Android SDK Features

The Android  platform introduces many new and exciting features for users and developers. This artical provides a some of the new features in Android SDK.
The followings are the main features of android :-

• No licensing, distribution, or development fees.
• Wi-Fi hardware access.
• GSM, EDGE, and 3G networks for telephony or data transfer, allowing you to make or receive calls or SMS messages, or to send and retrieve data across mobile networks.
• Comprehensive APIs for location-based services such as GPS.
• Full multimedia hardware control including playback and recording using the camera and microphone.
• APIs for accelerometer and compass hardware.
• IPC message passing.
• Shared data stores.
• An integrated open source WebKit-based browser.
• Full support for applications that integrate Map controls as part of their user interface.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) support using Google Talk.
• Mobile-optimized hardware-accelerated graphics including a path-based 2D graphics library and support for 3D graphics using OpenGL ES.
• Media libraries for playing and recording a variety of audio/video or still image formats.
• An application framework that encourages reuse of application components and the replacement of native applications.

Amar's Android Tech

1. Application Framework :

It enables the reuse and replacement of components. Android is the open development platform, so it offers the ability to build extremely rich and innovative applications.

2. Dalvik Virtual Machine :

It is optimized for mobile devices. It is the software that runs the apps on Android devices.

3. Integrated Browser :

Android comes with an integrated Browser which is based on  the open source engine.

4. Optimized Graphics :

Optimized Grapics powered by a custom 2D and 3D Graphics library.

5. SQLite :

SQLite is an Open Source Database which is embedded into Android. It requires only little memory at runtime (approximate  250 KByte).

6. Media Support :

Android has built-in media support for common audio, video, and still image formats. 

7. Hardware Dependent Features :

Android also have many hardware dependent features like- GSM Telephony, Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G, and WiFi, Camera, GPS, Compass and accelerometer 

8. Rich Development Environment :

Rich Development Environment includes a device emulator, tools for debugging, memory & performance profiling, and a plugin for the eclipse IDE.

Thats it ! Thanks !!

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How to install a APK file in emulator?

hi frds....here i give u some steps to install a apk file in virtual device (emulator). try these steps :-

• At first lunch the emulator.
• copy and paste the apk file in android-sdk-windows--->platform-tools folder.
• go to the command prompt  and go to the drive path where u install android sdk.
• for e.g.   "c:\android\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools>"

• then type adb install filename.apk , hit enter.

• success.

hope you understand these steps....if any query feel free to ask questions.
thanks for stay here....!!

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List of Native Android Applications

Android phones will normally come with a suite of pre-installed applications includes :-

Amar's Android Tech

• An e-mail client compatible with Gmail but not limited to it.
• An sms management application.
• A full PIM (personal information management) suite includes a calendar and contacts list, both tightly integrated with Google's online services.
• A fully featured mobile Google Maps application includes Street View, Business finder, Driving directions, Satellite view, and Traffic conditions.
• A Web Kit-based web browser.
• An Instant Messaging Client.
• A music player and picture viewer.
• The Android Marketplace client for downloading thired-party Android applications.
• The Amazon MP3 store client for purchasing DRM free music.

All the native application are written in java using the Android SDK and are run on Dalvik.

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What is difference b/w Android and Symbian ?

Amar's Android Tech

"Basically, it's like the difference between Windows and Linux.

Symbian being the Windows-like equivalent and Android - Linux."


Android:

• Android is an open source mobile OS platform that's running on top of Linux kernel.It uses a non-standard Java Virtual Machine called Dalvik, specialized to handle mobile device processes.The main programming language used for Android is Java, with many library from J2SE and third party open source projects, such as Apache commons, sqlite, webkit, etc.
• Android is tightly integrated with Google's cloud services, such as Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Gtalk, etc. This positions Google at a very good edge to monetize mobile ad revenues.
• Android's open source nature enables manufacturers to design and customize the platform to their own likings. So fragmentation is a concern here. However, the core Android OS provides more than enough features for current mobile devices' needs. As it evolves, it might include more standardized features, and the OS platform can only become better and better.
• There are announced handsets using Android coming out this year from LG, Samsung, Motorola, Lenovo, just to name a few. With carriers like Sprint and AT&T getting Android-powered devices under their offerings, along with T-mobile, the landscape for Android development cannot be underestimated.
• On top of that, Android is also being developed for Netbook, ebook readers, and a slew of other electronic appliances. So it's more than a mobile device OS. This is something Sun attempted with their Jini technology 10 years ago but failed miserably. Android is realizing it now.

