Download the android system to the tablet. The best programs to synchronize your device with your PC. Key features of the Android operating system

The first smartphones (communicators) appeared in the world more than 15 years ago. They allowed to solve the most simple tasks associated with opening and editing documents, were able to send faxes and email... However, the market was dominated by conventional phones and Palm small pocket computers. At the end of the 2000s, Android devices began to appear on the market. What is Android, and what capabilities this operating system has endowed with modern mobile devices?

Features of a simple phone

Long time mobile phones were a means for making voice calls and a tool for sending / receiving SMS. With the development of technology, phones with J2ME support began to appear on the market - this made it possible to expand functionality with additional applications. But they were very, very far from a full-fledged pocket computer.

Ordinary mobile phones (not smartphones) can call and make calls, have functions for working with SMS and MMS, can access the Internet and send e-mail. There are simple browsers for Internet access. All these features are built into the phone memory, so you won't be able to replace the inconvenient "dialer"... Don't like the built-in audio player or don't have enough codecs for video playback? We'll have to grind our teeth and endure.

Some part of the market for smarter devices has long been occupied by smartphones / communicators on windows based Mobile and Symbian. There was already multitasking, it was possible to find and install various programs. Users rejoiced at the decent functionality, but all this was a bit different - there was not that freedom of action that is provided to modern smartphone users on Android.

What is Android

The massive distribution of Android devices took place at the end of the 2000s, when the market was dominated by Windows Mobile (various versions, often incompatible with each other) and Symbian. In parallel with them, Apple products developed - its smartphones were an icon of functionality. The advent of Android was a real sensation. This operating system has taken over the smart device market, becoming a clear leader.

As of the end of 2015, more than 80% of mobile devices worked on its basis - Apple with its iOs was left far behind. Android is a Linux-based multitasking operating system for mobile devices. Hence the high performance and open source. The first version appeared at the end of 2008, followed by numerous updates. Latest version considered Android 8.0 Oreo, released in August 2017.

Each new development brings new opportunities, increased efficiency and increased productivity. Android is the operating system that made it possible to create full-fledged pocket computers, which are all modern smartphones and tablets. Android OS devices can:

Make and receive calls;
Work with email;
Work with any wireless modules (3G, 4G, GPS / GLONASS, Wi-Fi, NFC, etc.);
Interact with users through touch screens, keyboards, mice, touchpads and gamepads;
Access the Internet via wireless networks;
Make video calls;
Take high-quality photos and videos;
Verify users using numerous security tools, including using a fingerprint scanner;
Work with printers, external cameras and other devices.

But the most important advantage that infinitely expands the capabilities of Android is the ability to install various applications. With their help, smartphones and tablets become loyal helpers of users. Applications allow you to receive information about discounts, make purchases in stores, listen to music, watch videos, read news, surf the Internet and solve business problems. There are also service applications, sports applications, online magazines and much more to choose from.

Features Android

Android is an extremely user-friendly operating system. For an initial acquaintance, a few minutes are enough, and after a couple of days even the youngest beginners become quite experienced users. Most Android operations are done with simple gestures, and there is a special Playmarket store for installing applications in the system - here all the software is structured and presented in the form of a convenient catalog.

Simple installation of applications from your own store is very convenient for novice users - no need to scour the web and search for software in search engines.

Android is a very flexible operating system. It is easily customizable to suit your own needs., and the abundance of applications allows you to get additional functionality or replace some basic functions. Don't like the standard dialer? It doesn't matter - download another application, replace the shortcuts on the desktop and use the new application. Don't like the built-in player? It is enough to download another one from Playmarket. You can also download here:

Clients of popular social networks;
Instant messengers;
Bank clients;
Mail programs;
Electronic payment systems wallets;
News applications;
Clients of online publications;
Offline and online games;
Cooking apps and more.

Android is very friendly, which means that you can completely customize it for yourself.

You can get information without launching applications - for this, the system provides widgets located on the desktop and displaying useful information. It could be headers latest news, weather forecasts, exchange rates, the last actions of people in social networks etc.

Android is the operating system that runs the most different devices... These included smartphones, tablet PCs, some stationary PCs, smart TVs, game consoles, satellite and digital receivers, mini PCs, multimedia players, e-books, smartbooks and even wristwatches. And every day opportunities operating system and devices. Buy a smartphone or tablet for Android, and try the system's capabilities on your own experience - you will definitely like them!

