Android

Operating System
Prepared By:-
P. CHIRAG (4
th
Sem E&C)
Contents

Smartphone & Mobile operating systems

What is Android?

General information

Technical description

Kernel, middleware, Libraries, APIs

Android Apps

Android market

Version History
Smartphones

The first smartphone was the IBM Simon, it was
designed in 1992 and shown as a concept
product.

Smartphone Operating Systems

Symbian (Nokia)
Palm (Palm Inc.)
Windows (Microsoft)
Blackberry (RIM)
iOS (Apple Inc.)
Bada (Samsung)
Android (Google)
Market Share of 2011 in
smartphone worldwide sales to
end users based on mobile
operating system.
Android 43%

Symbian 22%

Apple iOS 18%

RIM Blackberry 12%

Samsung BADA 2%

Microsoft Windows 2%

What is Android?

Android is an operating system for mobile devices
such as smartphones and tablet computers. It is developed
by the Open Handset Alliance, the foundation of Google.
Google purchased the initial developer of the
software, Android Inc., on August 17, 2005.


The unveiling of the Android distribution on November
5, 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open
Handset Alliance, a consortium of 84 hardware, software, and
telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open
standards for mobile devices.
Google released most of the Android code as open-
source, under the Apache License. The Android Open Source
Project (AOSP) is tasked with the maintenance and further
development of Android.
Company/Developer Google Inc. & Open Handset
Alliance
Programmed in C ( Core ),

Java (UI) & C++
Source Model Open Source
Initial release 20 September 2008
Latest stable release
4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) / 16
December 2011
Package manager APK
Supported platforms ARM, MIPS & x86
Kernel Type Monolithic (Linux Kernel)
Default User Interface Graphical
License
Apache License 2.0
Linux kernel patches under GNU
GPL v2.0
Technical Description

Android consists of a kernel based on the Linux
kernel, with middleware, libraries and APIs written in C and
application software , running on an application framework
which includes Java-compatible libraries based on Apache
Harmony.

Android uses the Dalvik virtual machine with just-in-
time compilation to run Dalvik dex-code(Dalvik Executable),
which is usually translated from Java byte code.
Kernel
the kernel is the main component of
most computer operating systems, it is a
bridge between applications and the actual
data processing done at the hardware level.
The kernel's responsibilities include
managing the system's resources (the
communication between hardware and
software components).
Middleware
Middleware is computer software components and their
applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows
multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact.
Middleware sits "in the middle" between application software
that may be working on different operating systems. It is similar to the
middle layer of a three-tier single system architecture, except that it is
stretched across multiple systems or applications.
Library
a library is a collection of resources used to develop
software. These may include pre-written code and subroutines,
classes, values or type specifications.
Libraries contain code and data that provide services to
independent programs. This encourages the sharing and changing of
code and data in a modular fashion, and eases the distribution of the
code and data.
API
An application programming interface (API) is a source code
based specification intended to be used as an interface by software
components to communicate with each other. An API may include
specifications for routines, data structures, object classes, and
variables.
Apache Harmony
Apache Harmony was an open source , free Java
implementation, developed by the Apache Software Foundation.
Android Apps
Applications are usually developed in the Java language
using the Android Software Development Kit, but other development
tools are available, including a Native Development Kit for
applications or extensions in C or C++, Google App Inventor: a visual
environment for programmers and various cross platform mobile web
applications frameworks .
Android Market
Android Market is the online software store developed by
Google for Android devices.
An application program ("apps") called "Market" is
preinstalled on most Android devices and allows users to browse and
download apps published by third-party developers, hosted on
Android Market.
Dalvik
Dalvik is the process virtual machine (VM) in Google's Android
operating system.

It is the software that runs the apps on Android devices.

Dalvik is thus an integral part of Android, which is typically used on
mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers.

Programs are commonly written in Java and compiled to bytecode.

Then they are converted from Java Virtual Machine-compatible
.class files to Dalvik-compatible .dex (Dalvik Executable) files before
installation on a device.

The compact Dalvik Executable format is designed to be suitable for
systems that are constrained in terms of memory and processor
speed.

