Unit 01

Android and its tools

Introduction to Android

 The Android operating system is most frequently used on different mobile

platforms around the world. It is occupied approximately 75% of shares in the
worldwide market by the end of 2020.
 Android is a mobile operating system (32-bit and 64-bit) based on a modified
version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software, designed primarily
for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
 A company like Open Handset Alliance has developed the first Android that
depends on the customized version of the Linux kernel as well as other open-
source software.
 At the initial stage of 2005, Google sponsored the project & it obtained the
entire company.
 In September 2008, the first Android device was released in the market.
 Android is a Linux-based operating system, it is designed primarily for touch
screens mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers.

Android Versions
The different android versions from the beginning to the present are mentioned
below from 1.0 to 2.0.

Android Versions from 1.0 – The first Android version like 1.0 was released
1.1 in the year 2008 but it didn’t have any
codename.
Android Version – 1.5 In the year 2009, the 1.5 android version was
released which is named Cupcake.
Android Version – 1.6 The Android version – 1.6 was released in the
year 2009 which is called Donut. The ability of
this version is, it operates on different screen
sizes as well as resolutions.
Android Versions from 2.0 – Éclair 2.0 version was released after six weeks
2.1 of the Donut version.
Android Version – 2.2 After four months of 2.1version invention, the
Android 2.2 version was released which is
called Froyo.
Android Version 2.3 The first true visual identity of Android version
2.3 was released in the year 2010 namely
Gingerbread
Android Version from 3.0 – 3.2 In the year 2011, the versions from 3.0 – 3.2
were released which is named Honeycomb
Android Version 4.0 Android 4.0 was released in the year 2011
which is called Ice Cream Sandwich.
Android Versions 4.1 – 4.3 Android Versions 4.1 to 4.3 were released
between 2012 to 2013 which is called Jelly
Bean.
Android Version 4.4 Android Version 4.4 was released in Late-
2013’s which is called KitKat.
Android 5.0 The version of Android 5.0 was launched in the
year 2014, Nov in the Nexus 6 device which is
called Lollipop
Android 5.1 This version of Android 5.1 was released in
March 2015 called Lollipop
Android 6.0 Android 6.0 Version like Marshmallow was
released in Oct 2015.
Android 7.0 Android 7.0 version was released by Google in
Aug 2016 called Nougat.
Android 7.1, 7.1.1 & 7.1.2 Android 7.1 version was released in Oct 2016,
Nougat called Nougat
Android 8.0 Android 8.0 version was released in Aug 2017
called Oreo.
Android 8.1.0 Android 8.1.0 version was released in Dec
2017, called Oreo
Android Version 9 Pie Android version 9 Pie was released in Aug
2018
Android Version 10 Android version 10 was launched in September
2019
Android Version 11 Android version 11 was released recently on
September 8th, 2020

Open Handset Alliance (OHA)

 The Open Handset Alliance (OHA) is a business alliance that was created for the
purpose of developing open mobile device standards.
 The OHA has approximately 80 member companies, including HTC, Dell, Intel,
Motorola, Qualcomm and Google.
 The OHA's main product is the Android platform - the world's most popular
smartphone platform.
 The OHA was established on 5 November 2007, led by Google with 34 members,
including mobile handset makers, application developers, some mobile carriers
and chip makers.
OHA member companies back the open platform concept for a number of reasons, as
follows:

 Lower overall handset costs: Opens up resources, which facilitates the focus
on creating innovative applications, solutions and services.
 Developer-friendly environment: In the open-source community, developers
share notes to expedite application development.
 Post-development: Provides an ideal channel for application marketing and
distribution.

Android Ecosystem

 Ecosystem in Market terminology refers to the inter-dependence between

demand and supply.
 In the Android ecosystem this translates to inter-dependence between users,
developers, and equipment makers. One cannot exist without the other:
 Google develops android
 Users buy devices and applications
 Original Equipment makers sell devices, sometimes bundled with applications
 Developers buy devices, then make and sell applications
 Freelance Android Developer developers have the skills to contribute to the
ecosystem for android development , they are who creates their own applications
and published them on googles play store.

Features of Android
1) Near Field Communication (NFC)
Most Android devices support NFC, which allows electronic devices to easily interact
across short distances.

2) Alternate Keyboards

Android supports multiple keyboards and makes them easy to install; the SwiftKey,
Skype, and 8pen apps all offer ways to quickly change up your keyboard style.

