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If you want to learn more, you may consider to visit
http://androidversions.org/
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If you do not know what a smartphone is, then please do read on. Now a smartphone may be
loosely defined as any phone, which offers many more advanced features and connectivity options
than most of the phones of its era. These phones are sometimes compared to personal handheld
computing devices. Software developers are also provided with an ideal platform to work on since
these phones function around an operating system. They pack powerful processors and huge
memories. The category comprised of smartphones has witnessed the highest growth in sales in
recent memory.
Now that you know what smartphones are, you must have come to realize that they run an
operating system much like your personal computer.
Android is the mobile operating system released by Google after the company acquired Android,
Inc. It has now been purchased by the Open Handset Alliance. The word Android literally
translates to something which has a biological foundation and closely mimics a human being. The
basis for Android is formed by the ARM architecture. ARM stands for Advanced RISC Machine or
Acorn RISC Machine with both being used interchangeably. There are other ARM architecture
based mobile phone operating systems with which Android competes. Some of these operating
systems are Microsoft's Windows Mobile and Windows Phone, Apples proprietary iOS and the
oldest mobile operating system, the Symbian platform. Any phone that uses an Android operating
system is an Android smartphone. These are manufactured by a myriad of well known mobile
phone manufacturing companies. Also many cellular service providers seamlessly integrate these
devices in their networks.
From a technological point of view, Android consists of-
1.An operating system
2. Middleware
3.Key application
Android Smartphone's uses a version of the Linux kernel that has been modified to serve the
mobile environment. Hence it is open source. The Android operating system was first released on
21 October 2008. Since then, various updates have been seen. These updates have mostly taken
care of security issue or have added new features. The fourth and latest version of Android is
version 2.2. It is also known as Froyo. It has been based on Linux Kernel 2.6.32. The next version,
nicknamed Gingerbread is slated for release in the last quarter of 2010. Android smartphones
usually have the following features-
•A large variety of handset layouts.
•SQLite is used for the structured storage of data.
•Connectivity options such as Bluetooth, WI-Fi, GSM, EDGE, 3G, etc are available.
•Support for multi-touch has been incorporated in the OS.
•Additional hardware devices like cameras, GPS, touch-screens, etc are supported.
•A fully functional web-browser is provided.
•Various applications such as calendar, maps, email client, etc are provided in the box.
However you could download and install many other applications and install them. These apps
may be free or paid.
•Android provides a healthy developer environment. It contains various tools for debugging as
well as a device emulator.
•Prices of android smartphones are usually less than smartphones having similar hardware
specs but a different operating system.
Android smartphones, in their short lifespan have already made a huge impact. These phones are
only expected to pack better features and be cost effective.
For having proper knowledge about Android Smartphones [http://blog.ShopAndroid.net/] and it's
operating sytem, you can visit ShopAndroid.net
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amit_Kumar_Sen
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If you want to learn more, you may consider to visit
http://androidversions.org/
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