Android operating system

577 words [ 71 Screenshots ] [ 24 Versions ] [ 4 Weblinks ] - Last update: 2023-12-22 Page created: 2008-09-28 [SB]

 


Android OS

Android Logo The android platform was founded by Google and offers on the base the Linux kernel 2.6 a uniform interface for mobile equipment and programmes. Through this it is easily to port and is programmed in Java. After the conversion into the own binary program format Dalvik (.dex) it is not compatible to Java any more. Advantage is the faster execution and the lower memory footprint of programmes than in pure Java. Every Dalvik application is executed in a Dalvik VM of its own. Applications can access all equipment functions. This makes it possible for the programmer to make innovative programmes which offers the user high value by the combination of all sorts of data sources with the equipment functions.

The Eclipse IDE with an official plugin is used for the development. The operating system Android for Smartphones is supported by the Open Handset Alliance. Including more than 30 communication provider, equipment and semiconductor manufacturers as well as software companies. Because Android is an open platform in the meaning of the software and product development the source code shall be available completely at a later time and is in opposite with the market leading closed operating systems Symbian, Palm OS and Windows Mobile.

Android include C/C++ function libraries used by different parts of the operating system.

  • Surface manager for 2D and 3D even overlay display
  • System C library, specialized for Linux-based devices (BSD implementation)
  • SGL, 2D graphic system
  • 3D libraries, based on OpenGL ES 1.0 APIs with hardware or software accelerated 3D display
  • Media libraries for playback and record of audio, graphic and video formats (MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG)
  • LibWebCore, Android internet browser
  • FreeType, for representing of bitmap and vector fonds
  • SQLite, an efficient and slim relational database for all applications


The Android SDK is available for Linux, MacOS and Windows. It contains an emulator with the surface of Android to try applications. After unpacking the SDK the emulator can be found in the subdirectory " oolsemulator.exe" that shows a HTC Smartphone with keyboard.
Standard programs for e-mail, SMS, contacts, calendar, road maps, internet browser and others are preinstalled.

The first Google Android Developer Challenge (ADC) started in April 2008 for engaged programmers to realize and present ideas. Approximately 1,800 programmes were submitted and 20 honoured with a price money under the best 50. Part of the best applications are for example cab4me by combination of Google Maps, GPS signal and a database to send a taxi in the simplest mode by click to the current position on the map. Or GoCart which reads the bar code of goods with the mobile telephone camera and looks over onlineshops and registered shops in the circumference for the best price.

Google creates a sales platform for Smarthone applications with Android Market. At first the market place is provided free of charge. The first Android mobile telephone cames from the taiwanese manufacturer HTC with the T-Mobile G1 smartphone starting at October 22nd, 2008 in the USA and at the beginning of 2009 in Germany. The Android Market was renamed in Google Play on 6th March 2012.

The market research group Gartner, Inc. released a press news about the worldwide market share of smartphone ventors and operating systems on 19th August 2016. In the 2nd quarter 2016, 296.9 million Android units have been sold, this represents a market share of 86.2%. The Android operating system increased his share, in 2nd quarter 2015 the market share was 82.2% with 271.6 million units sold.

 