Symbian:

• Symbian was a proprietary operating system for mobile devices until recently, under Android's huge challenge and losing market ground, Nokia bought all the Symbian outstanding shares, and created Symbian foundation and declared it open source.
• The main platforms for Symbian includes S60 and UIQ. UIQ was closed down and all people got laid off shortly after the creation of Symbian foundation. As to how appealing open source Symbian to developers are yet to be seen. S60 series are no doubt the leader in number of installed base today. However, Symbian's market share, especially in the smartphone area, are getting smaller and smaller largely due to iPhone.
• The main language used for Symbian programming is J2ME and C++. C++ API provides more lower level device access than J2ME. However, their C++ implementation is unnecessarily complex and error-prone. Their paradigm is not suitable for the needs of modern mobile computing. It will require them a great efforts to deliver something comparable to Android and iPhone.

 
 Note :-

•  Android is fairly new and has a smaller market share than the older Symbian. 
•  Android is designed around touch capable devices while Symbian is designed around keypad devices.
• Symbian is somewhat outdated while Android is constantly updated.
• Android is used by many phone manufacturers while Symbian is almost exclusive to Nokia.

That's all about difference between android and  Symbian mobile technology. Enjoy frds...!!

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List Of Android Version

Version History :-

Android has seen as a no. of updates since its original release. These updates to the base operating system typically focus on fixing bugs as well as adding new features. Generally each new version of the Android operating system is developed under a code name based on a dessert item.

Amar's Android Tech

"It must also be noted the version names are in alphabetical order e.g.- Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich".

The most recent released versiond of Android are :

• Android Beta :- Beta release.
• Android 1.0 :- the first commercial version of the software.
• Android 1.1 :- changed the API and added new features.
• Cupcake (1.5) :- changed the API and added new features.
•  Donut (1.6) :- Updated technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPNs, text-to-speech engine.
• Eclair (2.0/2.1) :- HTML 5 , Exchange Active Sync.
• Froyo (2.2) :- JIT Optimization, Chrome V8 Java Script engine, Wifi hotspot tethering , flash support.
• Gingerbread (2.3) :- Improved UI, soft keyboard, copy paste feature , support for near field communication.
• Honeycomb (3.0/3.1) :- Tablet oriented release, fresh UI, multicore processor support, hardware acceleration for graphics.
• Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) :- A combination of gingerbread & honeycomb into a “cohesive whole”.  

Amar's Android Tech

So that's enough about android Version, Thanks, hope you enjoy !!
(References- Official Android Developers page & Wikipedia)

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What is android ?

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. The Android SDK provides the tools and APIs necessary to begin developing applications on the Android platform.

Amar's Android Tech

                            

                 "Android's mobile operating system is based on the Linux kernel".

• S/w Stack includes :-

1.  Operating system based on Linux Kernel
2. Cors Application
3. API (Libraries)
4.  Framework
5. DVM

•  Android Inc was founded in Palo Alto of California, U.S. by Andy Rubin, Rich miner,Nick sears and Chris white in 2003. Later Android inc. was acquired by Google in 2005.

• Android is an operating system for mobile phones and tablets , in much the same way the PCs run Microsoft Windows as their operating system.It's maintaied by Google.

 Android is described by Google as -
"The first truly open & comprehensive platform for mobile devices, all of the software to run a mobile phone but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation." 

Amar's Android Tech

Android is made up of several necessary & dependent parts which are-

• A hardware reference design :- that describes the capabilities required of a mobile device in order to support the software stack.
• A linux OS Kernal :- that provides the low-level interface with the hardware, memory management, and process control, all optimized for mobile devices.
• An Open source libraries :- for application development including SQLite, Web Kit, OpenGL, and a media manager.
• A runtime :- used to execute and host android applications, including the Dalvik Virtual machine and core libraries that provide android specific functionality.
• An application framework :- that agnostically exposes the system services to the application layer, including the window manager, content providers, location manager, telephony and peer to peer services.
• A user interface (UI) framework :- used to host and launch applications.
• Preinstalled application s :- shipped as a part of the stack.
• A software development kit :- used to create applications, including the tools, plug-ins, and documentation.

So that's enough about android,  Thanks, hope you enjoy !!
(References- Official Android Developers page & Wikipedia)

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