) Google Play Services instead o# (it)in Android itsel#, it is availa*le to most Android devices (it) version +1+ and )ig)er1 4)e open%source nature o# Android allo(s security contractors to ta&e e$isting devices and adapt t)em #or )ig)ly secure uses1 Lor e$ample Samsung )as (or&ed (it) General :ynamics t)roug) t)eir Open 6ernel /a*s acEuisition to re*uild Jelly Bean on top o# t)eir )ardened microvisor #or t)e >6no$> project122 As part o# t)e *roader +-2, mass surveillance disclosures it (as revealed in Septem*er +-2, t)at t)e American and 8ritis) intelligence agencies, t)e 9SA and Government Communications HeadEuarters (GCHD) respectively, )ave access to t)e user data in iP)ones, 8lac&*erries, and Android p)ones1 4)ey are a*le to read almost all smartp)one in#ormation, including S3S, location, emails, and notes1

22>Samsung Armors Android to 4a&e On 8lac&8erry1>

Licensing
4)e source code #or Android is availa*le under #ree and open%source so#t(are licenses1 Google pu*lis)es most o# t)e code (including net(or& and telep)ony stac&s) under t)e Apac)e /icense version +1-, and t)e rest, /inu$ &ernel c)anges, under t)e G9! General Pu*lic /icense version +1 4)e Open Handset Alliance develops t)e c)anges to t)e /inu$ &ernel, in pu*lic, (it) source code pu*licly availa*le at all times1 4)e rest o# Android is developed in private *y Google, (it) source code released pu*licly ()en a ne( version is released1 4ypically Google colla*orates (it) a )ard(are manu#acturer to produce a @#lags)ip@ device (part o# t)e Google 9e$us series) #eaturing t)e ne( version o# Android, t)en ma&es t)e source code availa*le a#ter t)at device )as *een released1 "n early +-22, Google c)ose to temporarily (it))old t)e Android source code to t)e ta*let%only ,1- !oneycom release1 4)e reason, according to Andy 7u*in in an o##icial Android *log post, (as *ecause !oneycom (as rus)ed #or production o# t)e 3otorola Moom, and t)ey did not (ant t)ird parties creating a >really *ad user e$perience> *y attempting to put onto smartp)ones a version o# Android intended #or ta*lets1 4)e source code (as once again made availa*le in 9ovem*er +-22 (it) t)e release o# Android 01-1 Cven t)oug) t)e so#t(are is open%source, device manu#acturers cannot use Google@s Android trademar& unless Google certi#ies t)at t)e device complies (it) t)eir Compati*ility :e#inition :ocument (C::)1 :evices must also meet t)is de#inition to *e eligi*le to license Google@s closed%source applications, including Google Play1 7ic)ard Stallman and t)e Lree So#t(are Loundation )ave *een critical o# Android and )ave recommended t)e usage o# alternatives suc) as 7eplicant, *ecause drivers and #irm(are vital #or t)e proper #unctioning o# Android devices are usually proprietary, and *ecause Google Play allo(s non% #ree so#t(are1

"eception
Android received a lu&e(arm reaction ()en it (as unveiled in +--<1 Alt)oug) analysts (ere impressed (it) t)e respected tec)nology companies t)at )ad partnered (it) Google to #orm t)e Open Handset Alliance, it (as unclear ()et)er mo*ile p)one manu#acturers (ould *e (illing to replace t)eir e$isting operating systems (it) Android1 4)e idea o# an open%source, /inu$%*ased development plat#orm spar&ed interest, *ut t)ere (ere additional (orries a*out Android #acing strong competition #rom esta*lis)ed players in t)e smartp)one mar&et, suc) as 9o&ia and 3icroso#t, and rival /inu$ mo*ile operating systems t)at (ere in development1 4)ese esta*lis)ed players (ere s&eptical= 9o&ia (as Euoted as saying >(e don@t see t)is as a t)reat,> and a mem*er o# 3icroso#t@s 'indo(s 3o*ile team stated >" don@t understand t)e impact t)at t)ey are going to )ave1>

