Android (operating system): Difference between revisions

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<!--Brief info about the OS and structure.-->At its core, the operating system is known as the '''Android Open Source Project''' ('''AOSP''')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=July 21, 2018 |title=Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/ |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> and is [[free and open-source software]] (FOSS) primarily licensed under the [[Apache License]]. However, most devices run the [[proprietary software|proprietary]] Android version developed by Google, which ships with additional proprietary closed-source software pre-installed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/android-really-open-source-matter/|title=Is Android Really Open Source? And Does It Even Matter?|website=MakeUseOf|date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> most notably [[Google Mobile Services]] (GMS),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.android.com/gms/|title=Android – Google Mobile Services|website=Android|quote=While the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) provides common, device-level functionalities such as email and calling, GMS is not part of AOSP. GMS is only available through a license with Google [..] We ask GMS partners to pass a simple compatibility test and adhere to our compatibility requirements for their Android devices.|access-date=October 21, 2018}}</ref> which includes core apps such as [[Google Chrome]], the [[digital distribution]] platform [[Google Play]], and the associated [[Google Play Services]] development platform. [[Firebase Cloud Messaging]] is used for push notifications. While AOSP is free, the "Android" name and logo are [[Trademark|trademarks]] of Google, who restrict the use of Android branding on "uncertified" products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://source.android.com/setup/start/faqs |access-date=January 4, 2021 |publisher=Android Open Source Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Simon |first=Michael |date=December 26, 2016 |title=With Cyanogen dead, Google's control over Android is tighter than ever |url=https://www.greenbot.com/article/3153485/with-cyanogen-dead-googles-control-over-android-is-tighter-than-ever.html |access-date=January 4, 2021 |website=www.greenbot.com}}</ref> The majority of smartphones based on AOSP run Google's ecosystem—which is known simply as Android—some with [[vendor]]-customized user interfaces and software suites,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Terry |date=July 28, 2014 |title=Google and Android Are Not the Same... and That's a Good Thing |url=https://appdevelopermagazine.com/google-and-android-are-not-the-same...-and-that's-a-good-thing/ |access-date=July 29, 2020 |work=App Developer Magazine}}</ref> for example [[One UI]]. Numerous [[List of custom Android distributions|modified distributions]] exist, which include competing [[Fire OS|Amazon Fire OS]], community-developed [[LineageOS]]; the source code has also been used to develop a variety of Android distributions on a range of other electronics, such as [[Android TV]] for televisions, [[Wear OS]] for [[Wearable computer|wearables]], and [[Meta Horizon OS]] for [[Virtual reality headset|VR headsets]]. <!--END Brief info about the OS and structure.-->
 
<!--Brief desc.description beyondBeyond smartphones and current status-->Software packages on Android, which use the [[apk (file format)|APK]] format, are generally distributed through a proprietary [[application store]]; non-Google platforms include vendor-specific [[Amazon Appstore]], [[Samsung Galaxy Store]], [[Huawei AppGallery]], and third-party companies [[Aptoide]], [[Cafe Bazaar]], [[GetJar]] or open source [[F-Droid]]. Since 2011 Android has been the most used operating system worldwide on smartphones. It has the largest [[installed base]] of any operating system in the world<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cranz |first=Alex |date=May 18, 2021 |title=There are over 3 billion active Android devices |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/18/22440813/android-devices-active-number-smartphones-google-2021 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> with over three billion [[monthly active users]]{{Efn|As of May 2021}} and accounting for 46% of the global operating system market.{{Efn|As of November 2024.}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=Desktop, Mobile & Tablet Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop-mobile-tablet/worldwide/#monthly-202411-202411-bar |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref><!--END Brief desc. beyond smartphones and current status--><!--Do not add additional paragraphs; keep the introduction simple and concise.-->
 
== History<!--Android Inc and Android Inc. redirect here--> ==