Android (operating system)

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This article is about the operating system. For other uses, see Android (disambiguation).
Android

Home screen displayed by Samsung Nexus S with Google running Android 2.3 "Gingerbread"
Google Inc.,
Company / developer
Open Handset Alliance
Programmed in C (core),[1]C++ (some third-party libraries), Java (UI)
Working state Current
Source model Free and open source software
Initial release 21 October 2008 (2008-10-21)
Latest stable release 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) [2] / 9 February 2011; 26 days ago (2011-02-09)[2]
Supported platforms ARM, MIPS, Power Architecture, x86[3][citation needed]
Kernel type Monolithic (modified Linux kernel)
Default user interface Graphical
License Apache 2.0 (Linux kernel patches are licensed under GPL v2[4])
Official website android.com
Android is an open-sourcesoftware stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system,
middleware and key applications.[5][6]Google Inc. purchased the initial developer of the software,
Android Inc., in 2005.[7] Android's mobile operating system is based upon a modified version of
the Linux kernel. Google and other members of the Open Handset Alliance collaborated on
Android's development and release.[8][9] The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is tasked with
the maintenance and further development of Android.[10]
Canalys reported that in Q4 2010 the Android operating system was the world's best-selling
smartphone platform, dethroning Nokia's Symbian from the 10-year top position.[11][12] According
to Gartner, Symbian is still slightly ahead on sales if some legacy non-Nokia Symbian
smartphones are included in the Q4 2010 figures.[13]
Android has a large community of developers writing application programs ("apps") that extend
the functionality of the devices. There are currently over 150,000 apps available for Android.[14]
[15]
Android Market is the online app store run by Google, though apps can also be downloaded
from third-party sites. Developers write primarily in the Java language, controlling the device via
Google-developed Java libraries.[16]
The unveiling of the Android distribution on 5 November 2007 was announced with the
founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 79 hardware, software, and telecom
companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices.[17][18] Google released most
of the Android code under the Apache License, a free software and open source license.[19]
The Android open-source software stack consists of Java applications running on a Java-based,
object-orientedapplication framework on top of Java core libraries running on a Dalvik virtual
machine featuring JIT compilation. Libraries written in C include the surface manager,
OpenCore[20]media framework, SQLite relational database management system, OpenGL ES
2.03D graphicsAPI, WebKit layout engine, SGL graphics engine, SSL, and Bionic libc. The
Android operating system consists of 12 million lines of code including 3 million lines of XML,
2.8 million lines of C, 2.1 million lines of Java, and 1.75 million lines of C++.[21]

Contents
[hide]
• 1 History
○ 1.1 Android Inc. founded in 2003
○ 1.2 Android Inc. acquired by Google
○ 1.3 Development accelerates
○ 1.4 Open Handset Alliance
○ 1.5 Licensing
○ 1.6 Version history
 • 2 Features
• 3 Hardware running Android
• 4 Software development
○ 4.1 Software development kit
○ 4.2 Android Market
○ 4.3 App Inventor for Android
○ 4.4 Android Developer Challenge
○ 4.5 Google applications
○ 4.6 Third party applications
○ 4.7 Mobile gaming
○ 4.8 Native code
○ 4.9 Community-based firmware
• 5 Security issues
• 6 Marketing
○ 6.1 Logos
○ 6.2 Typeface
○ 6.3 Market share
○ 6.4 Usage share
• 7 Linux compatibility
• 8 Claimed infringement of copyrights and patents
• 9 See also
• 10 References
• 11 Bibliography
• 12 External links

[edit] History
[edit] Android Inc. founded in 2003
Android, Inc. was founded in Palo Alto, California, United States in October, 2003 by Andy
Rubin, Rich Miner, et al. to develop, in Rubin's words "...smarter mobile devices that are more
aware of its owner's location and preferences." Other early key employees include Andy
McFadden, who worked with Rubin at WebTV, and Chris White, who led the design and
interface of WebTV, before helping to found Android.[22]
Rubin, a co-founder of Danger Inc., Miner, a co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc. and
former vice-president of Technology and innovation at Orange, and the other early employees
brought considerable wireless industry experience to the company.[22][23] Despite the obvious past
accomplishments of the founders and early employees, Android Inc. operated secretively,
admitting only that it was working on software for mobile phones.[22]
[edit] Android Inc. acquired by Google
Googleacquired Android Inc. in August, 2005, making Android Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Google Inc. Key employees of Android Inc., including Andy Rubin, Rich Miner and Chris
White, stayed at the company after the acquisition.[24]
At the time of the acquisition, because little was known about the work of Android Inc., some
guessed that Google was planning to enter the mobile phone market.
[edit] Development accelerates
At Google, the team led by Rubin developed a mobile device platform powered by the Linux
kernel. Google marketed the platform to handset makers and carriers on the premise of providing
a flexible, upgradable system. Google had lined up a series of hardware component and software
partners and signaled to carriers that it was open to various degrees of cooperation on their part.
[25][26][27]

