The 5 of November of 2007, Android was presented to the people powered by Google and the Open Handset Alliance, but...it´s only that? Even though a company named Android was stared in 2003 by three well known personalities ( Andy Rubin :co-founder of Danger; Rich Miner-co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc; Nick Sears - VP at T-Mobile) , the company operated secretly, revealing only that the company is working on a new mobile operating system.
In 2005 Google acquired Android Inc and the road map of the company was reset according the the interests of Google. Google basically wanted their powerful searching technologies to be on mobile devices and working hard towards achieving that objective through Android acquisition. In 2007, they applied to obtain several telephone technology related patents apparently proving this speculation.
In 2007, again several well known companies got together and formed an alliance known as " Open Handset Alliance" and the idea behind was to develop "open stand" for mobile devices. The companies that were involved were, Broadcom Corporation, Google, HTC, Intel, LG, Marvell Technology Group, Motorola, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Texas Instruments .
As a result of all these efforts, first product , Android, a mobile device platform built on the Linux kernel version 2.6 was introduced.
Android application developers now deal with multiple versions of the operating system, geared for either phones or tablets but not both. They also have had to cope with customized interfaces, making it tough to build applications to run across the variety of Android units on the market. "I'm anticipating [the operating system upgrade] hotly," said Brian Hardy, a software engineer and instructor at mobile software developer Big Nerd Ranch. "It's always nice to see what's new, but it will be refreshing to be able to develop on one platform at some point in the future."
Currently, developers can use the Android 2.x platform for smartphones and 3.x platform for tablets. Google has released a compatibility library for sharing some functionality between 2.x and 3.x systems, but does not solve all problems, Hardy said. As an example, he cited that the action bar functionality is not available in the library.
Fragmentation has even affected Android's WebKit browser engine, said Mike Burns, a developer at Thoughtbot. "This is part of the fragmentation problem. They fix bugs in one version and introduce bugs in another version," he noted.
Android 4's arrival is anticipated as part of a Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone debut in Hong Kong scheduled for this evening in U.S. time zones. Google has emphasized the unity the operating system upgrade is supposed to bring to the fragmented Android landscape. "Our goal with Ice Cream Sandwich is to deliver one operating system that works everywhere, regardless of device. Ice Cream Sandwich will bring everything you love about [the Honeycomb release of Android] on your tablet to your phone, including the holographic user interface, more multitasking, the new launcher, and richer widgets," wrote Hugo Barra, Google's product management director for Android, in a May blog post.
But "Ice Cream Sandwich" will not solve all problems with the platform, said David Cao, organizer of the Silicon Valley Android Developer Group and vice president of mobile at BeyondSoft. He is not a developer himself, but said Android still has problems in which Google controls the release of code and some device vendors get the code before others, he said: "Android is somewhat open, but it's not completely open."
Android 4.0 is with us, now we can use this new version and I still waiting for the stable version Android 5.0.
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Wantto program inAndroid? On SaturdayNovember 5atNJambre(FranceAv889)we'llbekicking offso you can createthe application you wantplusa few otheruseful tricksto teachmore advanced. Onlyyou have toregister yourself, you comewith your computerand you getyour first programgoing! To view the contentsand more informationyou can visitour website http://rosario.gtugs.org/eventos_futuros/android-bootcamp-2011
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Here's what you need to know about the latest version of Google's mobile OS which combines the best of the Android 2.x phone interface with the Android 3.x Honeycomb tablet interface.
Ice Cream Sandwich is designed for use with both phones and tablets.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich features
Android ICS offers a massive array of improvements over its predecessors bringing the best of both Gingerbread and Honeycomb while providing a raft of new innovations.
The company says 4.0 is a complete rethink of Android's image and is part of a push to make the OS "Enchant me, Simplify My Life, and Make Me Awesome."
"Android 4.0 builds on the things people love most about Android," says Google in a post on the Android Developers Blog. "Easy multitasking, rich notifications, customizable home screens, resizable widgets, and deep interactivity — and adds powerful new ways of communicating and sharing."
Minor improvements include better copy and paste, data logging and warnings and, at last, the opportunity to easily grab screenshots by holding down the power and the volume buttons.
The keyboard and dictionaries have also been revamped, says Google. "Error correction and word suggestion are improved through a new set of default dictionaries and more accurate heuristics for handling cases such as double-typed characters, skipped letters, and omitted spaces. Word suggestion is also improved and the suggestion strip is simplified to show only three words at a time."
"To fix misspelled words more easily, Android 4.0 adds a spell-checker that locates and underlines errors and suggests replacement words. With one tap, users can choose from multiple spelling suggestions, delete a word, or add it to the dictionary."
The new OS is designed to bring common actions to the fore, with better animations and an entirely new typeface - more on that shortly.
Google has confirmed it is working on an Android 4.0 update for the Samsung Nexus S and other Android devices.
Director of Androidoperatingsystem User Experience Matias Duarte told Engadget that Google is. "Currently in the process for releasing Ice Cream Sandwich for Nexus S. Theoretically it should work for any 2.3 device."
Motorola confirmed to TechRadar that the Motorola Razr will launch in the UK with Android 2.3, but that there will be an update to 4.0in 2012.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Roboto
Among the first new features championed by Google at the Hong Kong media event was a brand new typeface for Android in the shape of the easy-to-read "Roboto."
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich System Bar and Action Bar
At the launch event, Google showcased a host of virtual buttons that appear at the bottom of the screen in some apps and allow users access to areas of the device like phone and contacts.
These are located in the System Bar - present in all apps - and enables you to navigate instantly to Back, Home, and Recent Apps. Virtual buttons are present across all apps, but can be dimmed by applications for full-screen viewing.
You can also access the contextual options for each app in the Action Bar at the top of the screen.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich voice control
Android 4.0 introduces new voice input engine, You can dictate the text you want, for as long as you want. After dictating, you can tap the underlined words to replace them from a list of suggestions.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich multitasking
Multi-tasking has also been given a boost and with ICS it's easier to see which apps you've been using recently. If you decide you're done with using one, you can easily flick it away to close.
Google says it has made multitasking "even easier and more visual" on Android 4.0. The Recent Apps button lets users jump instantly from one task to another using the list in the System Bar. The list pops up to show thumbnail images of apps used recently — tapping a thumbnail switches to the app.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Face Unlock
Perhaps the most 'Star Trek' of all the new Android 4.0 features is a new piece of functionality called Face Unlock which, as the name suggests, unlocks your handset based on facial recognition tech.
You can also do more without unlocking. As in iOS 5 you can jump straight to the camera. You can also pull down the notifications window.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Home Screen folders
Like iOS before it, Android is now getting home screen folders too. You can group apps or shortcuts together and, as with iOS, you can do this just by dragging icons on top of one another.From the All Apps launcher, you can now drag an app to get information about it or uninstall it should you wish.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich notifications
Notifications have also been improved. On larger devices - tablets - the updates appear in the System Bar, while on phones the notifications roll down from the top of the screen as before.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich favorites tray
On phones and other "smaller screen devices" (that's Google speak), there's now a customisable favorites tray. You can put anything you want here - apps, folders, shortcuts - whatever you want - check out this screen:
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich widgets
As in Honeycomb, you can now resize widgets on phones too. As in that OS, the widgets in 4.0 are designed to be far more interactive, enabling you to flick through appointments, play music and more.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich data
Android 4.0 includes new graphical displays so you can see how much data you're using and how much you've used over Wi-Fi or cellular. You can also see the amount of data used by each running application.
Warning levels can also be specified, as well as determining how much background data apps can use.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich camera
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich also brings some much-needed improvements to Google's camera UI, which the company says it has been working on with Samsung.
ICS devices, and the newly announced SamsungGalaxy Nexus in particular, will have 1080p video, zero shutter lag, a new picture-stitching panorama mode, easier sharing and Instagram-esque filters.
In the panorama mode, you can start taking the picture and then move the camera. The phone assembles the full range of continuous imagery into a single panoramic photo.
"When taking pictures, continuous focus, zero shutter lag exposure, and decreased shot-to-shot speed help capture clear, precise images," says Google. "Stabilized image zoom lets users compose photos and video in the way they want, including while video is recording. For new flexibility and convenience while shooting video, users can now take snapshots at full video resolution just by tapping the screen as video continues to record."
There's also built-in face detection as well as tap to focus.
There are also various editing tools included, too, while there's sharing via Google+, message, Bluetooth, email or Picasa upload.
There's also an improved gallery widget, as well as new album layout with larger thumbnails.
Thankfully you can also now take screenshots - this is going to make our job a whole lot easier!
For video, there's also Live Effects you can apply to distort faces or alter backgrounds.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich apps
The People app does what many manufacturers have been doing on Android for ages - bringing together various social networking feeds into one place,
This offers richer profile information, including a large profile picture, phone numbers, addresses and accounts, status updates, and a new button for connecting on integrated social networks.
The Calendar app has also been updated to bring together different calendars, while the email app can now autocomplete responses and is able to store oft-used replies.
Android 4.0 now also supports visual voicemail.
The web browser is also improved - especially in terms of speed - and now allows up to 16 windows. You can now sync it with Google Chrome and the browser supports offline browsing - it can save versions of web pages you choose.
There's also a new NFC-based app called Android Bump, which allows two phones to exchange a wealth of information, just by holding them together.
It can be used to share websites, maps and start games.
Here's a video of the Android 4.0 launch event if you have the time - it's an hour long!
As part of the Google I / O 2011, announced the arrival of a new version of Android for tablets, which brings several interesting developments.
With little time on the track, Honeycomb and receive your first update coming to version 3.1 with several new features that will be useful to users. Within the new in this version we can highlight:
- User interface: it has been improved as regards the possibilities of interaction is much more agile and have also added features that enhance accessibility.
- Support for new hardware via USB: Added support for more devices perisféricos that can be connected via USB, including keyboard, mouse, gamepad or joystick, and others.
- Widgets: you can work in a more comfortable around them, resizing them and adapted to suit the user.
- Wi-Fi improved: the wireless connection is very important in the tablets, which is why special attention has been placed on this property, expanding its capabilities and improve the detection capability.
- Browser: its features have been updated to better support for CSS3 and HTML5. Also has plugin support which can take advantage of better hardware acceleration.
- And more: the gallery, calendar, contact management and mail options set up correctly also offer new in this version. As if this were not enough, users of Google TV will also enjoy this revamped version of Android.
Android 3.1 will be available primarily for Motorla Xoom and then extend his arrival Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
To follow the event, can log onto http://www.google.com/events/io/2011/index-live.html.
One of the first things we learn in history classes, is that to understand this and try to predict the future is no better way to have knowledge of the past. If not then I gave importance to it that my teacher told me the secondary. But today, basic law is applicable to everything that is in continuous evolution, including ourselves who would not be so now without having had a past (faaaa!! That thought, no? Lol!), And similarly no will be the same in 10 years. Where are we? Ah! in MuchoAndroid.com.ar, and if ... Android in this sense does not escape, it would have been a revolution in the market appear so perfectly at once ... but no ... the first press release in which announced This robot was the November 5, 2007, but it was not until a year later they went to market a device called the HTC Dream, becoming the first phone with Android. I have taken the trouble to collect a few facts and translating them into an image so we can see: - Differences between versions, - The process of maturation that has suffered; - Make bets and projections about when will a new version; - Or simply to learn to know.