When people hear this word, they have many questions: "Why a green robot?", "How difficult is it to handle?", "How to install programs or make a backup copy?" new mobile phone? " other.

But what is Android in general? Let's try to figure it out.

Description

Android (eng. "Android") Is the name of a software platform for devices (most of which: mobile devices) based on the Linux kernel. It was originally created by Android Inc., which was acquired by Google. Android provides the ability to develop Java applications that control the device using libraries developed by Google. Distributed under the Apache 2.0 license.

Used in a wide range of devices:

Smartphones
TV sets
Google glasses
Media players
E-books
Photo frames
Laptops / Netbooks / Smartbooks
and so on

It is planned to install the Android system on the automotive computerized part and robotic vehicles (military and household). Now it is the most common operating system for mobile devices (for example, in 2014 more than 80% of smartphones sold had the Android operating system).

In the fall of 2012, L. Page (executive director of Google) published statistics on the activation of more than 500 million mobile devices based on Android. To compare the speed of distribution of this OS - in the fall of 2013 it became known that more than 1 billion Android devices were activated on our planet.

The main competitor in the mobile segment at the moment is Apple with an expensive proprietary operating system called iOS. Like Apple, Google has its own Internet market, but it has not only paid, but also many free products, unlike its competitor, which sells its full-fledged programs most often for more than $ 0.

Store of programs (applications) "Google Play"

In the fall of 2008, Google presented an online store of programs (applications) for its OS - Andrоid Market. In terms of payment, developers receive about 70% of the profits, and the remaining 30% goes to operators providing access to the cellular network. As of January 2012, more than 10 billion applications have been downloaded since the launch of Android Market.

In the spring of 2012, the company combined its multimedia services, such as "Books", "Android Market", "Music" and others. "Google Play" appeared. The Google Play online store is used in more than 180 countries and has over half a million applications downloaded over 25 billion times.

Adroid advantages

Unlike iОS, Android is a free platform, which gives it the opportunity to implement more different functions and make itself more versatile with the help of firmware and patches from third-party programmers.

by default it has a restriction on installing programs from "unverified sources", but this ban can be easily deactivated in the device settings, which allows installation without an Internet connection, and also provides the ability to test personally written applications;
available for MIPS, ARM, x86;
multiplayer mode starting from Android 4.3

Criticism from the outside

some devices have Google services that allow you to transfer confidential information to the company;
the platform has excessive fragmentation, preventing programmers from creating applications without any problems;
due to the use of Java code, there is often a decrease in overall performance and increased power consumption of devices on Android
According to Lоkоut Security Mobile, in 2011, over 1 million US dollars were stolen from owners of Android smartphones (common methods: sending instant messages without the participation of the owner of the phone or calling a paid number).

It is interesting

the name of each version of Android 1.5+, represents a dessert, or rather its name. In this case, the first letters of the names are related to the letters of the Latin alphabet, following in order:
individual font sets were created for Android Drоid and Roboto;
In versions Android 4.2+ initially developer tools are disabled, to activate, you must press the release number seven times.
on the official sites from the moment of their launch to the present moment minimum specifications are not specifiedrequired to start the OS;
versions 2.3+ have easter eggto start it, go to "Settings - About device - Android version" and quickly click on this function 4 times, after which the animation will be displayed, and then the mini-game "Flаppy Bird" will open.

Which is now engaged in support and further development platforms. Android allows you to create Java applications that control the device through libraries developed by Google. It is also possible to write applications in C and other programming languages \u200b\u200bwith using Android Native Development Kit. The first device to work with androidwas launched on September 23, 2008 by HTC, and other manufacturers announced their intentions to launch Android devices. In addition, enthusiasts ported Android to a number of well-known devices, including: Nokia N810, HTC Touch smartphones , HTC TyTN II. There are also known cases of successful porting to computers with x86 architecture. A separate mention is the initiative of Koolu, which is engaged not only in porting Android to Neo FreeRunner, but is also building its business on the sale of these smartphones with a pre-installed Google mobile platform.

Alternative firmware developed by the open community

There is a community of enthusiasts developing completely open-source versions of Android firmware. CyanogenMod and VillainROM - famous examples firmware data.

delete from android device google services (for example, such as data synchronization) - to ensure the localization of user data only on the Android device - excluding the possibility of transmitting identification information (IMEI, phone number, GPS coordinates, etc.) to Google servers;
faster and more frequent (in comparison with the manufacturers of the devices themselves) provision of new versions of Android OS;
additions to Android firmware with new settings and functions. Ability to store downloaded applications on a MicroSD card (for Android versions up to 2.2), etc.

