3Minit Team Guides and Tutorials: Introduction to Android

Before we teach and guide you guys about all the ‘nerdy’ stuff like making your own custom ROMs, modifications, themes and all that, let us first tackle what Android is and what made it the revolutionary mobile OS that it is today.

Wether or not you are new to Android, learning the it from the ground and up is always a good experience.

Part I: History

Android is an open-source mobile OS founded by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears and Chris White in 2003. It is based upon the Linux kernel, but featured many changes and modifications.

In 2005, Andy Rubin and company sought Samsung for sponsorship for funds needed to further develop the then-infant OS but got rudely rejected.
Rubin even recalled that the Samsung’s executives first response to his proposal was:

“You and what army are going to go and create this? Are you high?”

Google on the other hand saw through Android’s infancy and the potential it holds. And in the same year, Google officially acquired Android Inc.

In 2007 Android was finally unveiled for OEM’s to build on. A year later the first Android-powered phone, the HTC Dream, was launched.

Part II: Features of Android

Okay, so what are the features of Android?

The Android OS has undergone many versions. from 1.5 (Cupcake) to 5.0 (Lollipop), here’s the overall idea of what it offers:

• You can run almost any app or widget so you can do what you want to do.
• Search the web, get driving directions…or watch cat videos.
• Make your home screen just how you want it. Arrange apps and widgets across multiple -screens and
• in folders. Stunning live wallpapers respond to your touch.
• Voice Typing lets you input text, and Voice Actions let you control your phone, just by speaking.
• Sensors make Android great for gaming – so you can touch, tap, tilt, and play away.
• Simple, beautiful and beyond smart design.
• Fast and smooth with buttery graphics.
• million of apps and games in Google Play
• more every major OS updates…

Note that Android is open source so more or some features and user interface varies depending on the manufacturer of your device.

Part III: Open-Source

And since Android is open-source, it is free to be modified and distributed by OEMs which made Android even more appealing to manufacturers, developers, and consumers.

Why is Android open source? What to gain from it?

The biggest benefit from making a code open is the input of many contributors (people who makes changes and submit them to the original source code maintainers), Development time is expensive, and external third-party contributions can be a great help and give real savings and a great example of this is CyanogenMod.

Part IV: What Makes Android different and the Android development Scene

Did i make enough emphasis on the word open-source? Well I’m sure you get it already.

What makes Android unique from other operating systems out there is it is open source. OEMs can imprint their own signature over the software which makes it distinctive from other Android device. Customization is very high that you can have two of the same device that looks and works entirely different with the other.

If you are new to Android you may not know that the Android development scene is blossoming that some OEMs themselves donates some units to developers just to develop some customization and build apps and games for them.

One good example of an Android development site is the xda-developers forum where you can find countless modifications for several android devices.

Part V: End Remarks

Android is indeed a great OS that is only growing and growing as time passes by and there are more things that you can do with your Android device than what it gives you out of the box. It is truly an OS for people who seeks ‘individuality’ on their devices.

The 3Minit Team promise to show you Android from all angles, so if you want to learn more about Android, join and follow us at the 3Minit Development Forum for discussions and more guides and tutorials.