3) Infrared Transmission

The Android operating system supports a built-in infrared transmitter, allowing you to
use your phone or tablet as a remote control.

4) No-Touch Control

Using Android apps such as Wave Control, users can control their phones touch-free,
using only gestures.

5) Automation

The Tasker app controls the app permissions but also automate them. Do you only
want your location services to be active during the day? Want to create a customized
way to start your music—for example, with a voice command and at a certain
volume? Tasker can help.

6) Wireless App Downloads

Using the Android Market or third-party options like AppBrain, we can download
apps on PC and then automatically sync them with Android, no plugging required.

7) Storage and Battery Swap

Android phones also have unique hardware capabilities. Google’s OS makes it

possible to remove and upgrade your battery or to replace one that no longer holds a
charge. In addition, Android phones come with SD card slots for expandable storage.

8) Custom Home Screens

While it’s possible to hack certain phones to customize the home screen, Android
comes with this capability from the get-go. Download a third-party launcher like
Nova, Apex or Slide and you can add gestures, new shortcuts, or even performance
enhancements for older-model devices.

9) Widgets

Apps are versatile, but sometimes you want information at a glance instead of having
to open an app and wait for it to load. Android widgets let you display just about any
feature you choose, right on the home screen—including weather apps, music
widgets, or productivity tools that helpfully remind you of upcoming meetings or
approaching deadlines.
Need of Android
Zero/negligible development cost

The development tools like Android SDK, JDK, and Eclipse IDE etc. are free to
download for the android mobile application development.

Open Source

The Android OS is an open-source platform based on the Linux kernel and multiple
open-source libraries. In this way developers are free to contribute or extend the
platform as necessary for building mobile apps which run on Android devices.

Multi-Platform Support

In market, there are a wide range of hardware devices powered by the Android OS,
including many different phones and tablet. Even development of android mobile
apps can occur on Windows, Mac OS or Linux.

Multi-Carrier Support

World wide a large number of telecom carriers like Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular,
AT&T Mobility, BSNL etc. are supporting Android powered phones.

Open Distribution Model

Android Market place (Google Play store) has very few restrictions on the content or
functionality of an android app. So the developer can distribute theirs app through
Google Play store and as well other distribution channels like Amazon’s app store.

Android Architecture

The main components of android architecture are following:-

 Applications
 Application Framework
 Android Runtime
 Platform Libraries
 Linux Kernel
Applications
 Applications is the top layer of android architecture.
 The pre-installed applications like home, contacts, camera, gallery etc and third
party applications downloaded from the play store like chat applications, games
etc. will be installed on this layer only.
 It runs within the Android run time with the help of the classes and services
provided by the application framework.

Application Framework

 The Application Framework layer provides many higher-level services to

applications in the form of Java classes.
 Application developers are allowed to make use of these services in their
applications.
The Android framework includes the following key services −
Activity Manager − Controls all aspects of the application lifecycle and
activity stack.
Content Providers − Allows applications to publish and share data with
other applications.
Resource Manager − Provides access to non-code embedded resources such
as strings, color settings and user interface layouts.
Notifications Manager − Allows applications to display alerts and
notifications to the user.

Application runtime

 It contains components like core libraries and the Dalvik virtual machine(DVM).
 Mainly, it provides the base for the application framework and powers our
application with the help of the core libraries.
 Like Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Dalvik Virtual Machine (DVM) is a register-
based virtual machine and specially designed and optimized for android to ensure
that a device can run multiple instances efficiently.

Platform libraries

 The Platform Libraries includes various C/C++ core libraries and Java based
libraries such as Media, Graphics, Surface Manager, OpenGL etc. to provide a
support for android development.
Media library provides support to play and record an audio and video
formats.
Surface manager responsible for managing access to the display subsystem.
SGL and OpenGL both cross-language, cross-platform application program
interface (API) are used for 2D and 3D computer graphics.
SQLite provides database support and FreeType provides font support.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is security technology to establish an
encrypted link between a web server and a web browser.

Linux Kernel
 Linux Kernel is heart of the android architecture. It manages all the available
drivers such as display drivers, camera drivers, Bluetooth drivers, audio drivers,
memory drivers, etc. which are required during the runtime.
 The Linux Kernel will provide an abstraction layer between the device
hardware and the other components of android architecture.
 It is responsible for management of memory, power, devices etc.