Some manufacturers of Android devices block flashing in hardware (for example, HTC), some do not block flashing in hardware (but nevertheless retain difficulties in flashing; for example, LG (for Android versions up to 2.2.1). And some manufacturers (Sony Ericsson in some models of devices) do everything so that an advanced user can not only install a different firmware, but also create his own (detailed instructions for replacing firmware are provided, software, documentation on the architecture of the software platform, the original firmware code, etc.). The risk associated with a possible breakdown of the phone during the unlocking process is transferred to the user, who, if the bootloader is unlocked, agrees to the terms indicating the early loss of the phone warranty (to restore the warranty, the official firmware must be reinstalled with an official flasher).

Android architecture

Linux Kernel Level

As you know, Android is based on a somewhat stripped-down Linux kernel, and therefore at this level we can see it (version 2.6.x). It provides system operation and is responsible for security, memory, power and process management, and provides a network stack and driver model.

Libraries level

A set of libraries (Libraries) designed to provide essential core functionality for applications. That is, it is this level that is responsible for providing the implemented algorithms for the higher levels, supporting file formats, encoding and decoding information (for example, multimedia codecs), rendering graphics, and much more. The libraries are implemented in C / C ++ and compiled for the specific hardware of the device, along with which they are supplied by the manufacturer in a pre-installed form.

Surface Manager - Android uses a composite window manager. Instead of rendering graphics directly to the display buffer, the system sends incoming drawing commands to the offscreen buffer, where they are accumulated together with others, making up a kind of composition, and then displayed to the user on the screen. This allows the system to create interesting seamless effects, window transparency, and smooth transitions.
Media Framework - libraries. With their help, the system can record and play audio and video content, as well as output static images. Many popular formats are supported, including MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, and PNG.
SQLite is a lightweight and powerful relational database management system used in Android as the main engine for working with databases used by applications to store information.
OpenGL ES (OpenGL for Embedded Systems) is a subset of the OpenGL graphical programming interface adapted to work on embedded systems.
FreeType is a library for working with bitmaps. It is a high quality font and text rendering engine.
WebKit is a browser engine library also used in the desktop browsers Google Chrome and Apple Safari.
SGL (Skia Graphics Engine) is an open source 2D graphics engine. The graphics library is a product of Google and is often used in other programs.
SSL - libraries for supporting the cryptographic protocol of the same name.
Libc is a standard C library, specifically its BSD implementation, configured to run on Linux devices. It is called Bionic.

At the same level is located Android Runtime - runtime environment.

Its key components are a set of kernel libraries and the Dalvik virtual machine. Libraries provide most of the low-level functionality available to core Java libraries.

Each Android application runs in its own instance of the Dalvik virtual machine. Thus, all running processes are isolated from the operating system and from each other. In general, the architecture of the Android Runtime is such that the work of programs is carried out strictly within the framework of the virtual machine environment. This protects the operating system kernel from possible harm on the part of its other components. Therefore, buggy code or malware will not be able to ruin Android and devices based on it when they work. This protective function, along with code execution, is one of the key to the Android Runtime add-on.

Application Framework layer

Android allows you to harness the full power of the API used in kernel applications. The architecture is built in such a way that any application can use the already implemented capabilities of another application, provided that the latter opens access to use its functionality. Thus, the architecture implements the principle of reusability of OS components and applications.

All applications are based on a set of systems and services:

A rich and extensible set of Views that can be used to create visual components of applications such as lists, text boxes, tables, buttons, or even an embedded web browser.
Content Providers, which manage the data that applications open for others to use for their work.
Resource Manager, which provides access to resources without functionality (not carrying code), for example, to string data, graphics, files, and others.
Notification Manager, thanks to which all applications can display their own notifications to the user in the status bar.
The Activity Manager, which manages the life cycles of applications, stores data about the history of working with activities, and also provides a navigation system for them.
Location Manager, which allows applications to periodically receive updated information about the current geographic location of the device.

The need for a new generation operating system for mobile devices arose at a time when the technology market began to actively fill tablet computers, smartphones, netbooks and similar gadgets.