Speculation about Google's intention to enter the mobile communications market continued to
build through December 2006.[28] Reports from the BBC and The Wall Street Journal noted that
Google wanted its search and applications on mobile phones and it was working hard to deliver
that. Print and online media outlets soon reported rumors that Google was developing a Google-
branded handset.[29] Some speculated that as Google was defining technical specifications, it was
showing prototypes to cell phone manufacturers and network operators.
In September 2007, InformationWeek covered an Evalueserve study reporting that Google had
filed several patent applications in the area of mobile telephony.[30][31]
[edit] Open Handset Alliance
Main article: Open Handset Alliance
"Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating
about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands
of different phone models."
Eric Schmidt, former Google Chairman/CEO[8]

On the November 5, 2007 the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of several companies which
include Texas Instruments, Broadcom Corporation, Google, HTC, Intel, LG, Marvell
Technology Group, Motorola, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Sprint Nextel and T-
Mobile unveiled itself. The goal of the Open Handset Alliance is to develop open standards for
mobile devices.[8] On the same day, the Open Handset Alliance also unveiled their first product,
Android, a mobile device platform built on the Linux kernel version 2.6.[8]
On December 9, 2008, 14 new members joined, including PacketVideo, ARM Holdings, Atheros
Communications, Asustek Computer Inc, Garmin Ltd, Softbank, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba Corp,
and Vodafone Group Plc.[32][33]
[edit] Licensing
With the exception of brief update periods, Android has been available under a free software /
open source license since 21 October 2008. Google published the entire source code (including
network and telephony stacks)[34] under an Apache License.[35] Google also keeps the reviewed
issues list publicly open for anyone to see and comment.[36]
Android is a trademark of Google[37]; even though the software is open-source, device
manufacturers can't use the Android name unless Google certifies that the device complies with
their Compatibility Definition Document (CDD). In September 2010, Skyhook Wireless filed a
lawsuit against Google in which they alleged "This entirely subjective review, conducted solely
by Google employees with ultimate authority to interpret the scope and meaning of the CDD as
they see fit, effectively gives Google the ability to arbitrarily deem any software, feature or
function 'non-compatible' with the CDD."[38]
[edit] Version history
Main article: Android version history
Android has seen a number of updates since its original release. These updates to the base
operating system typically fix bugs and add new features. Generally each new version of the
Android operating system is developed under a code name based on a dessert item.
The most recent released versions of Android are:
• 2.0/2.1 (Eclair), which revamped the user interface and introduced HTML5 and
Exchange ActiveSync 2.5 support[39]
• 2.2 (Froyo), which introduced speed improvements with JIT optimization and the
ChromeV8 JavaScript engine, and added Wi-Fi hotspot tethering and Adobe Flash
support[40]
• 2.3 (Gingerbread), which refined the user interface, improved the soft keyboard and
copy/paste features, and added support for Near Field Communication[41]
• 3.0 (Honeycomb), a tablet-oriented[42][43][44] release which supports larger screen devices
and introduces many new user interface features, and supports multicore processors and
hardware acceleration for graphics.[45] The Honeycomb SDK has been released and the
first device featuring this version, the Motorola Xoom tablet, went on sale in February
2011.[46]
Upcoming versions of Android are:
• 2.3.3 (Gingerbread), an update to 2.3, anticipated to be released in April 2011.[47].
Initially, Google wanted to name that version 2.4, but renumbered the version afterwards.
[48]

• Ice-cream sandwich, a combination of 2.3 Gingerbread and 3.0 Honeycomb into a

"cohesive whole,"[49] with a possible release in mid-2011[50]
[edit] Features
Current features and specifications:[51][52][53]
The Android Emulator default home screen (v1.5).

Architecture Diagram

The platform is adaptable to larger, VGA, 2D graphics library, 3D graphics

Handset layouts library based on OpenGL ES 2.0 specifications, and traditional smartphone
layouts.

Storage SQLite, a lightweight relational database, is used for data storage purposes

Connectivity Android supports connectivity technologies including GSM/EDGE, IDEN,

 CDMA, EV-DO, UMTS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE, and WiMAX.

SMS and MMS are available forms of messaging, including threaded text
Messaging messaging and now Android Cloud to Device Messaging Framework (C2DM)
is also a part of Android Push Messaging service.

The web browser available in Android is based on the open-source WebKit

Web browser layout engine, coupled with Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. The browser
scores a 93/100 on the Acid3 Test.

While most Android applications are written in Java, there is no Java Virtual
Machine in the platform and Java byte code is not executed. Java classes are
compiled into Dalvik executables and run on the Dalvik virtual machine.
Java support
Dalvik is a specialized virtual machine designed specifically for Android and
optimized for battery-powered mobile devices with limited memory and CPU.
J2ME support can be provided via third-party-applications.

Android supports the following audio/video/still media formats: WebM, H.263,

H.264 (in 3GP or MP4container), MPEG-4 SP, AMR, AMR-WB (in 3GP
Media support
container), AAC, HE-AAC (in MP4 or 3GP container), MP3, MIDI, Ogg
Vorbis, WAV, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP.[53]

RTP/RTSP streaming (3GPP PSS, ISMA), HTML progressive download

(HTML5 <video> tag). Adobe Flash Streaming (RTMP) and HTTP Dynamic
Streaming are supported by the Flash 10.1 plugin.[54] Apple HTTP Live
Streaming
Streaming is supported by RealPlayer for Mobile[55] and planned to be
media support
supported by the operating system in Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).[45] Microsoft
Smooth Streaming is planned to be supported through the awaited port of
Silverlight plugin to Android.

