Android is an OS (operating system) owned by Google, used in smartphones (some still prefer saying “sophisticated mobile phones”) and tablet PCs.
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What is Android?
Android is an open-source operating system developed by Google for mobile devices. It was first released in 2008 and has since become the most popular mobile operating system in the world. Android offers a wide range of features and functionalities that make it highly versatile and customizable.
It supports a vast array of apps, allowing users to personalize their devices to suit their needs and preferences. With its intuitive user interface and seamless integration with Google services, Android provides a seamless user experience.
It also boasts advanced security features, ensuring the safety of users’ data and privacy. Additionally, Android supports multi-tasking, enabling users to efficiently switch between different apps and perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
The platform continues to evolve with regular updates, introducing new features and improvements to enhance performance and usability. Overall, Android has revolutionized the way we use mobile devices, empowering us with endless possibilities and transforming our smartphones into powerful tools for communication, productivity, entertainment, and much more.
For those of you who are novices to the computer world, an operating system is the first and main software that is installed on your computer, mobile phone, or any electronic device. It controls all the other software and hardware on your computer.
In its original sense, Android means a robot that has a human shape, hence the small green robot in the Android OS logo. Android is a Linux-based operating system that is now the most popular among mobile operating systems. When you say Android today, nearly everyone thinks of the mobile OS rather than the original definition.
What Makes Android So Popular?
We have been using mobile phones for decades and, most of us without knowing it, we have been running mobile operating systems on our machines. Apple’s iOS, which runs on the iPhone, has changed the way smartphones look and work, and Android as a competitor has brought this demarcation further.
Android includes all the goodies you can have in a modern and sophisticated smartphone, including full multimedia, connectivity, user-friendliness with touchscreen support, multi-tasking, etc. But what makes the big difference is that it is fully open. This makes it possible for just about everyone, expert or not, to develop applications for Android phones. As a result, an Android user can download and install great applications for free from the Android Market, from a wealth of tens of thousands of apps.
Moreover, unlike Apple’s iOS, Android powers devices that are built by many different manufacturers worldwide, with Samsung and HTC being the leaders. This grows the Android community worldwide, causing the devices to fit into all spheres of activity, into all global and local markets, and also most budgets.
If you want an iPhone, you need to pay the price since there is only one and only one, although you may save some bucks on the phone’s specs like memory. On the other hand, you have both cheap low-end and expensive high-end phones running Android. So you get to use the OS even with limited hardware features and for cheap.
Android Versions
When you download an app from the Android Market, or when you ask yourself whether your favourite app is supported, one consideration is important: the Android version. Throughout the versions, features were added and improvements made.
I noticed that most apps require version 2.1 or later. The most popular version today is 2.3 Gingerbread , which adds multi-touch software keyboard, support for extra large screens and high resolutions, and embedded Voice over IP support as an improvement over version 2.2 Froyo, which was already rocking with everything that other smartphone operating systems were offering.
The latest version is Android 14, which is optimised for tablet PCs and video communication.
Android-powered phone models
Here is a list of the most popular phone models that run Android and have pleased many:
- Google Nexus S
- Motorola Photon
- HTC Droid Incredible
- T-Mobile G2x
- Samsung Infuse 4G
- HTC Thunderbolt
- HTC Sensation 4G
- Motorola Droid Razr
- HTC Rhyme
- HTC Evo 4G
- HTC Wildfire
- Samsung EpicTouch 4G
- Asus Eee Prime Transformer Prime,
- Sony Tablet S
- Samsung Galaxy Tab
- Toshiba Thrive
- Acer Iconia Tab
- T-Mobile G-Slate
- Lenovo IdeaPak
- HTC Flyer
- Motorola Xoom
- LG Optimus Pad, among many others.
The Google Play Store
If you own an Android phone or tablet, you will find the Android Market one of the most interesting places to go. How do you get there?
Just type market.android.com on your computer’s browser or that of your Android device and you will land on a Web site that shows thousands of apps, one more interesting than the other. Most are free to download and install. Some others are priced very low.
The apps are for all areas of activity, starting from the most useful productivity tools to the silliest games and time-wasters, passing all the way through widgets, tweaks, viewers, managers, and what not.
Each app carries its own rating, which is a good indication as to its safety and worth. You also have plenty of user reviews, along with a lot of useful information on the app itself, including the number of downloads and popularity.
Making Free Phone Calls on Android
Thanks to VoIP, you can make free calls to your contacts around the world through your computer or mobile device. Android makes this even easier and more interesting. To make free or cheap local and international VoIP calls on your Android device, you need to have an Internet connection with decent bandwidth, either through a 3G or 4G data plan or a Wi-Fi hotspot, and you need to install a VoIP app from the Android Market.
List of the main apps for using VoIP on Android
includes popular options such as Skype, WhatsApp, Google Voice, Viber, and Facebook Messenger. These apps provide users with the ability to make voice and video calls over the internet, allowing for cost-effective communication both domestically and internationally. Skype, one of the pioneers in VoIP technology, offers a comprehensive suite of features including group calling and screen sharing.
WhatsApp, known for its extensive user base, provides end-to-end encryption for secure conversations. Google Voice integrates seamlessly with your existing phone number and offers voicemail transcription services. Viber boasts high-quality audio calls and a wide range of stickers and emojis to enhance your messaging experience.
Lastly, Facebook Messenger allows you to connect with friends and family while also offering features like voice messages and video filters. With these diverse options available on Android devices, users can enjoy the convenience and affordability of VoIP communication while staying connected with loved ones around the world.
Android Features
The Android OS has many features, among which are the following:
- enhanced interface with the array of icons on the menu. Android adapts to high-quality 2D and 3D graphics with multi-touch support.
- Android supports multitasking, i.e. many applications can run at the same time, like on a computer. This is not possible with simple mobile phones and many other smartphones.
- All new means of connectivity are supported: GSM, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc.
- Android supports many languages, including those with right-to-left text.
- Multimedia messaging systems (MMS) are supported.
- Java runs great on Android. Applications for Android are developed in Java, but instead of a Java Runtime Environment, Android uses the Dalvik Executor, which is lighter on resources.
- Android supports most voice and video media formats, including streaming media.
- Additional hardware like sensors, gaming devices, and other touchscreens can be integrated into Android.
- Voice and video over IP. VoIP has many benefits, and Android manages cameras and has embedded support for seamless use of VoIP for free and cheap calls.
- On versions 2.2 and up, tethering is possible, which is the ability to use the Android device as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.