Existing operating systems were poorly suited for devices of this kind, because many of them had touch screens... What was needed was an intuitive, simple and adaptive system that would be as easy to use as possible. It became the Android operating system. It fits perfectly with most smartphones and tablets. As of the second quarter of 2014, almost 86% of all mobile devices sold were powered by Android.
Linux was taken as the kernel for this operating system. Google developers felt that their own implementation of the Java virtual machine would be a great addition to the existing OS base. A key feature of Android is widgets. These are small programs, the interface of which is located directly on one of the OS desktops. Widgets have limited capabilities, but they are as easy to use as possible, which is why they are a huge advantage for Android. The system is fully adapted to sensory input of information.

Important features of Android

A huge number of standard applications are complemented by an incredible array of third-party applications that can be downloaded from Android Market... Many of them are free. By analogy with Linux-like OS, Android has a task manager, which is called by pressing a certain button on a mobile device. Speaking of buttons. There are very few of them on smartphones and tablets, so the developers of the operating system had to transfer the basic input functions to the device display.
Simplicity and intuitive clarity - these criteria were guided by the Android developers. Even a child can understand this OS. In addition to desktops, the owner of a smartphone can use a menu with applications and settings. The list of contacts, buttons for entering the call and correspondence mode via SMS are located separately.
The Android OS is open to outside developers. The source code is freely available, so everyone can start creating applications for this operating system.

The history of the development of the Android operating system

A small company Android Inc started developing the future OS back in 2004. A year later, she was. In the fall of 2007, a brand new OS for mobile devices was announced. A few days later, the Android SDK was presented to the world community.
Almost a year later, the first version of Android was released. Of course, at that time it was still raw, so the developers had to urgently fix bugs discovered by users. In the future, they became less and less, and the updates concerned mainly new functions added to the system.
The second version of the OS was presented at the end of 2009, the third - two years later. It was primarily aimed at tablets, because previous versions of the operating system were installed mainly on smartphones. Android 4.0 has become universal for both tablet computers and mobile phones. At the moment 5.0 “Lollipop” is considered the current version of the OS. It was released on October 15, 2014.

The closest competitors of the Android OS

The main competitors of Android in the OS market for mobile devices are iOS from Apple and Windows Phone from Microsoft. Lesser known operating systems can also be named. For example, the Tizen OS could become the dominant smartwatch platform. Android has a ton of useful qualities. The system is convenient for web surfing. The platform is open, and its source published in the public domain. This allows developers to implement more features. Don't forget about the constantly growing list of applications. They are posted not only on the Android Market, but also on other services.
Mobile devices running Android support microSD cards. This gives the OS a clear advantage over its main competitor, Apple's iOS. A lot of work has been done regarding the implementation of the Bluetooth stack as well. On iOS, there is no such feature at all, but on Windows Phone it is limited. Android devices allow you to create wifi hotspot access. There is even support for multiplayer mode. Other operating systems cannot boast of this.

The first device on which the Android OS was installed was the product. It happened in 2008. After that, mobile phones almost without exception began to be produced with this operating system. As already mentioned, today the market share of Android devices is about 86%. Among.
Android is being actively implemented in various gadgets. So in 2009, a photo frame based on this platform appeared on the market. Two years later, the release of "smart watches" of the Blue Sky brand was announced, which also received Android as an OS. The system is integrated into the Nexus Q media player.

What is Android and why is it needed? Many beginners, buying a modern gadget, be it a tablet or a smartphone, ask a similar question. It is worth clarifying the situation and highlighting some of the advantages of this platform.

History of appearance

Today there are many devices that run on the Android platform. This operating system is designed for smartphones and tablets, wristwatches and e-books, game consoles and even Google glasses. Perhaps, TVs and cars with Android support will appear soon.

The history of the creation of the OS began back in 2003. At that time, a small organization called Android inc was founded. Its founders were Rich Miner, Chris White, Andy Rubin and Nick Sears. Even then, there were some developments that were planned to be implemented in a new operating system. The company operated in the strictest secrecy.

Soon, the organization ran out of money, and there were no significant achievements in OS development. It was not possible to attract investors due to the lack of results. After a while, Google became interested in the development. In 2005, the company became the property of the search giant.

Following this, the Open Handset Alliance Corporation was founded. It includes the leading manufacturers of mobile devices. In 2007, the Android platform was first introduced. As you know, it is based on the Linux kernel. The first version of this operating system was released in 2008.