Screenshots

Android operating system screenshot 1Android operating system screenshot 2Android operating system screenshot 3Android operating system screenshot 4
Android OS 1.0, Boot screen textAndroid OS 1.0, Boot screen logoAndroid OS 1.0, Screenshot 1 (SDK)Android OS 1.0, Screenshot 2 (SDK)
Android operating system screenshot 5Android operating system screenshot 6Android operating system screenshot 7Android operating system screenshot 8
Android OS 1.0, WallpaperAndroid OS 1.0, Google SearchAndroid OS 1.0, Google WebsiteAndroid OS 1.0, Google Search result
Android operating system screenshot 9Android operating system screenshot 10Android operating system screenshot 11Android operating system screenshot 12
Android OS 1.0, Google Maps 1Android OS 1.0, Google Maps 2Android OS 1.0, ContactsAndroid OS 1.0, Telephone
Android operating system screenshot 13Android operating system screenshot 14Android operating system screenshot 15Android operating system screenshot 16
Android OS 1.0, ApplicationsAndroid OS 1.0, OpenGL DemoAndroid OS 1.0, Screen lockedAndroid OS 1.0, Shutdown screen
Android operating system screenshot 17Android operating system screenshot 18Android operating system screenshot 19Android operating system screenshot 20
Android OS 1.0, Power offAndroid OS 1.0, Screen in landscape formatAndroid OS 1.0, Screen in landscape formatAndroid OS 1.0, Linux Kernel 2,6, Android Runtime, Dalvik VM, Applications
Android operating system screenshot 21Android operating system screenshot 22Android operating system screenshot 23Android operating system screenshot 24
Android 4.4 (KitKat), Home screen with App shortcutsAndroid KitKat, Interaction with App shortcutsAndroid KitKat, Notification bar with quick settingsAndroid KitKat, All quick settings for the notification bar
Android operating system screenshot 25Android operating system screenshot 26Android operating system screenshot 27Android operating system screenshot 28
Android KitKat, Tap the home screen for further optionsAndroid KitKat, Run Apps or add them to the home screenAndroid KitKat, Add Widgets to the home screenAndroid KitKat, Set wallpaper for the screen
Android operating system screenshot 29Android operating system screenshot 30Android operating system screenshot 31Android operating system screenshot 32
Android KitKat, Overview of running Apps in backgroundAndroid KitKat, Switch between virtual screens with a swipe gestureAndroid KitKat, Device options after pushing the power button on the smartphoneAndroid KitKat, Draw lock pattern to unlock screen
Android operating system screenshot 33Android operating system screenshot 34Android operating system screenshot 35Android operating system screenshot 36
Android KitKat, Google Play StoreAndroid KitKat, Google Play Store settingsAndroid KitKat, General settingsAndroid KitKat, Application manager
Android operating system screenshot 37Android operating system screenshot 38Android operating system screenshot 39Android operating system screenshot 40
Android KitKat, App info of Google Play StoreAndroid KitKat, History details about battery usageAndroid KitKat, Battery usage sorted by AppsAndroid KitKat, Configure the power saving mode
Android operating system screenshot 41Android operating system screenshot 42Android operating system screenshot 43Android operating system screenshot 44
Android KitKat, Security settingsAndroid KitKat, Device details about Samsung S3 Neo with Android 4.4.2Android KitKat, Device statusAndroid KitKat, Mobile network settings
Android operating system screenshot 45Android operating system screenshot 46Android operating system screenshot 47Android operating system screenshot 48
Android KitKat, Controls settingsAndroid KitKat, Display settingsAndroid KitKat, Connection settingsAndroid KitKat, Data usage for mobile data
Android operating system screenshot 49Android operating system screenshot 50Android operating system screenshot 51Android operating system screenshot 52
Android KitKat, Phone AppAndroid KitKat, Inbox of Gmail AppAndroid KitKat, Google Maps AppAndroid KitKat, Google website with Chrome browser
Android operating system screenshot 53Android operating system screenshot 54Android operating system screenshot 55Android operating system screenshot 56
Android KitKat, Google search results with Chrome browserAndroid KitKat, Fallout Shelter App runningAndroid KitKat, In-game graphic of Fallout ShelterAndroid KitKat, In-game graphic of Fallout Shelter
Android operating system screenshot 57Android operating system screenshot 58Android operating system screenshot 59Android operating system screenshot 60
Android 5.0.1, Lock screen of a Lenovo tabletAndroid 5.0.1, Homescreen with standard appsAndroid 5.0.1, unfolded status bar with quick access to features and settingsAndroid 5.0.1, standard apps
Android operating system screenshot 61Android operating system screenshot 62Android operating system screenshot 63Android operating system screenshot 64
Android 5.0.1, more standard appsAndroid 5.0.1, control panel for settingsAndroid 5.0.1, control panel for more settingsAndroid 5.0.1, battery usage status and informations
Android operating system screenshot 65Android operating system screenshot 66Android operating system screenshot 67Android operating system screenshot 68
Android 5.0.1, internal storage informationsAndroid 5.0.1, manage the installed appsAndroid 5.0.1, running apps and app RAM usageAndroid 5.0.1, security settings
Android operating system screenshot 69Android operating system screenshot 70Android operating system screenshot 71
Android 5.0.1, overview of app permissionsAndroid 5.0.1, configure the app permissionsAndroid 5.0.1, informations about the Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F

Versions

Date - Version
2008 Aug. 18 - Android 0.9 SDK beta available
2008 Sept. 23 - Android 1.0 SDK Release 1 available
2008 Oct. 21 - Android 1.0 source code released, Linux kernel version 2.6.25
2008 Oct. 22 - Android 1.0 (Base), device on the market (USA), 2009 in Germany
2009 April 25 - Android 1.5 (Cupcake), new Linux kernel version 2.6.27
2009 Sept. - Android 1.6 (Donut), new Linux kernel version 2.6.29
2009 Oct. - Android 2.0 (Eclair)
2010 May - Android 2.2 (Froyo)
2010 Dec. - Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
2011 Feb. - Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)
2011 Oct. - Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
2012 July - Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
2013 Oct. - Android 4.4 (KitKat)
2014 Nov. - Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
2015 Oct. - Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)
2016 Aug. - Android 7.0 (Nougat)
2017 Aug. - Android 8.0 (Oreo)
2018 Aug. - Android 9 (Pie)
2019 Sept. - Android 10 (Quince Tart)
2020 Sept. - Android 11 (Red Velvet Cake)
2021 Oct. - Android 12 (Snow Cone)
2022 Aug. - Android 13 (Tiramisu)
2023 Oct. - Android 14 (Upside Down Cake)
-- - Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream)