Android
There should be nothing that users can access on their desktop that they can’t access on their cell phone.
- Andy Rubin, Google’s director of mobile platforms
Google is not anymore a search engine, it is becoming an essential part in everyday people lives, and it makes itself everywhere, anywhere and in everything. The technology is evolving over time and it become difficult to track and follow what is released in the market from computer up to hand-held devices. Smart phone changed not only the face of communication but even our way of socializing.
An operation system is the interface between applications and hardware where operations executed. Android is one of the many operating system of smart phones. Android was initially developed by Android Inc, later acquired by Google to form Open Handsel Alliance (OHI), a group of 65 hardware, software, and telecom companies. Interestingly, “Android” has its origin in the Greek word andr-, meaning “man or male” and the suffix -eides, used to mean “alike or of the species”. This together means as much as “being human”.
Android is a software stack for smart phones and tablets and includes operating system, middleware, user-interface, and key applications it is the first open-source. This is the goal of Google is Reach as much people as possible.
Android operating system is a wireless OS thus called ubiquitous OS is the first open platform thus developers can use the OS to develop applications at no cost, in contrast to iPhone OS which is a closed system. The developer enjoys free environment to access the core libraries and underlying hardware interfaces. Furthermore, the developer can create, improve, and even change existing application provided of course the application grant the appropriate permission. No license, membership or even a fee for third-party applications. At the operating system level, the Android platform provides the security of the Linux kernel, as well as take advantages of the Linux security features through process isolation and a user–based permission model. The kernel enforces security between applications and the system at the process level through standard Linux facilities, by assigning specific user ID. Therefore, applications cannot interact with each other, as well as limited access to the operating system as they run in separate process that’s why Android is multi-process system. This approach is different from other operating systems (including the traditional Linux configuration), where multiple applications run with the same user permissions
Android libraries are written in C/C++ and Java language and include surface manager, graphics, media codes, web browser and the Structured Query Language database
Android applications run on the Dalvik Virtual Machine which was created specifically for Android. It operates like a translator between the application and the operating system. It is fast optimized byte code and written in the Java language. However, applications can also be written in native code. Applications are installed from a single file with the .apk file extension. Those applications either pre-installed (phone, email, map, calendar, web browser, and contacts) or user-installed applications. The application can be run simultaneously at the same time.
Android security is working to be the most secure and usable OS by identifying and overcoming other OSs drawbacks. Its main value is to protect the user data as well as protection of the system resources. Android OS security power based on many levels:
Robust security through the Linux kernel platform.
Application sandbox.
Inter-process communication (ICP)
Application signing
Application-defined and user-granted permissions
Smart phones, are they luxury phones? Or today’s Lifestyle? Or a vital tool providing instant information, entertainment, and organization services.
Ironically I do not have smart phone! But as I am loyal and forever grateful to Google, certainly I will wait for the Google phone.
References:
Android web site, www.android.com accessed 5th October 2011
Introducing Android chapter 1 http://media.techtarget.com/.searchmobilecomputing/Introducing_Android.pdf. Accessed 8th ocotober2011
There should be nothing that users can access on their desktop that they can’t access on their cell phone.
- Andy Rubin, Google’s director of mobile platforms
Google is not anymore a search engine, it is becoming an essential part in everyday people lives, and it makes itself everywhere, anywhere and in everything. The technology is evolving over time and it become difficult to track and follow what is released in the market from computer up to hand-held devices. Smart phone changed not only the face of communication but even our way of socializing.
An operation system is the interface between applications and hardware where operations executed. Android is one of the many operating system of smart phones. Android was initially developed by Android Inc, later acquired by Google to form Open Handsel Alliance (OHI), a group of 65 hardware, software, and telecom companies. Interestingly, “Android” has its origin in the Greek word andr-, meaning “man or male” and the suffix -eides, used to mean “alike or of the species”. This together means as much as “being human”.
Android is a software stack for smart phones and tablets and includes operating system, middleware, user-interface, and key applications it is the first open-source. This is the goal of Google is Reach as much people as possible.
Android operating system is a wireless OS thus called ubiquitous OS is the first open platform thus developers can use the OS to develop applications at no cost, in contrast to iPhone OS which is a closed system. The developer enjoys free environment to access the core libraries and underlying hardware interfaces. Furthermore, the developer can create, improve, and even change existing application provided of course the application grant the appropriate permission. No license, membership or even a fee for third-party applications. At the operating system level, the Android platform provides the security of the Linux kernel, as well as take advantages of the Linux security features through process isolation and a user–based permission model. The kernel enforces security between applications and the system at the process level through standard Linux facilities, by assigning specific user ID. Therefore, applications cannot interact with each other, as well as limited access to the operating system as they run in separate process that’s why Android is multi-process system. This approach is different from other operating systems (including the traditional Linux configuration), where multiple applications run with the same user permissions
Android libraries are written in C/C++ and Java language and include surface manager, graphics, media codes, web browser and the Structured Query Language database
Android applications run on the Dalvik Virtual Machine which was created specifically for Android. It operates like a translator between the application and the operating system. It is fast optimized byte code and written in the Java language. However, applications can also be written in native code. Applications are installed from a single file with the .apk file extension. Those applications either pre-installed (phone, email, map, calendar, web browser, and contacts) or user-installed applications. The application can be run simultaneously at the same time.
Android security is working to be the most secure and usable OS by identifying and overcoming other OSs drawbacks. Its main value is to protect the user data as well as protection of the system resources. Android OS security power based on many levels:
Robust security through the Linux kernel platform.
Application sandbox.
Inter-process communication (ICP)
Application signing
Application-defined and user-granted permissions
Smart phones, are they luxury phones? Or today’s Lifestyle? Or a vital tool providing instant information, entertainment, and organization services.
Ironically I do not have smart phone! But as I am loyal and forever grateful to Google, certainly I will wait for the Google phone.
References:
Android web site, www.android.com accessed 5th October 2011
Introducing Android chapter 1 http://media.techtarget.com/.searchmobilecomputing/Introducing_Android.pdf. Accessed 8th ocotober2011