Dalvik is open-source software.

Android Updates

Android releases the Updates for its operating system,
called as New versions after interval of some time. Each update
have its own unique number.

It has seen a number of updates to its base operating
system since its original release. These updates typically fix bugs &
add new features.

it also improves the performance of the device after the
update, and gives it a better look & new features.

SOFTWARE BUG

A software bug is the common term used to describe an
error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system
that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to
behave in unintended ways.

Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in
either a program's source code or its design, and a few are caused
by compilers producing incorrect code.

A program that contains a large number of bugs, and/or
bugs that seriously interfere with its functionality, is said to be buggy.

Reports detailing bugs in a program are commonly known as
bug reports, fault reports, problem reports, trouble reports, change
requests

Version history
The version history of the Android operating system
began with the release of the Android 1.0 beta in November
2007.
Since April 2009, each Android version has been
developed under a codename based on a dessert item.
These versions have released in alphabetical order:
Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb and
Ice Cream Sandwich.
The pre-release versions of Android were dubbed Astro
and Bender, but these names could not ultimately be used for
trademark reasons
Android 1.0
The first commercial version of the
Android, was released on 23 September 2008. The
first Android device was the HTC Dream (G1).
Android 1.5 (Cup Cake)
On 30 April 2009, the Android 1.5 update,
(Codenamed Cupcake) was released, based on
Linux kernel 2.6.27.
The update included several new features
and UI amendments.
Android 1.6 (Donut)
On 15 September 2009, the Android 1.6
SDK ( Codenamed Donut ) was released, based
on Linux kernel 2.6.29.

Android 2.0/2.1 (clair)
On 26 October 2009, the
Android 2.0 SDK (codenamed Eclair )
was released, based on Linux kernel
2.6.29.
Android 2.2 (Froyo)
On 20 May 2010, the Android 2.2 SDK
(codenamed Froyo) was released, based on Linux
kernel 2.6.32
Speed, memory, and performance optimizations
USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality
Quick switching between multiple keyboard
languages and their dictionaries
Voice dialing and contact sharing over Bluetooth
Support for installing applications to the
expandable memory
Adobe Flash support
Added an option to disable data access over
mobile network
Support for file upload fields in the Browser
application
Google's
Nexus One
Android 2.3 (Ginger Bread)
On 6 December 2010, the Android 2.3
(codenamed Gingerbread) SDK was released, based
on Linux kernel 2.6.35.
Updated user interface design with increased
simplicity and speed
Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions
(WXGA and higher)
Native support for VoIP internet telephony
Faster, more intuitive text input in virtual keyboard,
with improved accuracy, better suggested text
and voice input mode
Enhanced copy/paste functionality, allowing users
to select a word by press-hold, copy, and paste
Support for multiple cameras on the device,
including a front-facing camera, if available
Switched from YAFFS to ext4 on newer devices
Native support for more sensors (such as
gyroscopes and barometers)

Google's Nexus S
Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)
On 22 February 2011, the
Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) SDK the first
tablet-only Android update was
released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.36.
The first device featuring this
version, the Motorola Xoom tablet, was
released on 24 February 2011.
Optimized tablet support with a new virtual and holographic user
interface
Added System Bar, featuring quick access to notifications, status, and
soft navigation buttons available at the bottom of the screen, also
Added Action Bar
Multitasking support - tapping Recent Apps in the System Bar allows
users to see snapshots of the tasks underway and quickly jump from
one app to another
Simplified copy/paste interface
Support for multi-core processors
Ability to encrypt all user data
The Galaxy Nexus
Running ICS
Android 4.0
(Ice-Cream Sandwich)
The SDK for Android 4.0.1 was publicly
released on 19 October 2011. Google's Gabe
Cohen stated that ICS was "theoretically
compatible" with any Android 2.3.x device in
production at that time.
Enhanced speed and performance
Virtual buttons in the UI, in place of capacitive
or physical buttons
Better voice integration and continuous, real-
time speech to text dictation
Face Unlock, a feature that allows users to
unlock handsets using facial recognition
software
1080p video recording for stock Android
devices
Latest version is 4.0.3