The ins and outs of the Android operating system
What is Android?
We’re not talking about robots.
In this case, we’re talking about smartphones.
Lifewire / Luyi Wang
Android is a popular,Linux-based mobile phone operating system developed by Google.
The Androidoperating system(OS) powers phones, watches, and car stereos.
Let’s take a closer look and learn what Android really is.
Android Open-Source Project
Android is a widely-adoptedopen-source project.
Google only charges manufacturers if they also plant the Google apps portion of the OS.
One notable exception is Amazon.
The Android TV is a gaming andstreamingplatform that uses Android.
Parrot makes a digital photo frame and a car stereo system with Android.
The list of customizations and applications goes on and on.
(A fee model is typical for app distribution markets.)
Some devices do not include support for Google Play and may use an alternative market.
Kindles use Amazon’s app market, which means Amazon makes the money off of any app sales.
Android is an open platform.
Many carriers can potentially offer Android-powered phones, although unit manufacturers might have an exclusive agreement with a carrier.
This flexibility allowed Android to grow quickly as a platform.
However, because Android can be modified, carriers can choose to change this.
Verizon Wireless, for instance, has modified some Android phones to use Bing as the default search engine.
you could alsoremove a Gmail accountfrom most Android phones.
Touchscreen
Android supports atouchscreenand is difficult to use without one.
you’re free to use a trackball for some navigation, but nearly everything is done through touch.
Android also supports multi-touch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom.
Android then guesses what you mean and auto-completes the word.
This drag-style interaction may seem slower at first, but experienced users find it faster than tap-tap-tapping messages.
Security
Most Android phones offer some level of security, fromfingerprint identificationtofacial recognitionfeatures.
you’ve got the option to alsolock appsin different ways.
Fragmentation
One frequent criticism of Android is that it’s a fragmented platform.
The Good and Bad of Fragmentation
Android is an exciting platform for consumers and developers.
It is the philosophical opposite of the iPhone in many ways.
This is both good and bad.
Fragmented versions of Android may provide a unique user experience, but they also mean fewer users per variation.
That means it’s harder to support for app developers, accessory makers, and technology writers.
FAQ
Android Autois the Android version of Apple’s CarPlay.
Essentially, it’s a form of Android that runs on your car and can connect to your phone.
Toconnect your AirPods to Android, openSettingson your Android unit, tapBluetoothand put your AirPods intopairing mode.
Then, tap your AirPods once they appear in the Bluetoothmenu.
Tofactory reset your Androidand wipe all data on your phone, tapSettings>System>Advanced>Reset options.
Next, tapErase all data (factory reset)>Erase all data.
