Android and android phones

ANDROID AND

ANDROID PHONES

WHAT IS ANDROID?

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications.

BRIEF HISTORY 2005

Google acquires startup Android Inc. to start Android platform

Work on Dalvik VM begins 2007

Open Handset Alliance announced Early look at SDK

2008 Google sponsors 1st  Android Developer

Challenge T-Mobile G1 announced SDK 1.0 released Android released open source (Apache License) Android Dev Phone 1 released

Brief History cont. 2009

SDK 1.5 (Cupcake) New soft keyboard with “autocomplete” feature SDK 1.6 (Donut) Support Wide VGA SDK 2.0/2.0.1/2.1 (Eclair) Revamped UI, browser

2010 Nexus One released to the public SDK 2.2 (Froyo) Flash support, tethering SDK 2.3 (Gingerbread) UI update, system-wide copy-paste

Brief History cont.

HoneycombAndroid 3.0-3.2

2011 SDK 3.0/3.1/3.2 (Honeycomb) for tablets only

New UI for tablets, support multi-core processors SDK 4.0/4.0.1/4.0.2/4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Changes to the UI, Voice input, NFC

Ice cream SandwichAndroid 4.0+

What is an Android Phone?

Since Google built Android as an open standard device, anyone can build applications for the phone and enhance them.

Android is completely customizable!

Android Architecture

Applications for Android

More than 10,000 applications are available for free or for purchase on Android Market.

Mobile Applications

What are they? Any application that runs on a mobile device

Types Web apps: run in a web browser

HTML, JavaScript, Flash, server-side components, etc. Native: compiled binaries for the device

Often make use of web services

Development process for an Android app

Android Apps Built using Java and new SDK libraries

No support for some Java libraries like Swing & AWT

Oracle currently suing Google over use Java code compiled into Dalvik byte code

(.dex) Optimized for mobile devices (better memory

management, battery utilization, etc.) Dalvik VM runs .dex files

Building and running

ADB is a client server program that connects clients on developer machine to devices/emulators to facilitate development.

An IDE like Eclipse handles this entire process for you.

http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/building/index.html#detailed-build

Compiled resources (xml files)

Android Debug Bridge

What is an Android Phone?Like Apple’s iPhone, Android has a

touch screen. Some Android phones also have keyboards.

Different designs for Android home screens

Google’s Headquarters

The (bad) Reviews Resizing is clumsy and difficult. No easy way to get your music library

onto phone. Video/music player are “hideous.” Official apps not as polished as iPhone

counterparts. Looking through apps on phone and

syncing with computer can be tedious. Not the simplest device to figure out. Phone controls inconsistent. Can be slow.

The (good) Reviews Google’s apps are “simply awesome.” A bit cheaper. Very good mobile browser. Good for tech-savvy people. Developing and improving faster than any other

phone on the market. Large room for potential growth and

improvements!

Mobile Devices: Advantages (as compared to fixed devices)

Always with the user Typically have Internet access Typically GPS enabled Typically have accelerometer & compass Most have cameras & microphones Many apps are free or low-cost

Mobile Devices: Disadvantages

Limited screen sizeLimited battery lifeLimited processor speedLimited and sometimes slow network

accessLimited or awkward input: soft keyboard,

phone keypad, touch screen, or stylusLimited web browser functionalityRange of platforms & configurations across

devices

Building and running (more details)

Expand figure

Android Interface Definition Language (AIDL) – Definitions to exchange data between applications (think SOAP)

http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/building/index.html#detailed-build

Android Asset Packing Tool

Allows processes across apps to communicate.

Applications Are Boxed

By default, each app is run in its own Linux process Process started when app’s code needs to be

executed Threads can be started to handle time-consuming

operations Each process has its own Dalvik VM By default, each app is assigned unique Linux

ID Permissions are set so app’s files are only visible

to that app

Android Architecture

Publishing and MonetizingPaid apps in Android Market, various

other marketsFree, ad-supported apps in

Android Market Ad networks (Google AdMob, Quattro Wireless) Sell your own ads

Services to other developers Ex. Skyhook Wireless (

http://www.skyhookwireless.com/) Contests (Android Developer Challenge)Selling products from within your app

Android Market http://www.android.com/market/

Has various categories, allows ratings Have both free/paid apps Featured apps on web and on phone The Android Market (and iTunes/App

Store) is great for developers Level playing field, allowing third-party apps Revenue sharing

Publishing to Android Market

Requires Google Developer Account $25 fee

Link to a Merchant Account Google Checkout Link to your checking account Google takes 30% of app purchase price

Android Design Philosophy Applications should be:

Fast Resource constraints: <200MB RAM, slow processor

Responsive Apps must respond to user actions within 5 seconds

Secure Apps declare permissions in manifest

Seamless Usability is key, persist data, suspend services Android kills processes in background as needed

Apple vs. Google Android

Open Handset Alliance 30+ technology companies Commitment to openness, shared vision,

and concrete plans Compare with Mac/PC battles

Similar (many PC manufacturers, one Apple)

Different (Microsoft sells Windows, Google gives away Android)