WHAT IS ANDROID?
‘Android’ specifically refers to a
mobile operating system (based on Linux) that is developed by Google. It
is open-source software, meaning that anyone can download the source code from
the Android Open
Source Project and use or modify it. Hardware manufacturers
like Samsung or LG often take the base Android code and then add their own
proprietary software features to it to run on their own phones or devices.
IS ANDROID JUST FOR PHONES?
Definitely not! Though phones might
be the most popular device running Android, there are many tablets and
other devices available. Some popular tablets, for example, are the Nexus 7 and the Kindle
Fire from Amazon. There are also watches, cameras, game consoles, TVs,
glasses, and cars that run the Android operating
system. Heck, there are even Android appliances!
As for phones, Android users can
pick the device that’s just right for them. Budget-conscious users can often
find cheap Android phones with pay-as-you-go service, or gadget freaks
like myself can opt for large, high-end phones like the latest
Nexus phone from Google or a comically large (but cool) Galaxy Note 4. What’s more, if you don’t like how
the operating system on your phone is configured, you can always overwrite it
with a custom version, like the popular CyanogenMod.
WHAT CAN ANDROID DEVICES DO?
The hardware features will vary
depending on the type of device it’s running on, but the Android operating
system provides support for cameras, GPS location, Bluetooth, Near-Field Communication (NFC),
accelerometers, compasses, gyroscopes, and more! The Android operating system
features software components like live wallpapers and widgets, a powerful
notification tray to help you keep track of important updates, voice typing,
and seamless app integration, which allows users to easily share information
via social networking apps or other forms of communication, like Bluetooth or
NFC.
All About Android Development
As the number one mobile operating
system in the world, Android devices are used by more people than any other
type of mobile device. This gives developers a great opportunity to
develop apps that can potentially be used by hundreds of millions of people.
Getting started with Android development might seem a little overwhelming, but
our mission at Treehouse is to make it approachable and fun.
Take a look at the Build a Simple
Android App project if you want some step-by-step instructions
on how to get started, but read on for more details.