Since t)en Android )as gro(n to *ecome t)e most (idely used smartp)one operating system and >one o# t)e #astest mo*ile e$periences availa*le1> 7evie(ers )ave )ig)lig)ted t)e open%source nature o# t)e operating system as one o# its de#ining strengt)s, allo(ing companies suc) as Ama?on (6indle Lire), 8arnes J 9o*le (9oo&), Ouya, 8aidu, and ot)ers to #or& t)e so#t(are and release )ard(are running t)eir o(n customised version o# Android1 As a result, it )as *een descri*ed *y tec)nology (e*site Ars 4ec)nica as >practically t)e de#ault operating system #or launc)ing ne( )ard(are> #or companies (it)out t)eir o(n mo*ile plat#orms1 4)is openness and #le$i*ility is also present at t)e level o# t)e end user= Android allo(s e$tensive customisation o# devices *y t)eir o(ners and apps are #reely availa*le #rom non%Google app stores and t)ird party (e*sites1 4)ese )ave *een cited as among t)e main advantages o# Android p)ones over ot)ers1 :espite Android@s popularity, including an activation rate t)ree times t)at o# iOS, t)ere )ave *een reports t)at Google )as not *een a*le to leverage t)eir ot)er products and (e* services success#ully to turn Android into t)e money ma&er t)at analysts )ad e$pected1 4)e Ferge suggested t)at Google is losing control o# Android due to t)e e$tensive customi?ation and proli#eration o# non%Google apps and services A #or instance t)e Ama?on 6indle Lire points users to t)e Ama?on app store t)at competes directly (it) t)e Google Play store1 Google SFP Andy 7u*in, ()o (as replaced as )ead o# t)e Android division in 3arc) +-2,, )as *een *lamed #or #ailing to esta*lis) a lucrative partners)ip (it) cell p)one ma&ers1 4)e c)ie# *ene#iciary o# Android )as *een Samsung, ()ose Gala$y *rand )as surpassed t)at o# Android in terms o# *rand recognition since +-221 3ean()ile ot)er Android manu#acturers )ave struggled since +-22, suc) as /G, H4C, and Google@s o(n 3otorola 3o*ility (()ose partners)ip (it) Feri?on 'ireless to pus) t)e >:7O":> *rand )as #aded since +-2-)1 "ronically, ()ile Google directly earns not)ing #rom t)e sale o# eac) Android device, 3icroso#t and Apple )ave success#ully sued to e$tract patent royalty payments #rom Android )andset manu#acturers1

#a$lets
:espite its success on smartp)ones, initially Android ta*let adoption (as slo(1 One o# t)e main causes (as t)e c)ic&en or t)e egg situation ()ere consumers (ere )esitant to *uy an Android ta*let due to a lac& o# )ig) Euality ta*let apps, *ut developers (ere )esitant to spend time and resources developing ta*let apps until t)ere (as a signi#icant mar&et #or t)em1 4)e content and app >ecosystem> proved more important t)an )ard(are specs as t)e selling point #or ta*lets1 :ue to t)e lac& o# Android ta*let%speci#ic apps in +-22, early Android ta*lets )ad to ma&e do (it) e$isting smartp)one apps t)at (ere ill%suited to larger screen si?es, ()ereas t)e dominance o# Apple@s iPad (as rein#orced *y t)e large num*er o# ta*let%speci#ic iOS apps12+

2+:amon Poeter (:ec <, +-2+) >Goldman Hig)lig)ts 3icroso#t@s S)rin&ing 3ar&et S)are> "C #a$a%ine accessdateP+-2+%2+%2-

:espite app support in its in#ancy, a considera*le num*er o# Android ta*lets (alongside t)ose using ot)er operating systems, suc) as t)e HP 4ouc)Pad and 8lac&8erry Play8oo&) (ere rus)ed out to mar&et in an attempt to capitali?e on t)e success o# t)e iPad1 InfoWorld )as suggested t)at some Android manu#acturers initially treated t)eir #irst ta*lets as a >Lran&enp)one *usiness>, a s)ort%term lo(%investment opportunity *y placing a smartp)one%optimi?ed Android OS (*e#ore Android ,1- !oneycom #or ta*lets (as availa*le) on a device ()ile neglecting user inter#ace1 4)is approac), suc) as (it) t)e :ell Strea&, #ailed to gain mar&et traction (it) consumers as (ell as damaging t)e early reputation o# Android ta*lets1 Lurt)ermore, several Android ta*lets suc) as t)e 3otorola Moom (ere priced t)e same or )ig)er t)an t)e iPad, ()ic) )urt sales1 An e$ception (as t)e Ama?on 6indle Lire, ()ic) relied upon lo(er pricing as (ell as access to Ama?on@s ecosystem o# apps and content1 4)is *egan to c)ange in +-2+ (it) t)e release o# t)e a##orda*le 9e$us < and a pus) *y Google #or developers to (rite *etter ta*let apps1 Android ta*let mar&et s)are surpassed t)e iPad@s in D, +-2+1