Android can use video/still cameras, touchscreens, GPS, accelerometers,

Additional
gyroscopes, magnetometers, proximity and pressure sensors, thermometers,
hardware
accelerated 2D bit blits (with hardware orientation, scaling, pixel format
support
conversion) and accelerated 3D graphics.

Includes a device emulator, tools for debugging, memory and performance

Development profiling. The integrated development environment (IDE) is Eclipse (currently
environment 3.4 or greater) using the Android Development Tools (ADT) Plugin. The
programming languages are Java and C/C++.
 The Android Market is a catalog of applications that can be downloaded and
Market
installed to Android devices over-the-air, without the use of a PC.

Android has native support for multi-touch which was initially made available
in handsets such as the HTC Hero. The feature was originally disabled at the
Multi-touch kernel level (possibly to avoid infringing Apple's patents on touch-screen
technology).[56] Google has since released an update for the Nexus One and the
Motorola Droid which enables multi-touch natively.[57]

Supports A2DP, AVRCP, sending files (OPP), accessing the phone book
(PBAP), voice dialing and sending contacts between phones. Keyboard, mouse
Bluetooth and joystick (HID) support is available through manufacturer customizations
and third-party applications. Full HID support is planned for Android 3.0
(Honeycomb).[45]

The mainstream Android version does not support video calling, but some
handsets have a customized version of the operating system which supports it,
Video calling
either via UMTS network (like the Samsung Galaxy S) or over IP. Video
calling through Google Talk is planned for Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).

Multitasking Multitasking of applications is available.[58]

Google search through Voice has been available since initial release.[59] Voice
Voice based
actions for calling, texting, navigation etc. are supported on Android 2.2
features
onwards.[60]

Android supports tethering, which allows a phone to be used as a

Tethering wireless/wired hotspot. Prior to Android 2.2 this was supported by third-party
applications or manufacturer customizations.[61]

[edit] Hardware running Android

Main article: List of Android devices
The Android OS can be used as an operating system for cellphones, netbooks and tablets,
including the Dell Streak, Samsung Galaxy Tab, TV and other devices.[62][63] The first
commercially available phone to run the Android operating system was the HTC Dream,
released on 22 October 2008.[64] In early 2010 Google collaborated with HTC to launch its
flagship[65] Android device, the Nexus One. This was followed later in 2010 with the Samsung-
made Nexus S.
Hackers have found a way to boot Android 2.2.1 Froyo on jailbroken iPhone and iPod Touch
using iBoot and iDroid to dual boot iOS and Froyo[66]
[edit] Software development
It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article. (Discuss)

Early Android device.

The early feedback on developing applications for the Android platform was mixed.[67] Issues
cited include bugs, lack of documentation, inadequate QA infrastructure, and no public issue-
tracking system. (Google announced an issue tracker on 18 January 2008.)[68] In December 2007,
MergeLab mobile startup founder Adam MacBeth stated, "Functionality is not there, is poorly
documented or just doesn't work... It's clearly not ready for prime time."[69] Despite this,
Android-targeted applications began to appear the week after the platform was announced. The
first publicly available application was the Snake game.[70][71] The Android Dev Phone is a SIM-
unlocked and hardware-unlocked device that is designed for advanced developers. While
developers can use regular consumer devices purchased at retail to test and use their applications,
some developers may choose not to use a retail device, preferring an unlocked or no-contract
device.
[edit] Software development kit
The Android software development kit (SDK) includes a comprehensive set of development
tools.[72] These include a debugger, libraries, a handset emulator (based on QEMU),
documentation, sample code, and tutorials. Currently supported development platforms include
computers running Linux (any modern desktop Linux distribution), Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later,
Windows XP or later. The officially supported integrated development environment (IDE) is
Eclipse (currently 3.4, 3.5 or 3.6) using the Android Development Tools (ADT) Plugin, though
developers may use any text editor to edit Java and XML files then use command line tools (Java
Development Kit and Apache Ant are required) to create, build and debug Android applications
as well as control attached Android devices (e.g., triggering a reboot, installing software
package(s) remotely).[73]
A preview release of the Android SDK was released on 12 November 2007. On 15 July 2008,
the Android Developer Challenge Team accidentally sent an email to all entrants in the Android
Developer Challenge announcing that a new release of the SDK was available in a "private"
download area. The email was intended for winners of the first round of the Android Developer
Challenge. The revelation that Google was supplying new SDK releases to some developers and
not others (and keeping this arrangement private) led to widely reported frustration within the
Android developer community at the time.[74]
On 18 August 2008 the Android 0.9 SDK beta was released. This release provided an updated
and extended API, improved development tools and an updated design for the home screen.
Detailed instructions for upgrading are available to those already working with an earlier release.
[75]
On 23 September 2008 the Android 1.0 SDK (Release 1) was released.[76] According to the
release notes, it included "mainly bug fixes, although some smaller features were added." It also
included several API changes from the 0.9 version. Multiple versions have been released since.
[77]

