Android (operating system): Difference between revisions

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'''Android''' is a [[Linux]]-based [[mobile operating system|operating system primarily designed for mobile devices]] such as [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer]]s utilizing ARM processors. A secondary target for the light weight OS is embedded systems such as networking equipment, smart TV systems including set top boxes and built in systems and various devices as varied as house hold appliances and wrist watches. Most embedded applications are for ARM based devices but notably Google's Google TV devices use Intel chips with the x86 version of Android. The x86 processor architecture is also utilized, to a lesser extent, in traditional personal computer applications most notably with netbooks and, rarely, laptops and desktops. It is developed by the [[Open Handset Alliance]], led by [[Google]].<ref name="philosophy">{{cite web |url=http://source.android.com/about/philosophy.html |title=Philosophy and Goals |work=Android Open Source Project |publisher=Google |accessdate=2012-04-21}}</ref>

Google financially backed the initial developer of the software, Android Inc., and later purchased it in 2005.<ref name="AndroidInc">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |title=Google Buys Android for Its Mobile Arsenal |last=Elgin |first=Ben |date=August 17, 2005 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |publisher=Bloomberg |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wk7sIvVb |archivedate=February 24, 2011 |accessdate=2012-02-20 |quote=In what could be a key move in its nascent wireless strategy, Google (GOOG) has quietly acquired startup Android Inc.&nbsp;...}}</ref> The unveiling of the Android distribution in 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 86 [[computer hardware|hardware]], software, and [[telecommunication]] companies devoted to advancing [[open standard]]s for mobile devices.<ref name="AndroidAnnouncement">{{cite press release |url=http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/press_110507.html |title=Industry Leaders Announce Open Platform for Mobile Devices |publisher=[[Open Handset Alliance]] |date=November 5, 2007 |accessdate=2012-02-17}}</ref> Google releases the Android code as [[open-source]], under the [[Apache License]].<ref name="AndroidOverview">{{cite web |url=http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/android_overview.html |publisher=Open Handset Alliance |title=Android Overview |accessdate=2012-02-15}}</ref> The [[Android Open Source Project]] (AOSP) is tasked with the maintenance and further development of Android.<ref name="source.android.com">{{cite web |url=http://source.android.com/about/index.html |title=About the Android Open Source Project |accessdate=2012-02-20}}</ref>