What it is

Android is the operating system that smartphones, tablets, and many other devices run on. Thanks to this OS, even the most inexpensive phone can acquire new features. The system will allow you to install various useful programsto help you make full use of all the device's functions.

All necessary software can be downloaded from Play Market... This site contains more than 700 thousand programs. A wide range will allow you to find any application you need. Using the operating system, you can easily access the Internet, watch video files, chat on social networks, listen to music, take photos and immediately post them to your account or read e-books.

It should be noted that the OS is completely free. Moreover, it is very easy to use. It doesn't take long to understand the interface. Thanks to all its advantages, it has become the most widespread in the world. In 2014, more than 86% of devices operating on this platform were sold.

Video: Android phone

OS Application

Since the advent of the Android operating system to our time, developers have not been sitting idly by. The platform is constantly being improved. At the same time, its functionality is expanding by introducing new features.

Photo: Android 4.0 is the latest mobile version

The platform has become so popular and comfortable to use that many companies that develop modern gadgets have decided to release their devices based on this OS.

Using Android is not as difficult as it seems. With its help, you can perform almost the same actions on the device as on a computer.

The system provides several standard applications. Among them are:

browser;
email;
the calendar;
voice search;
social network;
navigator;
weather;
news.

All apps from Google.

Another nice plus is the ability to customize your desktop yourself. You can add an additional screen to your device where you can place shortcuts or widgets. You can also set any theme or wallpaper you like, thereby modifying the interface.

What is good

This OS has several advantages. The main ones are:

Android development stages

After the presentation of the first version of the platform over the next year, it was being finalized, as a result of which some system errors were fixed.

In 2009, five updated versions were presented:

2010 was marked by the release of two more versions. They are:

The next development of the manufacturers was the 3.0 platform, which was presented in 2011. The new OS was specifically designed for tablets.

This system differs from the previous ones:

improved interface;
the ability to synchronize links with Google Chrome;
support for an external keyboard;
it is now possible to resize widgets on the screen;
work on a multi-core processor.

The developers did not stop there and created Android 4.0, which was named "Ice Cream Sandwich". This platform has become more versatile. It can be used in both a phone and a tablet.

Photo: Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich"

The OS has a lot of new features and improvements:

the notification panel has been changed;
added a way to control Internet traffic;
there was a function of voice dictating text;
spell checking system;
the application for the camera has been improved - there is a panoramic shooting mode, various effects and an image stabilizer;
the browser has been updated;
support for screenshots;
updated security and protection system of the gadget.

During 2012 and 2013, manufacturers worked on the development of the "Jelly Bean" OS.

The next versions were 4.1, 4.2, 4.3. The new changes mainly concerned the speed of the interface. Thanks to new developments, productivity has been increased. Now the GPU and the central one are running in parallel.

The updated version of the platform includes:

At the end of 2013, another version of Android 4.4 "Kitkat" was announced. The new platform has been optimized to run on cheaper devices that have rAM 512 MB.

There are also some changes here:

now in smartphones the contacts with which the user communicates more often are located at the top of the list;
the voice assistant is constantly active;
automatic caller ID;
subtitles are now displayed in the video player;
the file loader has an updated design;
support for pedometer applications;
numerous bugs and shortcomings were fixed.

The latest development of the company was version 5. The new OS is called "Lollipop". The main highlight was the Material design, which is distinguished by its versatility.

Competitors

The main competitors with which the Android platform has to fight for the palm are:

Apple iPhoneOS;
Microsoft Windows Mobile;
RIM BlackBerry OS;
Maemo / MeeGo;
Samsung Bada OS;
Palm webOS;
Symbian OS.

Today Android has become the most widespread mobile platform in the world than iOS. However, a presentation of the new Ubuntu Phone OS is planned soon. Perhaps it will become another serious competitor to Android.

Android Devices

In 2008, the first Android-based device was released. The device was developed by HTC. It was a smartphone called HTC Dream. After that, several more phone manufacturers expressed their desire to release mobile devices with support for this operating system.

An Android tablet was announced soon after. In 2009, a photo frame appeared on the market that runs on this OS. In addition, after 2 years the Blue Sky organization has developed a new wrist watch called i'm Watch. They also support this system.

Camera manufacturers have also decided to keep up with the introduction of the world's first camera that runs on Android. The novelty was released by Nikon. In addition, game consoles, e-books and media players operate on this platform. It is assumed that some more devices will appear soon.