Android is a mobile operating system for cell phones, Web Tablets, netbooks and some eBook Readers. It is built on top of an Linux kernel.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Versions 2.1 Cupcake (V1.5) 2.2 Donut (V1.6) 2.3 Eclair (V2.0 and 2.1) 2.4 Froyo (V2.2) 2.5 Gingerbread (V2.3) 2.6 Honeycomb (V3.0) 2.7 V3.1 2.8 V3.2 2.9 Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) 3 Applications 3.1 eBook Reading 3.2 sources for apps 4 Emulator 5 For more information

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[edit] Overview

Google originally developed the OS and turned it over to the Open Handset Alliance. It allows developers to write managed code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.

This is an open source operating system that focuses on the Internet exploiting features like cloud computing. It runs on ARM, MIPS as well as X86 processors. Developers can use the Android + Tegra powered SDK for Nvidia graphics hardware.

[edit] Versions

Unfortunately many of the hardware releases are not supported with updates so there is a wide variety of versions in the customer base. There seems to be a split in V2 and V3 where V2 continues to be developed for small screen devices such as smartphones and small tablets up to about 7" screens and V3 is targeted at larger screen Web Tablets. The code names are in alphabetical order (Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, and the future version, Ice Cream Sandwich).

[edit] Cupcake (V1.5)

April 30, 2009 marked the official Cupcake release.

• Virtual keyboard: Support for 3rd party keyboards with text prediction & user dictionary for custom words
• Widgets: Are miniature application views that can be embedded in other applications (such as the Home screen) and receive periodic updates[15]
• Camera: Video recording
• Gallery: Video playback (MPEG-4 & 3GP formats)
• Bluetooth: Stereo support added (A2DP and AVRCP profiles), Auto-pairing
• Browser: Copy and paste features added
• Contacts: Shows user picture for Favorites
• Dialer: Specific date/time stamp for events in call log and one-touch access to a contact card from call log event
• System: Animated screen transitions
• Upload videos to YouTube
• Upload photos on Picasa

[edit] Donut (V1.6)

September 15, 2009 Donut SDK was released.

• Search: Voice Search & text entry search enhanced to include bookmarks & history, contacts, the web, and more
• Search: Developers can now include their content in search results
• Text to speech: Features a multi-lingual speech synthesis engine to allow any Android application to "speak" a string of text
• Android Market: Allows easier searching, app screenshots, etc.
• Camera, camcorder, and Gallery: Updated integrated with faster camera access
• Gallery: Now enables users to select multiple photos for deletion
• System: Updated technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPNs, and a text-to-speech engine
• Display: Support for WVGA screen resolutions
• Speed improvements in searching and camera applications
• Expanded Gesture framework and new GestureBuilder development tool
• Google free turn-by-turn navigation

[edit] Eclair (V2.0 and 2.1)

October 26, 2009 Eclair 2.0 was released.

• Sync: Expanded Account sync. Multiple accounts can be added to a device for email and contact synchronization
• Email: Exchange support, Combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page.
• Bluetooth: 2.1 support
• Contacts: Tap a contact photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person.
• Messaging: Search all saved SMS and MMS messages. Auto delete oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is reached.
• Camera: Flash support, Digital zoom, Scene mode, White balance, Color effect, Macro focus
• Virtual keyboard: Improved typing speed, smarter dictionary learns from word usage and includes contact names as suggestions.
• Browser: Refreshed UI, Bookmark thumbnails, Double-tap zoom, Support for HTML5
• Calendar: Agenda view enhanced, Attending status for each invitee, Invite new guests to events.
• System: Optimized hardware speed, Revamped UI
• Display: Support for more screen sizes and resolutions, Better contrast ratio
• Maps: Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
• MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events
• Live Wallpapers: Home screen background images can be animated to show movement

V2.1 was API changes and bug fixes and was released on January 12, 2010

[edit] Froyo (V2.2)

Android 2.2 offers a handful of new features and benefits such as faster web browsing, simple app launching and updating, and a completely more intuitive experience through Google's impressive services.

Features include:

• Improvement in JavaScript loading
• Better overall performance of Android OS
• USB and Wi-Fi Internet Tethering
• Microsoft Exchange integration
• New and improved browser
• Compass support for Google Maps
• Improved Google Voice Search, recognizes long and complicated
• High Density screen support such as 720p on a 4" screen.

[edit] Gingerbread (V2.3)

Released December 6, 2010 and is the current version as of July 2011. It has more intuitive text input and better power management.

• Display: Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher)
• Internet calling: Native support for SIP VoIP telephony
• Virtual Keyboard: Faster, more intuitive text input, improved accuracy, better suggested text.
• Voice input mode
• Copy/Paste: Enhanced. Select a word by press-hold, copy, and paste
• Near Field Communication lets the user read an NFC tag embedded in a poster, sticker, or advertisement
• New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost
• New Download Manager giving users easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email, or another application
• Camera: Access multiple cameras on the device, including a front-facing camera, if available
• Media: Support for WebM/VP8 video playback, and AAC audio encoding
• System: Improved power management with a more active role in managing apps that are keeping the device awake for too long
• System: Enhanced support for native code development
• System: Switched from YAFFS to ext4 on newer devices
• Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers
• Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance
• Native support for more sensors (such as gyroscopes and barometers)

[edit] Honeycomb (V3.0)