Enhancements to Android's SDK go hand in hand with the overall Android platform
development. The SDK also supports older versions of the Android platform in case developers
wish to target their applications at older devices. Development tools are downloadable
components, so after one has downloaded the latest version and platform, older platforms and
tools can also be downloaded for compatibility testing.[78]
Android applications are packaged in .apk format and stored under /data/app folder on the
Android OS (the folder is accessible to root user only for security reasons). APK package
contains .dex files[79] (compiled byte code files called Dalvik executable), resource files, etc.
[edit] Android Market
Main article: Android Market
Android Market is the online software store developed by Google for Android devices. An
application program ("app") 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. As of December 2010[update] there were about 200,000 games, applications and widgets
available on the Android Market, with an estimated 2.5 billion total downloads.[80]
Only devices that comply with Google's compatibility requirements are allowed to preinstall
Google's closed-source Android Market app and access the Market.[81] The Market filters the list
of applications presented by the Market app to those that are compatible with the user's device,
and developers may restrict their applications to particular carriers or countries for business
reasons. [82]
Google announced the Android Market on 28 August 2008, and it was available to users on 22
October 2008. Support for paid applications was available from 13 February 2009 for US and
UK developers,[83] with additional support from 29 countries on 30 September 2010.[84] In
February 2011, the Android Market was made fully accessible on the web, allowing users to
browse and pick up applications using their PCs, send them to their mobile phone and make
comments on them. All this functionality was previously accessible only from mobile phone
devices.[85]
Users can install apps directly using APK files, or from alternative app markets. Unlike Apple,
Google allows independent app stores to operate for Android.[86]
[edit] App Inventor for Android
Main article: Google App Inventor
On 12 July 2010 Google announced the availability of App Inventor for Android, a Web-based
visual development environment for novice programmers, based on MIT's Open Blocks Java
library and providing access to Android devices' GPS, accelerometer and orientation data, phone
functions, text messaging, speech-to-text conversion, contact data, persistent storage, and Web
services, initially including Amazon and Twitter.[87] "We could only have done this because
Android’s architecture is so open," said the project director, MIT's Hal Abelson.[88] Under
development for over a year,[89] the block-editing tool has been taught to non-majors in computer
science at Harvard, MIT, Wellesley, and the University of San Francisco, where Professor David
Wolber developed an introductory computer science course and tutorial book for non-computer
science students based on App Inventor for Android.[90][91]
[edit] Android Developer Challenge
Main article: Android Developer Challenge
The Android Developer Challenge was a competition for the most innovative application for
Android. Google offered prizes totaling 10 million US dollars, distributed between ADC I and
ADC II. ADC I accepted submissions from 2 January to 14 April 2008. The 50 most promising
entries, announced on 12 May 2008, each received a $25,000 award to fund further development.
[92][93]
It ended in early September with the announcement of ten teams that received $275,000
each, and ten teams that received $100,000 each.[94] ADC II was announced on 27 May 2009.[95]
The first round of the ADC II closed on 6 October 2009.[96] The first-round winners of ADC II
comprising the top 200 applications were announced on 5 November 2009. Voting for the
second round also opened on the same day and ended on November 25. Google announced the
top winners of ADC II on November 30, with SweetDreams, What the Doodle!? and
WaveSecure being nominated the overall winners of the challenge.[97][98]
[edit] Google applications
Google has also participated in the Android Market by offering several applications for its
services. These applications include Google Voice for the Google Voice service, Sky Map for
watching stars, Finance for their finance service, Maps Editor for their MyMaps service, Places
Directory for their Local Search, Google Goggles that searches by image, Gesture Search for
using finger-written letters and numbers to search the contents of the phone, Google Translate,
Google Shopper, Listen for podcasts and My Tracks, a jogging application.
In August 2010, Google launched "Voice Actions for Android,"[99] which allows users to search,
write messages, and initiate calls by voice.
[edit] Third party applications
With the growing number of Android handsets, there has also been an increased interest by third
party developers to port their applications to the Android operating system.
As of December 2010, the Android Marketplace had over 200,000 applications,[80] with over 1
billion downloads. This is up from 70,000 in July 2010.[100][101]
Obstacles to development include the fact that Android does not use established Java standards,
i.e. Java SE and ME. This prevents compatibility among Java applications written for those
platforms and those for the Android platform. Android only reuses the Java language syntax, but
does not provide the full-class libraries and APIs bundled with Java SE or ME.[102] However,
there are multiple tools in the market from companies such as Myriad Group and UpOnTek that
provide J2ME to Android conversion services.[103][104][105]
Developers have reported that it is difficult to maintain applications on multiple versions of
Android, owing to compatibility issues between versions 1.5 and 1.6,[106] especially the different
resolution ratios in use among various Android phones.[107] Such problems were pointedly
brought into focus as they were encountered during the ADC2 contest.[108] Further, the rapid
growth in the number of Android-based phone models with differing hardware capabilities also
makes it difficult to develop applications that work on all Android-based phones.[109][110][111][112] As
of August 2010, 83% of Android phones run the 2.x versions, and 17% still run the 1.5 and 1.6
versions[113]
[edit] Mobile gaming
Android had a huge showing at the 2011 Mobile World Congress in regards to smartphone
gaming, with many well established game developers showcasing Android games. The trend in
mobile gaming on smartphone devices is predicted to shrink the game specialist device market,
affecting devices such as the upcoming Next Generation Portable.[114]
[edit] Native code
Libraries written in C and other languages can be compiled to ARMnative code and installed
using the Android Native Development Kit. Native classes can be called from Java code running
under the Dalvik VM using the System.loadLibrary call, which is part of the standard Android
Java classes.[115][116]
Complete applications can be compiled and installed using traditional development tools.[117] The
ADB debugger gives a root shell under the Android Emulator which allows native ARM code to
be uploaded and executed. ARM code can be compiled using GCC on a standard PC.[117]
Running native code is complicated by the fact that Android uses a non-standard C library (libc,
known as Bionic). The underlying graphics device is available as a framebuffer at
/dev/graphics/fb0.[118] The graphics library that Android uses to arbitrate and control access to
this device is called the Skia Graphics Library (SGL), and it has been released under an open
source license.[119] Skia has backends for both win32 and Unix, allowing the development of
cross-platform applications, and it is the graphics engine underlying the Google Chrome web
browser.[120]
[edit] Community-based firmware
There is a community of open-source enthusiasts that build and share Android-based firmware
with a number of customizations and additional features, such as FLAC lossless audio support
and the ability to store downloaded applications on the microSD card.[121] This usually involves
rooting the device. Rooting allows users root access to the operating system, enabling full control
of the phone. In order to use custom firmwares the device's bootloader must be unlocked.
Rooting alone does not allow the flashing of custom firmware. Modified firmwares allow users
of older phones to use applications available only on newer releases.[122]
Those firmware packages are updated frequently, incorporate elements of Android functionality
that haven't yet been officially released within a carrier-sanctioned firmware, and tend to have
fewer limitations. CyanogenMod and VillainROM are two examples of such firmware.
On 24 September 2009, Google issued a cease and desist letter[123] to the modder Cyanogen,
citing issues with the re-distribution of Google's closed-source applications[124] within the custom
firmware. Even though most of Android OS is open source, phones come packaged with closed-
source Google applications for functionality such as the application store and GPS navigation.
Google has asserted that these applications can only be provided through approved distribution
channels by licensed distributors. Cyanogen has complied with Google's wishes and is
continuing to distribute this mod without the proprietary software. He has provided a method to
back up licensed Google applications during the mod's install process and restore them when it is
complete.[125]
[edit] Security issues
In March 2011, Google pulled 58 malicious apps from the Android Market, but not before the 58
apps were downloaded to around 260,000 devices.[126] These apps were malicious applications in
the Android Market which contained trojans hidden in pirated versions of legitimate apps.[127]
The malware exploited a bug which was present in versions of Android older than 2.2.2,[128]
which Google said allowed the apps to gather device specific information, as well as other
possible information. Within days, Google announced that it planned to wipe the apps from
infected users and roll out an update that would negate the exploits that allowed the apps to view
information. They also announced that they would be resolving the issue to ensure that events
like this did not occur again[129]. Security firms such as AVG and Symantec have released
antivirus software for Android devices.
[edit] Marketing

