Android, the so-called iPhone Killer from Google
Last Sunday, Aug 18, Internet giant Google has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to develop a mobile device based on the company’s mobile operation and development platform called Android.
So what is Android? It is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications.
Google also launched a beta version of the Android SDK which provides the tools and APIs necessary to begin developing applications on the Android platform using the Java programming language.
Features:
- Application framework enabling reuse and replacement of components
- Dalvik virtual machine optimized for mobile devices
- Integrated browser based on the open source WebKit engine
- Optimized graphics powered by a custom 2D graphics library; 3D graphics based on the OpenGL ES 1.0 specification (hardware acceleration optional)
- SQLite for structured data storage
- Media support for common audio, video, and still image formats (MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG, GIF)
- GSM Telephony (hardware dependent)
- Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G, and WiFi (hardware dependent)
- Camera, GPS, compass, and accelerometer (hardware dependent)
- Rich development environment including a device emulator, tools for debugging, memory and performance profiling, and a plugin for the Eclipse IDE
To clear thing some things, this is a joint venture between a number of companies and not just Google. Thy call themselves the Open HAndset Alliance (OHA?). Here is a list of some of the companies involved in this project, HTC, Motorola, T-Mobile, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Intel, Texas Instruments, SiRF Technology Holdings, Marvell Technology Group, Nvidia and Synaptics. EBay (which owns the Internet calling service Skype) and Nuance Communications.
Some say that Android is going to be the iPhone Killer. I guess we’ll see when it is launched this november. But there are rumors that the phone may hit the market sooner. In any event, online reports agree that the new phone will reach stores in time for the holidays, and that T-Mobile will bring the device to consumers.
The phone will include a touch screen, wi-fi compatibility, a BlackBerry-style mouseball, a full Web browser like the iPhone’s Safari, as well as other signature Google applications like Gmail, Google Maps and YouTube. If you want to watch a demo here is a youtube clip.