Honeycomb (version 3.0), just like other versions of Android, is a modern Linux-based OS which uses the Dalvik virtual machine to run code similar to Java apps. It supports multitasking and just-in-time compilation, and generally has good memory management. It is designed specifically for touchscreen Web Tablets. It was released on February 22, 2011

• Optimized tablet support with a new virtual and “holographic” user interface
• System Bar: Quick access to notifications, status, and soft navigation buttons available at the bottom of the screen
• Action Bar: Access to contextual options, navigation, widgets, or other types of content at the top of the screen
• Multitasking: Tap Recent Apps in the System Bar, to see snapshots of the tasks underway and quickly jump from one app to another
• Redesigned keyboard: To make entering text fast and accurate on larger screen sizes with greater accuracy and efficiency
• Copy/Paste: Simplified, more intuitive
• Browser: Multiple tabs replace browser windows, form auto-fill, and a new “incognito” mode allows anonymous browsing
• Camera: Quick access to exposure, focus, flash, zoom, front-facing camera, time-lapse, and more
• Gallery: View albums and other collections in full-screen mode, with easy access to thumbnails for other photos
• Contacts: New two-pane UI and Fast Scroll to let users easily organize and locate contacts
• Email: New two-pane UI to make viewing and organizing messages more efficient. The app lets users select one or more messages
• Support for video chat using Google Talk
• Hardware acceleration
• Support for multi-core processors

[edit] V3.1

This version was released May 10, 2011 and is the current version as of July 2011. It adds a few user interface refinements and USB connectivity for accessories such as keyboards, mice, joysticks, and gamepads. It also improves the Wi-Fi robustness and updates many of the standard applications such as the browser.

• UI refinements
• Connectivity for USB accessories
• Expanded Recent Apps list
• Resizable Home screen widgets
• Support for external keyboards and pointing devices
• Support for joysticks and gamepads
• Media: Support for FLAC
• High-performance Wi-Fi lock maintains high-performance Wi-Fi connections when device screen is off
• Support for HTTP proxy for each connected Wi-Fi access point

[edit] V3.2

Released July 15, 2011

• Improved hardware support, including optimisations for a wider range of tablets
• Easier access for apps to files on the SD card, e.g. for synchronization
• Compatibility display mode for apps that have not yet been optimized for tablet screen resolutions
• New display support functions that give developers more control over the look and feel on different Android devices.

[edit] Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0)

Scheduled for Q4 2011 to integrate Honeycomb and Gingerbread.

[edit] Applications

Android applications, apps, are sometimes downloadable from the Internet and will have an APK extension. Even eBooks will often have this extension. Most of the time you will need a market app to download the file.

[edit] eBook Reading

Applications specific to eBook reading include (in alphabetical order):

• Aldiko Book Reader
• And Bible
• CadreBible
• Cool Reader
• FBReader
• Google Books
• iQuran
• Kindle Reading Apps
• Kobo
• Mantano Reader
• nook app
• Soc.io eReader
• Wattpad

There are lots more: See eBook software#Android

[edit] sources for apps

If your unit has Android Market preloaded you are likely to get Most of your apps from there. Google, supplies Android Market, also called an app store to select top of the line fully featured units. However many Tablets and phones do not include the Android Market app so here is a list of other sources of app stores with some comments:

• A list of free apps is available from http://www.freewarelovers.com/android. They also have some apps for older releases which can be very important if you hardware doesn't have a current version available. These are dependent on user uploads. You download .apk files to move to your device and install. There is no app store or manager application.
• http://www.appslib.com is a site that actually verifies some of the apps and has a large collection. Appslib will only work for certain manufacturers. See the site for the list of partners.
• Google Market Android has its own set of limitations but it is based on capabilities of the device. Only devices with a GPS and a camera can qualify to install Google Market from the factory, although some hackers have added it to custom built firmware. It cannot be downloaded and installed like an app. Thus it is only for full featured device makers who are working with Google.
• Amazon Appstore for Android also has a apps for its apps manager. It does not work well on an Archos 7 (bug submitted) but will work on many devices. It is very restrictive. Every app you get from them is locked to the actual Amazon market app manager. If you uninstall that app all the previous downloads will no longer run as they always check every time they are started.
• Appolicious App Directory. This is not an app store but is a reference store identifying and reviewing apps. It is a good store to help find apps. It will redirect downloads to Google Market, so it only really works if you have Google Market.
• Samsung apps. The app store is preinstalled on Samsung devices. It is being rolled out country by country. There is a pc download tool as well.
• Soc io Mall - A mall for Android, includes apps, books, music. This is a brand new promising source for downloads.
• Handango has apps for Android and lots of other portable platforms. They have been around for years.
• Slidme.org - A community and market app site. You can direct download apk files for sideloading.
• AndBot - Apps & Games, News & Reviews - The source for all things Android.
• Camangimarket - Download the market app for access or download directly. An account is required.
• GetJar.com - free apps. Pick your device. Download from http://m.getjar.com Not all apps work on Android.
• Panda Apps - Android apps click to download.
• Curvefish - some apps reference Android market but if there is a download link then it is a direct download, shift click it.
• Applbrain - can install from the device itself using this App.
• Tablified - points to android market for downloads but it useful to identify apps that are targeted at Tablets instead of phones.

[edit] Emulator

There is an emulator available from http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/emulator.html that can be used during development of an App or to run one on your PC.

[edit] For more information

• Wikpedia article
• http://www.android.com - official site
• Google projects for Android
• Web Tablet includes tablets that run Android.
• PCMag review of Honeycomb.
• CyanogenMod a third party aftermarket addon OS