The Android Library
About Android:
- What is Android?
- Android is an operating system that has been designed as open source.
- What does open source mean?
- Open source means that the Android operating system is available for free and anyone can use and develop new applications that will work with the operating system. Normally, for companies like Microsoft and Apple, the operating systems that they develop are owned and licensed by the company and for a manufacturer to use the operating system they must pay a license fee to the company that developed it.
- Android was designed in the beginning for mobile type devices, so any device that relies on Internet connection to work -- that could be through WIFI or Mobile Phone Connection.
- The Android OS is loosely based on Linux which is also similar to the underlying Operating System Apple uses, they are both Unix type file systems.
- Why Linux/Unix? We all know that Microsoft Windows is still the dominant Operating System with the largest number of applications and is designed for anybody and everybody to use with ease, but because of it's dominance and because of some inherent problems the Hackers/Spammers have concentrated on writing viruses which can wreck your system or attempt to steal personal information, etc. We also know that in general Apple systems have less problems because the underlying Unix system is harder to hack (Not impossible). Does this mean that Android will be 100% safe? No, but it should offer some degree of protection.
- What does Google have to do with all of this?
- Google bought Android Inc. who were the original developer of Android and worked with the original developers to integrate in some very important core mobile applications including Internet Search and browser, Google Maps, Google Voice, Google Goggles, GPS, flash and Voice Search.
Android Powered Devices:
The Android powered Mobile Phones, Tablets, Netbooks, and Television Sets are the latest entry in the market for smart devices which provide much more than just being able to make phone calls or send text messages.
- Smartphones
- Provide the interface and technology to harness the power of the Internet on a small hand held mobile device. This allows you to surf the Internet, answer E-Mail, use GPS Location, local maps and directions, play videos and music, or take photos with a built-in camera. The market was dominated by two major players, the Apple iPhone and Blackberry, but Android powered phones are outselling them already.
- Tablets
- As the technology for touch based screens has evolved, the cost has decreased significantly and the number and range of applications available has increased. Tablets offer a new generation of devices that are cheap, low power usage, WI-FI enabled, easy to use, and versatile.
- Netbooks
- Netbooks have become redundant in many ways because more advanced tablets can function in the same way as a netbook.
- Television Devices
- As the Internet access speeds continue to improve and people want to use high quality large screens to watch movies, play computer games, watch online TV, and Youtube videos, there will be more of a demand for WI-FI enabled television sets and TV box sets. In the future, a new generation of WI-FI enabled television would presumably allow you to do nearly everything that you can do on a computer, such as visit websites, use social networking applications like Facebook, listen to music, and much more.
- In-Car Smart Devices
- We have not seen Android move into this yet but it seems an obvious extension because of its cost to car makers ( OS costs nothing ) and the potential uses and benefits to drivers, Just think of the ads you see on TV for Fords/Microsoft Sync.
- Android Powered Home Devices
- Just a short few years ago this was the stuff of Science Fiction, but now is a reality. Apple iPhone will control your garage doors, turn lights on, and much more, but you would need all your home devices to be Apple enabled. As I have said before, the difference between companies like Apple and Microsoft compared with Android is there is no license cost to manufactures to embed Android into home devices (just think of most modern fridges and many other home devices they already have some form of digital electronics/computer built in). The cost to change to Android powered will not be that significant.
As new devices become available we will attempt to look at each new device and provide information. It should be remembered that the choice of any Android Powered Mobile device will be defined as much by the power, design, and functionality as by the best provider of service where you live or travel. Just 12 months ago Sprint and AT&T were not usable in the area where I live but the Sprint service is now great, so always find preferred service provider before deciding on your Android device.
No Such Thing as a Free Lunch:
As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. This saying applies to mobile devices as well as everything else and this applies to Android. In comparison to other mobile devices, Android devices come with free GPS, Maps, Voice, and other applications. These were applications that we would have had to pay extra for the application or usage on other mobile devices. Google gave away very important applications that are core to mobile usage and in order for this to be free, we must allow Google to embed advertisements.
This sentiment applies to other free applications as well. Some companies may provide useful application for free, but will advertise their company at the same time, for example, an insurance company might provide an useful driving application for free but will advertise their company within it.
Android Applications:
Our Android Applications will only include the Best-In-Class free and commercial applications, but there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of other applications available. The criteria we will use to evaluate the applications will be the ease of use, cost, and usefulness. Some examples of applications that are free for download include Pac-Man, Twitter, The Weather Channel, and Compass.
Choosing Your Device Provider and Plan:
- What should you consider when choosing your provider?
- Cost (including how many free minutes)
- Additional Costs (for texting and data plans)
- Applications that are built into the device
- The Size of the Data Plan (how much data can you use)
- If the Applications you want are available on the device you choose
- If there are Limitations on where you can Download applications
- Cost of Applications (including usage)
- Cost of Add-ons or Accessories
The cost of the device and cost of the usage plans can vary between providers, it is always best to consider all options and plans and find the one that fits your needs. If you know that you will barely make phone calls, then consider plans that only include texting or data. But if you know you will be constantly using all of your device's features then it might be better to consider an unlimited plan. Remember to find a provider that has strong coverage in the area where you will be using your device. Keep in mind that many service providers are changing their data plans to a tiered service and even some heavy users of unlimited plans have had their connection speeds severely throttled.
Apple iPhone and Android Phone Comparison:
These are a few things to consider when comparing Android and Apple devices.
- Basic Cost
- Depending on the model of Android-powered phone and how new the iPhone is, the price can be very similar. Older models could cost around $99.00 while newer models can cost up to $199.00 or more for both Android and iPhone. The costs are similar between tablets and the iPad as well, ranging from around $400.00 to $900.00. The cost of a tablet can also vary depending on whether or not you choose to have a data plan with your tablet or buy a wi-fi only tablet.
- Functionality
- While many people argue that the looks of the iPhone are superior to most Android phones, many Android phones have comparable features like video, cameras, and memory. One important note is that the Apple iPhone does not allow users to run Flash applications. Flash is used in many applications on the internet for example, many free games require Flash. Apple does this so that the user has to buy the games from their app store, however, blocking Flash is also a way to prevent some viruses and security problems.
- Plans
- When comparing Android phones and the iPhone, it is most important to remember that the iPhone is only available for two service providers, AT&T and Verizon, whereas Android phones are available for most service providers including many pay-as-you-go options like Boost and Virgin Mobile. There can also be hidden costs in running certain applications for the iPhone, for example, to use GPS it would cost extra.
- Applications Available
- Currently the Android Market and iTunes App Store are very close in the number of apps and games that are provided. The iPhone App Store offers a more advanced and controlled selection of applications, which is better for consumer protection, however, many of the applications for the iPhone are quite expensive as a result. The Android Market provides a greater range of applications usually for better prices, but since there is less control over what applications can be submitted there is a greater risk of viruses and privacy breaches. Android applications are growing in size, quality, and range and quickly catching up to the Apple App Store.
- Downloading Applications
- Like everything in life, there are two sides to this subject. Apple insists that the user buys or downloads all applications through their store (providing an important revenue stream for them), but this also offers the consumer an important service: all applications are checked for problems before they can be installed to the phone. This offers an important form of protection against malware, but it also provides Apple an opportunity to block applications (some useful) that could interfere with their revenue stream.
- The Writer's Personal Opinion
- Although Apple provides great functionality, design, and application services for their products the iPhone and iPad, Android-powered devices are preferable because they are not so strictly controlled by Google and can provide a multitude of useful services for a cheaper price or for free. Despite this opinion, both types of devices are useful and one must always base their decision on which item fits their needs better.
