All about Google's Operating System: Android

Internet search giant Google has now made its place in the mobile space, which is known as Android. While following his own corporate slogan "Don't be Evil" Google made its Linux-based operating system for mobile 'Android'.
Android

Google's mobile operating system Android meant to anybody for free to download the source code from Google and to change it according to their own preferences. It doesn't mean that it can be installed in Nokia phones while just clicking it meant to manufacturers who could easily take Google's OS Android and can easily put it in their hardware.
Android was a key piece puzzle from Google for that manufacturers needed. Google concentrated on building the hardware instead of creating a fragmented market by spending a lot of time and money in developing in house. If you have used Android 2.1 you would have realized that the operating system has matured well. Afterall, you can see a lot of mobile user rooting their handsets for Android. So here are few things that you should know about the Google's OS Android.

Availability of Android Applications in India

Like Apple provides its users free as well as paid access to iPhone App Store. In the same way Google's Android gives its users access to Android Market. Most of the applications are free on the Android Market but there are few which are paid and in India, Google has no service to buy them unfortunately. So you can use the applications which are free but if you are liking any paid software they you can't buy that.

Versions of Google Android

Google has released many updates to its operating system and each update was named differently.

Android 1.5, Cupcake.
Android 1.6, Donut.
Android 2.0/2.1, Eclair.
Android 2.2, Froyo.
Android 3.0, Gingerbread. (Upcoming)

All versions of Android has been released except Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) which is being expected to be launched by the end of the year. Google has made a blazing place with updates to Android which became very popular among the users. But in India, there are many phones which are not updated to the latest version of Android and it is a big disappointment for the Indian users.

Android Comparison

Whenever Google announces any software update they releases it with a source code which is given to the manufacturers and after that they customize the user interface and bundles new apps with the update.
After taking the source code, manufacturers customize the user interface on their own preference and gives their own bundled application like Samsing gives TouchWiz, Sony Ericsson gives Timescpae and Mediascape and HTC give Touch Sense etc. Then it makes a lot of confusion for the manufacturers since Google always keep throwing up new versions of Android in every few months, it creates problem for the manufacturers as their customers keeps demanding for the latest version of the operating system.

Android Application Compatibilities

In starting almost all Android phones was coming with display resolution of 480x320 pixels. After then there were some lower resolutions phones. Because of these confusing screen resolution state, the incompatibility issues came in existence. When developer of applications make any application they have to keep it in mind that what is the screen resolution of the applications, so now in some few cases this little issues are found.

User Interface of Android

Nokia users always keep changing their brand because every mobile phone of Nokia has a similar interface to each other, but in case of User Interface of Android it is not so every phone of Android has different look because it is based on source codes and the manufacturers after then edit the operating system via source code and introduce the operating system with their own build user interface. As above mentioned that all manufacturers have their own build user interfaces and bundled applications too.
In every few months Google keep changing its operating system Android with updates which creates problems for manufacturers. But since the Google has introduced source code only then Android phones are having different look otherwise all phones will look same as it happens in Nokia.

Cost of Google Android Phones

Most of the Android phones are consisting high costs. Some mobile phones like Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 comes with a price tag of Rs.30000/- and Samsung Galaxy S at Rs.27500/- which is very costly that's why these phones are known as the super-phone and megaphones. But on other hand Samsung has launched some mobile under a price tag of Rs.10000/- which is big success for Android phones and can be treated as the way to popularize the Android among average users.