Android
is a mobile operating system (OS) based on the Linux kernel that is
currently developed by Google. With a user interface based on direct
manipulation, Android is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile
devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, with specialized
user interfaces for televisions (Android TV), cars (Android Auto),
and wrist watches (Android Wear). The OS uses touch inputs that
loosely correspond to real-world actions, like swiping, tapping,
pinching, and reverse pinching to manipulate on-screen objects, and a
virtual keyboard. Despite being primarily designed for touchscreen
input, it also has been used in game consoles, digital cameras, and
other electronics.
As of 2011, Android has the
largest installed base of any mobile OS and as of 2013, its devices
also sell more than Windows, iOS, and Mac OS devices combined. As of
July 2013 the Google Play store has had over 1 million Android apps
published, and over 50 billion apps downloaded. A developer survey
conducted in April–May 2013 found that 71% of mobile developers
develop for Android. At Google I/O 2014, the company revealed that
there were over 1 billion active monthly Android users (that have
been active for 30 days), up from 538 million in June 2013.
Android's source code is
released by Google under open source licenses, although most Android
devices ultimately ship with a combination of open source and
proprietary software. Initially developed by Android, Inc., which
Google backed financially and later bought in 2005, 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 standards for
mobile devices.
Android
is popular with technology companies which require a ready-made,
low-cost and customizable operating system for high-tech devices.
Android's 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
or bring Android to devices which were officially released running
other operating systems. The operating system's success has made it a
target for patent litigation as part of the so-called "smartphone
wars" between technology companies.
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