Android is the operating system designed for the mobile platform which is based on Linux operating system. Now a day’s, it is also used to develop android application for the tablet. For application development, It is most similar to java language.
Google describes Android as:
The first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices, all of the software to run a mobile phone but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation.
Android Application development.
For developing application for android mobile, we need to have knowledge of Java programming and some of XML.
Android platform is supports to VGA, SVGA, 2D graphics library, 3D graphics library and also traditional smartphone layouts.
- Data Storage
For storing relational data in android mobile, android provide SQLite which is the lightweight database.
SQLite Database used in Android Application Development
Each application developed in android will have secure file access feature so that other application can not make use of application data without permission.
- Connectivity with other devices.
Android supports connectivity with other device using technologies like GSM/EDGE, CDMA, UMTS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX.
- Java support (Dalvik Run Time Machine)
While most Android applications are written in Java, there is no Java Virtual Machine in the platform and Java byte code is not executed. Java classes are compiled into Dalvik executables and run on Dalvik, a specialized virtual machine designed specifically for Android and optimized for battery-powered mobile devices with limited memory and CPU.
- File Format
3GP or MP4, MP3, WAV, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP etc. are the file format supported by android.
- Video calling
One of the most exciting features of android mobile is video calling via the UMTS network. Video calling through Google Talk is available in Android 2.3.4 and later.
Multitasking of applications, with the unique handling of memory allocation, is available.
Android Architectures will have following Layers
- 1) Application Layer
Implemented with Java and Dalvik Virtual Machine
- 2) Application Framework
Implemented with Java
- 3) Libraries
Implemented with C and C++
- 4) Linux Kernel
Hardware and File System
Android Mobile Version:-
Following chart show android OS version, it’s API Level and current distribution.
|2.3 – 2.3.2||Gingerbread||9||0.3%|
|2.3.3 – 2.3.7||10||60.3%|
|4.0 – 4.0.2||Ice Cream Sandwich||14||0.1%|
|4.0.3 – 4.0.4||15||
Table: Android Version and it’s API Level
Full android web application Tutorial:-