Mar%et share and rate of adoption

7esearc) company Canalys estimated in t)e second Euarter o# +--O t)at Android )ad a +1.B s)are o# (orld(ide smartp)one s)ipments1 8y t)e #ourt) Euarter o# +-2- t)is )ad gro(n to ,,B o# t)e mar&et, *ecoming t)e top%selling smartp)one plat#orm1 8y t)e t)ird Euarter o# +-22 Gartner estimated t)at more t)an )al# (;+1;B) o# t)e smartp)one mar&et *elongs to Android1 8y t)e t)ird Euarter o# +-2+ Android )ad a <;B s)are o# t)e glo*al smartp)one mar&et according to t)e researc) #irm ":C1 "n uly +-22, Google said t)at ;;-,--- ne( Android devices (ere *eing activated every day, up #rom 0--,--- per day in 3ay, and more t)an 2-- million devices )ad *een activated (it) 010B gro(t) per (ee&1 "n Septem*er +-2+, ;-- million devices )ad *een activated (it) 21, million activations per day1 "n 3ay +-2,, at Google "/O, Sundar Pic)ai announced t)at O-- million Android devices )ad *een activated1 Android mar&et s)are varies *y location1 "n uly +-2+, Android@s mar&et s)are in t)e !nited States (as ;+B, and rose to O-B in C)ina1 :uring t)e t)ird Euarter o# +-2+, Android@s (orld(ide smartp)one mar&et s)are (as <;B, (it) <;- million devices activated in total and 21; million activations per day1

Q:amon Poeter (+< :ecem*er +-2+) >9on%Apple 4a*lets 3a&ing Small Gains on iPad> "C #a$a%ine Q3att Hartley (:ec +0 +-22) >3assacre o# t)e 4a*lets> &inancial "o't

As o# 3arc) +-2,, Android@s s)are o# t)e glo*al smartp)one mar&et, led *y Samsung products, (as 50B1 4)e 6antar mar&et researc) company reported t)at GoogleRs plat#orm accounted #or over <-B o# all smartp)one device sales in C)ina during t)is period and t)at Samsung@s loyalty rate in 8ritain (;OB) is second to t)at o# Apple (<OB)1

&latform usage
4)is c)art provides data a*out t)e relative num*er o# devices accessing t)e Play Store recently and running a given version o# t)e Android plat#orm as o# Octo*er +, +-2,1 Fersion 4.4 4.3 4.2.x 4.1.x 4.0.34.0.4 3.2 3.1 2.3.32.3.7 2.32.3.2 2.2 2.02.1 1.6 1.5 Code name KitKat Jelly Bean Jelly Bean Jelly Bean Ice Cream Sandwich !oneycom !oneycom Gin$er read Gin$er read &royo (clair Donut Cupcake 7elease date 48A uly +0, +-2, 9ovem*er 2,, +-2+ uly O, +-2+ :ecem*er 25, +-22 uly 2;, +-22 3ay 2-, +-22 Le*ruary O, +-22 :ecem*er 5, +-23ay +-, +-2Octo*er +5, +--O AP" level 48A 2. 2< 25 2; 2, 2+ 2O . < :istri*ution -B 21;B 2-15B ,51;B +-15B -12B -B +.1;B -B +1+B -B -B -B

Septem*er 2;, 0 +--O April ,-, +--O ,

Application piracy
4)ere )as *een some concern a*out t)e ease (it) ()ic) paid Android apps can *e pirated1 "n a 3ay +-2+ intervie( (it) Curogamer, t)e developers o# Loot*all 3anager stated t)at t)e ratio o# pirated players vs legitimate players (as O=2 #or t)eir game Loot*all 3anager Hand)eld1 Ho(ever, not every developer agreed t)at piracy rates (ere an issueI #or e$ample, in uly +-2+ t)e developers o# t)e game 'ind%up 6nig)t said t)at piracy levels o# t)eir game (ere only 2+B, and most o# t)e piracy came #rom C)ina, ()ere people cannot purc)ase apps #rom Google Play1 "n +-2-, Google released a tool #or validating aut)ori?ed purc)ases #or use (it)in apps, *ut developers complained t)at t)is (as insu##icient and trivial to crac&1 Google responded t)at t)e tool, especially its initial release, (as intended as a sample #rame(or& #or developers to modi#y and *uild upon depending on t)eir needs, not as a #inis)ed piracy solution1 "n +-2+ Google released a #eature in Android 012 t)at encrypted paid applications so t)at t)ey (ould only (or& on t)e device on ()ic) t)ey (ere purc)ased, *ut t)is #eature )as *een temporarily deactivated due to tec)nical issues1

