Android is an open-source mobile operating system that powers hundreds of millions of devices. This includes smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other wearable devices. Its code is based on Linux, a free and open-source software platform.
In the beginning, Android was developed as an operating system for digital cameras. But as the iPhone became popular, the team turned its attention to phones. After Google bought the company in 2005, they redesigned the software for the touchscreens of smartphones.
Android has since evolved into a full-featured operating system for touch-screen mobile devices. The Android Platform provides support for messaging services, web browsing, and storage.
With Android, manufacturers can create custom software that lives on top of the Android OS. They can create apps and widgets that update automatically, and users can select themes for their home screens through third-party apps on Google Play.
Android has been available for years, but many new versions are currently in the works. As Android’s popularity increases, manufacturers continue to develop and release newer versions. Some of the latest versions include Android Q, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Pie.
Android was initially released under the Apache v2 open source license. Its core code is based on the Linux kernel. Each version of Android has been released with incremental changes. However, it’s important to note that some features of the OS are not open source.
Although Android is a powerful operating system, it’s susceptible to viruses and malware. It’s also easy to pirate.