Android logo
[edit] Logos
The Android logo was designed with the Droid font family made by Ascender Corporation.[130]
Android Green is the color of the Android Robot that represents the Android operating system.
The print color is PMS 376C and the RGB color value in hexadecimal is #A4C639, as specified
by the Android Brand Guidelines.[131]
[edit] Typeface
The custom typeface of Android is called Norad, only used in the text logo.[132]
[edit] Market share
Research company Canalys estimated in Q2 2009 that Android had a 2.8% share of worldwide
smartphone shipments.[133] By Q4 2010 this had grown to 33% of the market, becoming the top-
selling smartphone platform. This estimate includes the Tapas and OMS variants of Android.[11]
In February 2010 ComScore said the Android platform had 9.0% of the U.S. smartphone market,
as measured by current mobile subscribers. This figure was up from an earlier estimate of 5.2%
in November 2009.[134] By the end of Q3 2010 Android's U.S. market share had grown to 21.4
percent.[135]
In May 2010, Android's first quarter U.S. sales surpassed that of the rival iPhone platform.
According to a report by the NPD group, Android achieved 25% smartphone sales in the US
market, up 8% from the December quarter. In the second quarter, Apple's iOS was up by 11%,
indicating that Android is taking market share mainly from RIM, and still has to compete with
heavy consumer demand for new competitor offerings.[136] Furthermore, analysts pointed to
advantages that Android has as a multi-channel, multi-carrier OS, which allowed it to duplicate
the quick success of Microsoft's Windows Mobile.[137]
In early October 2010, Google added 20 countries to its list of approved submitters. By mid-
October, purchasing apps will be available in a total of 32 countries.[138] For a complete list of
countries that are allowed to sell apps and those able to buy them see Android Market.
As of December 2010[update] Google said over 300,000 Android phones were being activated
daily,[139] up from 100,000 per day in May 2010.[140]
In February 2011, during the 2011 Mobile World Congress, Eric Schmidt announced that
Android has reached 350,000 activations per day.[141]
[edit] Usage share

