Android, the newest operating system for a mobile platform, is the latest in mobile communication. The Android operating system is based on the Linux kernel, and involves native program or source code writing in the Java programming language, which also includes, middleware and even a number of key applications. The numerous features of the Android operating system include the following: Multi-touch features, an Android Market, an Environment for development (which includes tools for debugging and enhancing performance, and various plugins), Additional support for hardware, Java operating system support, Media support (Android supports a large number of file formats), amazing storage, connectivity, and other facilities.
The Android operating system is indeed well equipped. It supports all networking technologies that are available including GSM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, CDMA, UMTS, EDGE, and many others. In addition the above mentioned features, the Android operating system also boasts of a Dalvik virtual machine, SQLite for storage of data in an orderly manner, optimized graphics, an integrated web browser, application framework features, media support, and many more incredible features. The Android operating system is divided into a hierarchy of levels of applications, and application framework. The various layers of the Android operating system include the following: APPLICATIONS- Home, Contacts, Phone, Browser; APPLICATION FRAMEWORK- Activity Manager, Window Manager, Content Providers, View System, Package Manager, Telephony Manager, Resource Manager, Location Manager, Notification Manager; LIBRARIES- Surface Manager, Media Framework, Open GL/ES, SQLite, FreeType, WebKit, SGL, SSL, libc; ANDROID RUNTIME- Core Libraries, Dalvik Virtual Machine; and finally the LINUX KERNEL- Display driver, Camera driver, Flash Memory Driver, Binder (IPC) Driver, Keypad Driver, Wi-Fi driver, Audio Drivers, and Power Management.
Android enabled phones are by default equipped with a number of useful applications like an SMS client, a web browser, an electronic mail client, maps, GPS, Calendar, Contacts and others. All the applications are written using the Java programming language. The most unique features of the Android operating system are the Application Framework, Android Runtime, Linux Kernel and Libraries.
The Android operating system has been provided with an open development platform which software developers can use to access the Android operating system framework, and develop software using the same. Software developers have access to the Android operating system, to create inventive and unique applications which could come of use to the users of the Android operating system, on their smart-phones. Software developers are given free rein to use the device hardware, run background checks, access local services, gather information, put in notifications and much more. Android also has a number of C/C++ libraries like System C library, Media Libraries, Surface Manager, LibWebCore, SGL, 3-d Libraries, FreeType and SQLite. These libraries provide most of the native code of the Java programming language libraries. Finally, the Linux kernel of the Android operating system acts a bridge between the hardware and software. The Linux kernel version 2.6 provides core system security that is a very important part of the Android operating system. Security is provided by the Virus Guard security system of the Android operating system. Since providing security is one of the major concerns of an operating system, thus the security system of the Android operating system is the best there is.
