Android (operating system): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:44, 31 January 2011

Revision as of 22:09, 31 January 2011

Line 24:

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= 2010-11-15}}</ref>

In Q4 2010 the Android O.S. was the world's best-selling smartphone platform, dethroning [[Nokia]]'s [[Symbian]] from the 10 year top position, according to Canalys.<ref name="canalysQ42010">{{cite web | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/01/31/oukin-uk-google-nokia-idUKTRE70U1YT20110131 |title=Google topples Symbian from smartphones top spot|accessdate=1 February 2011|author=Tarmo Virki and Sinead Carew|work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.canalys.com/pr/2011/r2011013.html |title=Google's Android becomes the world's leading smart phone platform (Canalys research release: r2011013) |work=Canalys |date=31 January 2011|accessdate=1 February 2011}}</ref>

Android has a large community of developers writing [[application software|application programs]] ("''apps''") that extend the functionality of the devices. There are currently over 200,000 apps available for Android.<ref>http://www.stockbriefings.com/google-inc-nasdaqgoog-android-has-200000-apps-2/3179516</ref>[[Android Market]] is the online app store run by Google, though apps can be downloaded from third-party sites ([[AT&T]] permits third-party apps only on their Aria phone <ref>http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/users-finally-able-to-install-third-party-android-apps-on-the-aria</ref>). Developers write primarily in the [[Java (programming language)|Java language]], controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com/8301-13580_3-9815495-39.html |title=Google's Android parts ways with Java industry group |work=[[CNET News]] |first=Stephen |last=Shankland |date=12 November 2007}}</ref> [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]] and other languages are also available for Android development via the [http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/ Android Scripting Environment].

Line 382:

===Market share===

Research company [[Canalys]] estimated that byin Q2 2009, that Android had a 2.8% share of the worldwide [[smartphone]] marketshipments.<ref name=Insider_1>{{cite news |title=Canalys: iPhone outsold all Windows Mobile phones in Q2 2009 |url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/08/21/canalys_iphone_outsold_all_windows_mobile_phones_in_q2_2009.html |newspaper=[[AppleInsider]] |date=21 August 2009 |accessdate=2009-09-21}}</ref> By Q4 2010 this had grown to 33% of the market, becoming the top-selling smartphone platform. This estimate includes the Tapas and OMS variants of Android.<ref name="canalysQ42010"/>

In February 2010 [[ComScore]] said the Android platform had 9.0% of the U.S. smartphone market, as measured by current mobile subscribers. This figure was up from an earlier estimate of 5.2% in November 2009.<ref name="ComScore Feb 2010">