Android (operating system)
Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices
such as smartphones and tablet computers. It is developed by the Open Handset
Alliance led by Google.
Google purchased the initial developer of the software,
Android Inc., in 2005.The unveiling of the Android distribution in 2007
was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of
86 hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing
open standards for mobile devices.Google releases 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.
Android has a large community of developers writing
applications ("apps") that extend the functionality of the devices.
Developers write primarily in a customized version of Java.Apps can be
downloaded from third-party sites or through online stores such as Android
Market, the app store run by Google. As of February 2012 there were more than
450,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications
downloaded from the Android Market as of December 2011 exceeded 10 billion.
Android was listed as the best-selling smartphone platform
worldwide in Q4 2010 by Canalys with over 300 million Android devices in use by
February 2012 According to Google's Andy
Rubin, as of February 2012 there are over 850,000 Android devices activated
every day.
Home screen displayed by Samsung Galaxy Nexus, running
Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich"
Company / developer Google
Inc, Open Handset Alliance
Programmed in C
(core), Java (UI), C++
Working state Current
Source model Open
Source
Initial release 20 September 2008
Latest stable release 4.0.4
(Ice Cream Sandwich) / 31 January 2012; 28 days ago
Package manager Android
Market / 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
Official website www.android.com