Smartphone Programming | Android Smartphone

What is Android?

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes

Operating system

Middleware

Key applications

Android Phone

The Android SDK provides the tools and APIs, necessary to begin developing applications on the Android platform using the Java programming language.

Android Tablet

A tablet computer is a complete mobile computer generally larger than a mobile phone.

OHA (Open Handset Alliance)

The Open Handset Alliance™ is a group of mobile and technology leaders who share their vision for changing the mobile experience for consumers.

OHA is a business alliance of 83 firms to develop open standards for mobile devices.

Some of the Member firms are:

Google

HTC

Sony

Dell

Intel

Motorola

Qualcomm

Texas Instruments

Samsung

LG

T-Mobile

NVidia

Android Market

Android Market is the online software store developed by Google for Android devices.

An application program ("app") called "Market" is pre-installed on most of the Android devices and allow users to browse and download apps published by third-party developers, hosted on Android Market.

Users can install apps directly using APK files, or from alternative app markets.

Why Android?

A simple and powerful SDK.

No licensing, distribution, or development fees.

Development possible over many platforms

Linux

Mac OS

Windows

Excellent documentation.

Thriving developer community.

Java-based, easy to import 3^rd party Java library.

History of Android

In July 2005, Google acquired Android Inc., a small company that developed software for mobile phones.

In the following months, the former “Android, Inc.” team started working on a Linux-based OS for mobile devices.

By the end of 2006, media and press was filled with news about Google entering the mobile market.

In November 2007, the Open Handset Alliance was announced.

OHA’s first project was Android

Android Features

Application framework

It enables reuse and replacement of components.

Dalvik Virtual Machine

It is optimized for mobile devices

Integrated browser

It is based on the open source Web Kit engine.

Optimized graphics powered by:

Custom 2D graphics library

3D graphics based on the OpenGL ES 1.0 specification.

SQLite

It is used for structured data storage.

Hardware dependent Features

GSM Telephony

Bluetooth

EDGE

3G

Wi-Fi

Camera

GPS

Compass

Rich development environment

Device emulator

Tools for debugging

Memory and performance profiling

A plugin for the Eclipse IDE.

Trademark Disclaimer

*Product names, Logos, Brands and other trademarks featured or referred within the application are the property of their respective trademark owners.

*Trademarked names are used only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the respective trademark.