Data collected during two weeks ending on February 2, 2011 [142]

Data collected during two weeks ending on February 2, 2011

Platform API Level Distribution

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) 9/10 0.8%
Android 2.2 (Froyo) 8 57.6%
Android 2.0/2.1 (Eclair) 7 31.4%
Android 1.6 (Donut) 4 6.3%
Android 1.5 (Cupcake) 3 3.9%

[edit] Linux compatibility

Android's kernel was derived from Linux but has been tweaked by Google outside the main
Linux kernel tree.[143] Android does not have a native X Window System nor does it support the
full set of standard GNU libraries, and this makes it difficult to port existing GNU/Linux
applications or libraries to Android.[144] However, support for the X Window System is possible.
[145]
Google no longer maintains the code they previously contributed to the Linux kernel as part
of their Android effort, creating a separate version or fork of Linux.[146][147] This was due to a
disagreement about new features Google felt were necessary (some related to security of mobile
applications).[148] The code which is no longer maintained was deleted in January 2010 from the
Linux codebase.[149]
Google announced in April 2010 that they will hire two employees to work with the Linux kernel
community.[150]
However, as of January 2011, points of contention still exist between Google and the Linux
kernel team: Google tried to push upstream some Android-specific power management code in
2009, which is still rejected today.[151]
Furthermore, Greg Kroah-Hartman, the current Linux kernel maintainer for the -stable branch,
said in December 2010 that he was concerned that Google was no longer trying to get their code
changes included in mainstream Linux.[152] Some Google Android developers hinted that "the
Android team was getting fed up with the process," because they were a small team and had
more urgent work to do on Android.[153]
[edit] Claimed infringement of copyrights and patents
On 12 August 2010, Oracle, owner of Java since it acquired Sun Microsystems in April 2009,
sued Google over claimed infringement of copyrights and patents. The lawsuit claims that, "In
developing Android, Google knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's Java-related
intellectual property."[154]
Specifically the patent infringement claim references seven patents including United States
Patent No. 5,966,702, entitled "Method And Apparatus For Preprocessing And Packaging Class
Files," and United States Patent No. 6,910,205, entitled "Interpreting Functions Utilizing A
Hybrid Of Virtual And Native Machine Instructions."[155] It also references United States Patent
No. RE38,104, ("the '104 patent") entitled “Method And Apparatus For Resolving Data
References In Generated Code” authored by James Gosling, best known as the father of the Java
programming language.[156]
In response Google submitted multiple lines of defense, saying that Android did not infringe on
Oracle's patents or copyright, that Oracle's patents were invalid, and several other defenses. They
said that Android is based on Apache Harmony, a clean room implementation of the Java class
libraries, and an independently developed virtual machine called Dalvik.[157][158][159]
The Free Software Foundation has called this suit a "clear attack against someone's freedom to
use, share, modify, and redistribute software."[160] However, the FSF also criticized Google,
saying that Google could have avoided the suit by building Android on top of IcedTea, whose
GPL license provides some protection against patents, instead of implementing it independently
under the Apache License. The FSF wrote "It's sad to see that Google apparently shunned those
protections in order to make proprietary software development easier on Android." and remarked
that Google had not taken any clear position or action against software patents.
[edit] See also
• Android Market
• Android version history
• Chromium OS
• Google Chrome OS
• List of Android devices
• List of Android OS-related topics
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120.^ Toker, Alp (2008-09-06). "Skia graphics library in Chrome: First impressions".
http://www.atoker.com/blog/2008/09/06/skia-graphics-library-in-chrome-first-
impressions/. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
121.^"Dream android development". xda-developers forum. http://forum.xda-
developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=448. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
122.^"Android 2.1 from Motorola Droid Ported to G1". Volt Mobile. March 10, 2010.
http://voltmobileandtech.com/blog/.
123.^ Wimberly, Taylor (24 September 2009). "CyanogenMod in trouble?". Android and
me. http://androidandme.com/2009/09/hacks/cyanogenmod-in-trouble/. Retrieved 2009-
09-26.
124.^ Morrill, Dan (25 September 2009). "A Note on Google Apps for Android". Android
Developers Blog. http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2009/09/note-on-google-apps-
for-android.html. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
125.^"The current state...". CyanogenMod Android Rom. 27 September 2009.
http://www.cyanogenmod.com/home/the-current-state. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
126.^Tech Crunch. March 6th, 2011. http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/05/android-malware-
rootkit-google-response/.
127.^"The Mother Of All Android Malware Has Arrived". Android Police. March 6th,
2011. http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/03/01/the-mother-of-all-android-malware-has-
arrived-stolen-apps-released-to-the-market-that-root-your-phone-steal-your-data-and-
open-backdoor/.
128.^http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/03/google-using-remote-kill-switch-to-
swat-android-malware-apps.ars
129.^http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/03/06/google-acknowledges-droiddream-
remotely-wiping-apps-removing-exploit-making-changes-to-prevent-it-from-happening-
again/
130.^ Woyke, Elizabeth (26 September 2008). "Android's Very Own Font". Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/25/font-android-g1-tech-wire-cx_ew_0926font.html.
131.^"Brand Guidelines". Android. 23 March 2009. http://www.android.com/branding.html.
