Android's mobile operating system is based on the Linux kernel and is the world's best-selling Smartphone.

There are currently over 200,000 apps available for Android that are made accessible through the Android Market, which is the online app store run by Google.

The apps are primarily written in Java.

The Android operating system, including the Linux kernel, contains approximately 12 million lines of code.

In this there are: 3 million lines of XML, 2.8 million lines of C, 2.1 million lines of Java, and 1.75 million lines of C++.

Android Inc. was founded in Palo Alto, California in October, 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White.

Their goal was to develop a "smarter mobile device that was more aware of its owner's location and preferences.”

They operated secretively, admitting only that they were working on software for mobile phones.

Google acquired Android Inc. in August, 2005, making Android Inc. a wholly owned part of Google Inc.

Nick Sears was the only original founder that did not stay with Android Inc. after the acquisition.

At this point in time, many assumed that Google was planning to enter the mobile phone market with this move.

Once at Google, Rubin led a team to develop a mobile device platform powered by the Linux kernel.

Google marketed the platform to handset makers and carriers with the intent of providing a flexible, upgradable system.

This caused speculation about Google's intention to enter the mobile communications market to build.

On October 21st, 2008, Android 1.0 became available to the public.

"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

Android Market application download and updates through the Market app

Web browser to show, zoom and pan full HTML and XHTML web pages - multiple pages show as windows ("cards")Video

Camera support, but no way to change resolution, white balance, quality, etc.

Folders allow the grouping of a number of app icons into a single folder icon on the Home screen.

Email provides access to email servers commonly found on the Internet and supports POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP.

Gmail synchronization with the Gmail app Google Contacts synchronization with the People app Google Calendar synchronization with the Calendar app Google Maps with Latitude and Street View to view maps and satellite

imagery, as well as find local business and get driving directions using GPS

Google Search of the internet and phone apps, contacts, calendar, etc.

Google Talk instant messaging. Instant messaging, text messaging, and MMS. Media Player enables managing, importing, and playing back but

lacked video and stereo Bluetooth support Notifications appear in the Status bar - drag down to see details,

also ringtone, LEDs and vibration options. Voice Dialer allows dialing and placing of phone calls without

typing a name or number Wallpaper allows the user to set the background image or photo

behind the Home screen icons and widgets. YouTube video player. Other apps include: Alarm Clock, Calculator, Dialer (Phone),

Home screen (launcher), Pictures (Gallery), and Settings. Other supported features include: WiFi, and Bluetooth.

Handset Layouts

The platform is adaptable to larger, VGA, 2D graphics library, 3D graphics 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 (no connections through Proxy server and no Ad hoc wireless network) LTE, NFC and WiMAX.

Messaging SMS and MMS are available forms

of messaging, including threaded text messaging and now Android Cloud to Device Messaging Framework is also a part of the Android Messaging service.

Multiple Language Support Several languages are available on

Android. The number of languages more than doubled for the platform 2.3. However, it lacks font rendering of several languages even after official announcements of added support.

Web Browser The web browser available for

Android uses the open-source WebKit layout engine, along with Chrome's JavaScript engine.

Java Support Most Android apps are

written in Java, however, 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.

Dalvik is a specialized virtual machine designed specifically for Android and optimized for battery-powered mobile devices with limited memory and CPU.

Dalvik Virtual Machine

WebM

H.263

H.264 (in 3GP or MP4 container)

MPEG-4 SP

AMR

AMR-WB (in 3GP container)

AAC

HE-AAC (in MP4 or 3GP container)

MP3 MIDI Ogg Vorbis FLAC WAV JPEG PNG GIF BMP

Android supports the following audio/video/still media formats:

Android has support for multi-touch which was originally made available in handsets such as the HTC Hero.

The feature was originally disabled at the kernel level (possibly to avoid infringing Apple's patents on touch-screen technology at the time).

Google has since released an update for the Nexus One and the Motorola Droid which enables multi-touch.

Latest version available for mobile phones

Enhanced UI with more polish and several refinements

Also adds support for NFC, which allows for mobile payments with only the use of the device

Based on Android, Google TV allows your TV to be connected to the internet and all of the media content that it has to offer.

Designed for use on Tablet devices

Different UI compared to Version 2.3 Gingerbread

Android is the fastest growing mobile operating system.

Its growing even faster than IOS!!

More developers are choosing to create Android applications

There are more than 200,000 apps available.

Soon, Android will be able to communicate with your own home and automate your life with Android@Home!

Android “Ice Cream” will combine Gingerbread and Honeycomb into one unified seamless operating system.

Android will continue its growth and dominance in the mobile operating system race.