Android
Google Android - an operating system for mobile phones, which is based on Linux. OS Android created by Open Handset Alliance (OHA), but the establishment was initiated by the U.S. is Google.
The first device, which was sold with the operating system, Android, has become a smartphone from the company HTC – T-Mobile G1, which was launched September 23, 2008. Immediately after that, followed by numerous announcements about the release of their own devices “under Android” from other companies.
Despite the fact that Android is based on Linux, the full use Linux applications can not be used because not all of the standard library, but also because it uses libraries written by Google.
Here is a list of libraries that are available for Android:
- SSL – Encryption
- SGL – 2D-graphics
- OpenGL ES – 3D-Library
- Bionic – library of standard functions incompatible with libc
- Media Framework (PacketVideo OpenCORE, MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG)
- FreeType – fonts
- SQLite – lightweight DBMS
Source Android was laid by OHA October 21, 2008. He had a volume of 2.1 MB and in addition to the OS itself consisted of middleware (middleware), and major end-applications written in Java.
Since Android is a relatively young operating system, it has serious drawbacks, but many disadvantages, nevertheless, because of the policies of the American company:
- The operating system is based on Dalvik virtual machine, and not used some of the popular libraries, so you can not simply transfer the application from Linux to Android.
- Is not possible to install the application on a memory card, which pretty much limits the ability of the OS on devices with a small cache of its own. For example, at the same T-Mobile G1 is only 70 MB of internal memory.
- To gain access to the services of Google, such as Android Market, need special software, which manufacturers can establish only after signing a contract with Google.
- There is some information that Google is using its operating system will be able to remove applications that do not meet the conditions of their use. In fact, it will force removal of unlicensed applications. However, this information has not officially been made public.
Already we can say with confidence that Android will become a popular platform for mobile phones.
In early 2010 began selling smartphone Google Nexus One with the operating system Google Android.