Retrieved 2009-10-30.
132.^"Android Brand Guidelines". Android. 23 March 2009.
http://www.android.com/branding.html. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
133.^"Canalys: iPhone outsold all Windows Mobile phones in Q2 2009". AppleInsider. 21
August 2009.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/08/21/canalys_iphone_outsold_all_windows_mo
bile_phones_in_q2_2009.html. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
134.^"comScore Reports February 2010 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share".
Comscore.com. 5 April 2010.
http://www.mycomscore.net/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/4/comScore_Reports_Fe
bruary_2010_U.S._Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
"RIM, 42.1%; Apple, 25.4%; Microsoft, 15.1%; Google (Android), 9.0%; Palm, 5.4%;
others, 3.0%"
135.^"comScore Reports September 2010 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share".
Comscore.com. 3 November 2010.
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/11/comScore_Reports_Se
ptember_2010_U.S._Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
136.^"Android hits top spot in U.S. smartphone market". 2010-08-04.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20012627-94.html. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
137.^ Greg Sandoval (2010-08-02). "More signs iPhone under Android attack".
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20012418-37.html. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
138.^"Google expands Android's reach, accepting paid apps from 20 more countries, selling
to 18 more". Engadget. 2010-10-01. http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/01/google-
expands-androidss-reach-accepting-paid-apps-from-20-mor/. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
139.^"Andy Rubin: over 300,000 Android phones activated daily". Engadget. 9 December
2010. http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/andy-rubin-over-300-000-android-phones-
activated-daily/. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
140.^ Arthur, Charles (2010-06-25). "Eric Schmidt's dog whistle to mobile developers:
abandon Windows Phone". London: The Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jun/25/android-schmidt-mobile-platform.
141.^"350,000 Activations Per Day, Says Schmidt". Phandroid. 15 February 2011.
http://phandroid.com/2011/02/15/350000-activations-per-day-says-schmidt/. Retrieved
2011-02-25.
142.^"Platform Versions". Android Developers.
http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html. Retrieved
2010-12-01. "based on the number of Android devices that have accessed Android
Market within a 14-day period ending on the data collection date noted below"
143.^Androidology - Part 1 of 3 - Architecture Overview. [Video]. YouTube. 2008-09-06.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBGfUs9mQYY. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
144.^ Paul, Ryan (23 February 2009). "Dream(sheep++): A developer's introduction to
Google Android". Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/open-source/reviews/2009/02/an-
introduction-to-google-android-for-developers.ars. Retrieved 2009-03-07. "In fact, during
a presentation at the Google IO conference, Google engineer Patrick Brady stated
unambiguously that Android is not Linux. (...) The problem with Google approach is that
it makes Android an island. The highly insular nature of the platform prevents Android
users and developers from taking advantage of the rich ecosystem of existing third-party
Linux applications. Android doesn't officially support native C programs at all, so it won't
be possible to port your favorite GTK+ or Qt applications to Android"
145.^"Re:Gnome, KDE, IceWM or LXDE Desktop on your Android! - AndroidFanatic
Community Forums". Androidfanatic.com. http://www.androidfanatic.com/community-
forums.html?%20func=view&catid=9&id=1615. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
146.^"Linux developer explains Android kernel code removal". ZDNet. 2010-02-02.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-389733.html. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
147.^"What is Android?". Android Developers.
http://developer.android.com/guide/basics/what-is-android.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
148.^Greg Kroah-Hartman (2010-02-02). "Android and the Linux kernel community".
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/android-kernel-problems.html. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
"This means that any drivers written for Android hardware platforms, cannot get merged
into the main kernel tree because they have dependencies on code that only lives in
Google's kernel tree, causing it to fail to build in the kernel.org tree. Because of this,
Google has now prevented a large chunk of hardware drivers and platform code from
ever getting merged into the main kernel tree. Effectively creating a kernel branch that a
number of different vendors are now relying on.(...) But now they are stuck. Companies
with Android-specific platform and drivers cannot contribute upstream, which causes
these companies a much larger maintenance and development cycle."
149.^"Android versus Linux?". www.h-online.com. 9 February 2010. http://www.h-
online.com/open/features/Android-versus-Linux-924563.html. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
150.^"DiBona: Google will hire two Android coders to work with kernel.org".
www.zdnet.com. 15 April 2010. http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=6274. Retrieved
2010-04-29.
151.^"Garrett's LinuxCon Talk Emphasizes Lessons Learned from Android/Kernel Saga".
Linux.com quote=Garrett, whose field of expertise is power management at Red Hat,
nonetheless admitted that when he first saw the patch submitted by Android, he didn't
even know what the patch was trying to fix and what specific functions were being called
in the patch. New undefined terms, such as "wakelock" and "earlysuspend," were
intermixed in the original January 2009 patch submittal to the mainline kernel, making
the patch very hard to understand(...)There were questions about the very motivation of
