Smartphone Android Operating System

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The Android operating system is a mobile operating system developed by Google to be primarily used for touchscreen devices, cell phones, and tablets. Its design lets users intuitively manipulate mobile devices with finger movements that mirror common motions, such as pinching, swiping, and tapping. Google also employs Android software in televisions, cars, and wristwatches, each fitted with a unique user interface.

The Android operating system was first developed by Android, Inc., a software company located in Silicon Valley, before Google acquired it in 2005. Investors and electronics industry analysts have questioned Google’s true intentions for entering the mobile market space since that acquisition. Soon after that, Google announced its first commercially available Android-powered device in 2007, although that product hit the marketplace in 2008.

Since then, software and application developers have been able to use Android technology to develop mobile apps sold through app stores, such as Google Play. And because it is created as a Google product, Android users can link their mobile devices to other Google products, such as cloud storage, email platforms, and video services.

The Android source code is released in an open-source format to help advance open standards across mobile devices. However, despite being released as “open,” Android is still packaged with proprietary software when sold on handset devices.

The emergence of Android created a new rivalry between smartphone manufacturers, with Apple serving as Google’s chief competitor. As of Jan. 2020, Android was the most popular operating system for mobile devices, with 74.3% of the global market share. Apple’s iOS was in second with 24.8%.

The increased popularity of the system has also led to several patent-related lawsuits. The latest came from Oracle, which claims Google unlawfully used Java APIs in developing its Android software.
While Android offers users a viable alternative to other mobile operating systems, several limitations remain. Coding complex user experiences and interfaces are often difficult on the developer side, demanding a greater reliance on Java than Objective-C. For users, the apps on the Android Market tend to have lower standards than comparable app stores.

In other words, the apps have lower security profiles and make users more susceptible to data breaches. Meanwhile, Android’s lack of a voice-controlled assistant and its heavy dependence on advertising can repel some users.

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