Android (operating system)

Android

Android 6.0 home screen

Developer

GoogleOpen Handset Alliance

Written inC (core), C++, Java (UI)[1]OS familyUnix-likeWorking stateCurrentSource modelOpen source[2] and in most devices with proprietarycomponents[3]Initial releaseSeptember 23, 2008; 7 years ago[4]Latest release6.0 "Marshmallow" / October 5, 2015; 49 days agoMarketing targetSmartphones, tablet computers, TVs, cars and wearable devicesAvailable in70 languages[a]Package managerGoogle Play, APKPlatforms32- and 64-bit: ARM architectures, x86,[5] x86-64, MIPS[6]and MIPS64[b]Kernel typeMonolithic (modified Linux kernel)UserlandBionic libc,[7] mksh shell,[8] native core utilities with a few from NetBSD[9]Default user interfaceGraphical (Multi-touch)LicenseApache License 2.0
GNU GPL v2 for the Linux kernel modifications[10]Official websitewww.android.com

Android is a mobile operating system (OS) currently developed byGoogle, based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily fortouchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android's user interface is based on direct manipulation, using touch gestures that loosely correspond to real-world actions, such as swiping, tapping and pinching, to manipulate on-screen objects, along with a virtual keyboard for text input. In addition to touchscreen devices, Google has further developed Android TV for televisions,Android Auto for cars, and Android Wear for wrist watches, each with a specialized user interface. Variants of Android are also used onnotebooks, game consoles, digital cameras, and other electronics. As of 2015, Android has the largest installed base of all operating systems.[11] It is the second most commonly used mobile operating system in the United States, while iOS is the first.[12]

Initially developed by Android, Inc., which Google bought in 2005,[13]Android was unveiled in 2007, along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance – a consortium of hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standardsfor mobile devices.[14] As of July 2013, the Google Play store has had over one million Android applications ("apps") published, and over 50 billion applications downloaded.[15] An April–May 2013 survey of mobile application developers found that 71% of developers create applications for Android,[16] and a 2015 survey found that 40% of full-time professional developers see Android as their priority target platform, which is comparable to Apple's iOS on 37% with both platforms far above others.[17] At Google I/O 2014, the company revealed that there were over one billion active monthly Android users, up from 538 million in June 2013.[18]

Android's source code is released by Google under open sourcelicenses, although most Android devices ultimately ship with a combination of open source and proprietary software, including proprietary software required for accessing Google services.[3]Android is popular with technology companies that require a ready-made, low-cost and customizable operating system for high-techdevices.[19] Its open nature has encouraged a large community of developers and enthusiasts to use the open-source code as a foundation for community-driven projects, which add new features for advanced users[20] or bring Android to devices originally shipped with other operating systems. At the same time, as Android has no centralised update system most Android devices fail to receive security updates: research in 2015 concluded that almost 90% of Android phones in use had known but unpatched security vulnerabilities due to lack of updates and support.[21][22] The success of Android has made it a target for patent litigation as part of the so-called "smartphone wars" between technology companies.[23][24]