Legal issues
8ot) Android and Android p)one manu#acturers )ave *een involved in numerous patent la(suits1 On August 2+, +-2-, Oracle sued Google over claimed in#ringement o# copyrig)ts and patents related to t)e ava programming language1 Oracle originally soug)t damages up to G512 *illion, *ut t)is valuation (as rejected *y a !nited States #ederal judge ()o as&ed Oracle to revise t)e estimate1 "n response, Google su*mitted multiple lines o# de#ense, counterclaiming t)at Android did not in#ringe on Oracle@s patents or copyrig)t, t)at Oracle@s patents (ere invalid, and several ot)er de#enses1 4)ey said t)at Android is *ased on Apac)e Harmony, a clean room implementation o# t)e ava class li*raries, and an independently developed virtual mac)ine called :alvi&1 "n 3ay +-2+, t)e jury in t)is case #ound t)at Google did not in#ringe on Oracle@s patents, and t)e trial judge ruled t)at t)e structure o# t)e ava AP"s used *y Google (as not copyrig)ta*le1

"n addition to la(suits against Google directly, various pro$y (ars )ave *een (aged against Android indirectly *y targeting manu#acturers o# Android devices, (it) t)e e##ect o# discouraging manu#acturers #rom adopting t)e plat#orm *y increasing t)e costs o# *ringing an Android device to mar&et1 8ot) Apple and 3icroso#t )ave sued several manu#acturers #or patent in#ringement, (it) Apple@s ongoing legal action against Samsung *eing a particularly )ig)%pro#ile case1 "n Octo*er +-22, 3icroso#t said t)ey )ad signed patent license agreements (it) ten Android device manu#acturers, ()ose products account #or ;;B o# t)e (orld(ide revenue #or Android devices1 4)ese include Samsung and H4C1 Samsung@s patent settlement (it) 3icroso#t includes an agreement t)at Samsung (ill allocate more resources to developing and mar&eting p)ones running 3icroso#t@s 'indo(s P)one operating system1 Google )as pu*licly e$pressed its #rustration #or t)e current patent landscape in t)e !nited States, accusing Apple, Oracle and 3icroso#t o# trying to ta&e do(n Android t)roug) patent litigation, rat)er t)an innovating and competing (it) *etter products and services1 "n +-22A2+, Google purc)ased 3otorola 3o*ility #or !SG2+1; *illion, ()ic) (as vie(ed in part as a de#ensive measure to protect Android, since 3otorola 3o*ility )eld more t)an 2<,--- patents1 "n :ecem*er +-22, Google *oug)t over a t)ousand patents #rom "831 "n +-2,, Lairsearc), a lo**ying organi?ation supported *y 3icroso#t, Oracle and ot)ers, #iled a complaint regarding Android (it) t)e Curopean Commission, alleging t)at its #ree o# c)arge distri*ution model constituted anti%competitive predatory pricing1 4)e Lree So#t(are Loundation Curope, ()ose donors include Google, disputed t)e Lairsearc) allegations1

Usage on other devices

4)e open and customi?a*le nature o# Android allo(s it to *e used on ot)er electronics aside #rom smartp)ones and ta*lets, including laptops and net*oo&s, smart*oo&s smart 4Fs (Google 4F) and cameras (9i&on Coolpi$ S.--c and Gala$y Camera)1 "n addition, t)e Android operating system )as seen applications on smart glasses (Google Glass), (rist(atc)es, )eadp)ones, car C: and :F: players, mirrors, porta*le media players and landlines and Foice over "P p)ones1 Ouya, a video game console running Android, *ecame one o# t)e most success#ul 6ic&starter campaigns, cro(d#unding !SG.1;m #or its development, and (as later #ollo(ed *y ot)er Android%*ased consoles, suc) as 9vidia@s Project S)ieldH an Android device in a video game controller #orm #actor1

"n +-22, Google demonstrated >AndroidSHome>, a )ome automation tec)nology ()ic) uses Android to control a range o# )ouse)old devices including lig)t s(itc)es, po(er soc&ets and t)ermostats1 Prototype lig)t *ul*s (ere announced t)at could *e controlled #rom an Android p)one or ta*let, *ut Android )ead Andy 7u*in (as cautious to note t)at >turning a lig)t*ul* on and o## is not)ing ne(,> pointing to numerous #ailed )ome automation services1 Google, )e said, (as t)in&ing more am*itiously and t)e intention (as to use t)eir position as a cloud services provider to *ring Google products into customers@ )omes12,

'xternal lin%s
QO##icial (e*site QSergey 8rin introduces t)e Android plat#orm on Kou4u*e

2,')y t)e time )as come #or Android SHome to #inally ma&e a splas) *y an&o 7oettgers