Google Android platform
Posted on October 14, 2008, under Google Android.
Android is a software platform and operating system for mobile devices, Android is based on the Linux kernel, and has been developed by Google with cooperation with Open Handset Alliance ( a consortium of 34 hardware, software, and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices). Android allows developers to write applications in a Java-like language that utilizes Google-developed Java libraries, Google has pledged to make most of the Android platform available under the Apache free-software and open source license.
Over the past year, software developers have been working on the complete platform which resulted in early versions of the Software Developer Kit (SDK). This has culminated in the latest release of the Android 1.0 SDK R1. Through the SDK, developers have unprecedented access to the hardware and software capabilities of the device, enabling them to innovate freely. SDK has been widely tested and more than 1,700 applications were developed as part of the Android Developer Challenge. Google engineers have also been busy developing Android applications. Many of which like (Search, Gmail, and Maps, among others) are available on a wide range of phones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile devices, and many more.
The interface feels more complete now, but there are still some holes. For instance, the home screen menu offers an option for changing the background wallpaper, but selecting it only displays a dialog stating that the feature isn’t available yet. There is obviously still work to be done before the interface is ready for use on a phone, but it is definitely improving at a reasonable pace.
Android applications unavailable for unlocked G1 phones | linux4mobile.com on February 27, 2009
[...] unauthorized copy of the applications,” explained the Google spokesperson. The Market, which opened in late September, had 307 free applications as of late November. According to Google there are now [...]