Also listed some of the phones we found with each version (not in Argentina but in Europe) and eye, this does not mean that right now are, some of these phones just came with that version, or currently is with that count.
Android is winning more than the Coca-Cola no one doubts. All this success brings with it many questions and what better way to answer ... This ... What better way to try to simplify their explanation with images?
Via Twitter I have reached a Emezetablog article that I could not resist to bring here, curious what your presentation. As the title of this entry, a computer graphics Android in three images to be exact, by which to try to understand the creature. What does this mean? The author explains: The following graphics you can find all the answers to many of the issues some users are wondering (on Android): * Starting sequence operating system. * Alternative boot modes: Recovery, FastBoot, Safe-mode ... * Types of reset: Soft reset and Hard reset. * Existing types of memory: RAM, NAND (MTD), MicroSDHC ... * Different speeds of microSD cards: Class 2, 4, 6 and 10. * Common partitions NAND (MTD). * Structure YAFFS2 filesystem. * Disaggregated data and system partitions. * Types of errors: NRA and FC. * Android Virtual Machine: VM Dalvik. * JIT: Just-in-time. * Application Packages: APK and ODEX. * APK application structure: AndroidManifest.xml, assets, resources ... * Terms of development: ADB, SDK ... * Different types of wireless coverage, GPRS, EDGE, 3G HSDPA ... * Varied terms: Wipe, OTA, APN, Apps2sd, QR-code, Brick, root ... * Different versions of Android, code name and date of release.
I allowed myself the license (literally) to join the three images that make up this inforgrafía on Android in a single, almost gigantic size to what is usual in a blog (575 × 3,672 pixels). Here goes:
We have presented an introduction to the Android OS, and born of the hands of Google and how we can develop applications.
Now review the features of the platform, then set up our development environment so that, through an emulator, and thanks to the Eclipse IDE we have a production environment that allows us to develop applications that run on mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) and we can test without having the device. ANDROID PLATFORM FEATURES Let us briefly review the main features Android OS, which will introduce later in this blog and go interiorizing to dominate as programmers:
Application Framework: allows replacement and reuse of components.
Integrated browser: openSource based on Webkit engine, we already have a browser, ie, our applications can display HTML, something very interesting.
SQlite: A database for structured data, which integrates directly with the applications and we can use in our programs.
Multimedia: Support common media formats, audio, video and image plane (MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG, GIF).
Dalvik Virtual Machine: A virtual machine application. We allow each application to run in a separate process with its own virtual machine instance.
Camera, GPS, compass, accelerometer. GSM Telephony, Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G and wireless cell dependent on which you run Android.
Touch Screen: SmartPhones models already exist, such as Kyocera Echo, with Android and double touch screen.
Android Market: allows developers to make applications, free or paid, in the market through this application accessible from all phones with Android.
Yes, there is a relationship between the Java Programming Language, the Android platform and the Dalvik virtual machine.
The programmer writes one (or more) classes in Java, then compile and get a file (. Class) to Java bytecode.
On the other side of the relationship, the Android SDK has a utility called "DEX", which is responsible for converting a file. Class in a file. Dex, so what is a. Dex?
Well, one. Dex has the bytecode. Class "translated" so that they understand now the Dalvik virtual machine. Then, this. Dex (or more) is packaged with other resources of the application form the project developer, in a file. Apk, which is the executable Android.
Dalvik virtual machine IS NOT A Java virtual machine, often it is confused, but we have to clarify this from the start, since you are working with bytecode is Java bytecode.
This virtual machine is optimized for low memory use and allows us to run multiple instances by delegating to the underlying operating system support for process isolation, memory management and thread.
According to official documentation has the Android site, the name for this virtual machine was chosen in honor Dalvík Bornstein, a town of Eyjafjörður, Iceland, where his ancestors lived.
With this we have a brief glimpse of what is Android, which supports it, and if we are programmers is time to start the installation process of the tools for programming.