the patch: with the undefined terms, kernel developers were unsure what problem was
being addressed and if the problem would even apply to the Linux kernel as a
whole(...)As for Android's patch, a minimal solution has been introduced to the mainline,
but their proposed changes are still pending.. 2011-08-10.
 http://www.linux.com/news/embedded-mobile/mobile-linux/344486-garretta-linuxcon-
talk-emphasizes-lessons-learned-from-androidkernel-saga. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
152.^Greg Kroah-Hartman (2010-12-09). "Android and the Linux kernel community".
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/android-kernel-problems.html. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
"Google shows no sign of working to get their code upstream anymore. Some companies
are trying to strip the Android-specific interfaces from their codebase and push that
upstream, but that causes a much larger engineering effort, and is a pain that just should
not be necessary(...)As for me, I think I'll look into getting a Nokia N900. It looks much
more open, with the code mostly all upstream, and a much more active developer
community.."
153.^"Android/Linux kernel fight continues". Computerworld. 2010-09-07.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/16900/android_linux_kernel_fight_continues. Retrieved
2011-01-02. "Unfortunately, according to Ts'o, time is not something the Android team
has a lot of. They're too busy running to keep up with hardware requirements. Ts'o said
that, although, "There's less than 64K of patch, there's been over 1,800 mail messages of
discussion." Ts'o made it sound like the Android team is getting fed up with the process.
"Android is a small team. They feel that they're spending a vast amount of time getting
the code upstream (to the main Linux kernel).""
154.^ James Niccolai (2010-08-12). "Oracle sues Google over Java use in Android".
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9180678/Update_Oracle_sues_Google_over_Ja
va_use_in_Android?taxonomyId=13. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
155.^"Oracle's complaint against Google for Java patent infringement". scribd.com.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/35811761/Oracle-s-complaint-against-Google-for-Java-
patent-infringement. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
156.^ Ed Burnette (August 12, 2010). "Oracle uses James Gosling patent to attack Google
and Android developers". ZD Net. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/burnette/oracle-uses-
james-gosling-patent-to-attack-google-and-android-developers/2035?
tag=mantle_skin;content. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
157.^ Ryan Singel (5 October 2010). "Calling Oracle Hypocritical, Google Denies Patent
Infringement". Wired News. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/10/google-oracle-
android/. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
158.^"Google Answers Oracle, Counterclaims, and Moves to Dismiss Copyright
Infringement Claim". Groklaw. 5 October 2010. http://groklaw.net/article.php?
story=20101005114201136. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
159.^"Google Files Sizzling Answer to Oracle's Amended Complaint and its Opposition to
Motion to Dismiss - updated 2Xs". Groklaw. 11 November 2010.
http://groklaw.net/article.php?story=20101111114933605. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
160.^ Brett Smith (September 8, 2010). "FSF responds to Oracle v. Google and the threat of
software patents". Free Software Foundation. http://www.fsf.org/news/oracle-v-google/?
searchterm=Oracle. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
[edit] Bibliography
• Ed, Burnette (November 10, 2009). Hello, Android: Introducing Google's Mobile
Development Platform (2nd ed.). Pragmatic Bookshelf. ISBN 1934356492.
http://pragprog.com/titles/eband2/hello-android.
 • Rogers, Rick; Lombardo, John; Mednieks, Zigurd; Meike, Blake (May 1, 2009). Android
Application Development: Programming with the Google SDK (1st ed.). O'Reilly Media.
ISBN 0596521472. http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596521509.
• Ableson, Frank; Collins, Charlie; Sen, Robi (May 1, 2009). Unlocking Android: A
Developer's Guide (1st ed.). Manning. ISBN 1933988673.
http://www.manning.com/ableson/.
• Conder, Shane; Darcey, Lauren (September 7, 2009). Android Wireless Application
Development (1st ed.). Addison-Wesley Professional. ISBN 0321627091.
http://www.informit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0321627091.
• Murphy, Mark (June 26, 2009). Beginning Android (1st ed.). Apress. ISBN 1430224193.
http://www.apress.com/book/view/1430224193.
• Hashimi, Sayed Y.; Komatineni, Satya; MacLean, Dave (February 26, 2010). Pro
Android 2 (2nd ed.). Apress. ISBN 1430226595.
http://www.apress.com/book/view/1430226595.
• Meier, Reto (November 24, 2008). Professional Android Application Development (1st
ed.). Wrox Press. ISBN 0470344717.
http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/Professional-Android-Application-
Development.productCd-0470344717.html.
• DiMarzio, Jerome (July 30, 2008). Android a programmers guide (1st ed.). McGraw-Hill
Osborne Media. ISBN 0071599886. http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?
isbn=0071599886&cat=112.
• Haseman, Chris (July 21, 2008). Android Essentials (1st ed.). Apress. ISBN 1430210648.
http://www.apress.com/book/view/1430210648.
[edit] External links
Wikinews has related news: Google Android smartphone sales triple in the UK this year

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Android (operating system)

• Official Android page

○ Android Open Source Project
○ Android Market
○ Android Developers
○ Android Developers Blog
○ Android Brand Guidelines
• Google Projects for Android from Google Code
• Android Wiki
• Sergey Brin introduces the Android platform at YouTube
 • Android: Building a Mobile Platform to Change the Industry — lecture given by Google
Mobile Platforms Manager, Richard Miner at Stanford University (video archive).
• Android (operating system) at the Open Directory Project
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