Introduction to Android
With a 72% chance that a smartphone is running Android, its usage has been increasing over the past five years. The story of Android began in 1989, involving Andy Rubin, a robotics engineer who met an Apple software engineer in the Cayman Islands, leading to a job offer and a career in Silicon Valley.
The Early Years of Andy Rubin
Andy Rubin, also known as Andy the Android, worked on side projects, including building robots, while at companies like General Magic, where he met Tony Fadell, the future creator of the iPod and iPhone. After General Magic went bust, Andy pursued his dream of creating a smartphone, and in 1999, he started a company that developed the Hip Top, a phone with a keyboard that could wirelessly connect to the internet.
Challenges in the Mobile Phone Industry
The mobile phone industry was controlled by carrier companies, making it difficult for Andy to produce his phone. He struggled to get a carrier on board and eventually made an unfavorable deal with T-Mobile, which rebranded his phone as the T-Mobile Sidekick. Although the phone was somewhat successful, its popularity was limited, but it did get into the hands of Larry Page, the co-founder of Google.
The Birth of Android
Larry Page saw potential in smartphones and wanted Google to create one, but knew carriers wouldn’t allow it. He waited and developed a new business model to end the carrier monopoly by giving out software for free and earning money from carrier service fees, and planned to make the operating system open-source. Andy combined two ideas into a new company called Android in 2004, which was later bought by Google for $50 million.
Development and Launch of Android
Over the next two years, Andy and his team developed Android into a fully functional operating system, but they still needed to design a phone and partner with a carrier to sell it. However, finding a carrier willing to give up control of the phone market proved difficult, with every carrier contacted turning them down, until Apple unveiled the iPhone in 2007. The Android office was in chaos after Apple integrated touchscreen technology into their phone, prompting Andy’s team to redesign their product.
Rise of Android
Apple’s exclusive deal with AT&T and lack of effort to break up the carrier monopoly ultimately helped Android, as other carriers became eager to offer alternative smartphones, leading to T-Mobile selling the first Android phone, the HTC Dream. Google used the extra time to form alliances with various carriers, software developers, and manufacturers. The Open Handset Alliance was created in 2007, making Android an open-source alternative to iOS.
Market Share and Growth
By 2009, iOS held 40% of the smartphone market, but Android scored its first big victory with the Motorola Droid, which was heavily marketed by Verizon as an iPhone alternative. Android quickly reached mass-market adoption, while Apple focused on its high-priced and exclusive approach, unable to stop Android’s growth by 2010. Android surpassed iOS in market share by the end of the year it was released and remains the world’s most popular mobile operating system, with over 72.7% of the market share and 2 billion active users.
Current Status and Future Developments
Despite facing criticism for security flaws and malware issues, Android shows no signs of slowing down, with its latest release, 8.0 Oreo, being its most ambitious one yet. Android Oreo is being praised for its improved process control and solution to fragmentation issues, and its integration into various devices beyond phones and tablets, such as cars, watches, and TVs, thanks to its Internet of Things version, solidifying its position as a leading operating system.
Key Features and Benefits of Android
- Open-source operating system
- Free software with revenue generated from carrier service fees
- Integration with various devices and platforms
- Improved process control and solution to fragmentation issues
- Mass-market adoption and high market share
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Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Android | An open-source mobile operating system developed by Google. | The new smartphone runs on the Android operating system. |
| Open-source | A type of software that is freely available and can be modified by anyone. | The open-source nature of Android allows developers to create custom versions. |
| Carrier monopoly | A situation where a single company or group of companies has complete control over a market or industry. | The carrier monopoly in the mobile phone industry made it difficult for new companies to enter the market. |
| Fragmentation | The phenomenon of different devices running different versions of an operating system, making it difficult to develop and maintain software. | Android’s fragmentation issue makes it challenging for developers to create apps that work on all devices. |
| Internet of Things (IoT) | A network of physical devices, vehicles, and other items that are embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity, allowing them to collect and exchange data. | The Internet of Things version of Android enables integration with various devices beyond phones and tablets. |
| Market share | The percentage of a market that a company or product controls. | Android has a significant market share in the smartphone industry, with over 72.7% of the market. |
| Mass-market adoption | The widespread acceptance and use of a product or technology by a large number of people. | Android’s mass-market adoption has contributed to its success and popularity. |
| Malware | Software that is designed to harm or exploit a computer system or mobile device. | Android devices are vulnerable to malware attacks, which can compromise user data and security. |
| Operating system | Software that manages computer hardware and software resources, providing a platform for running applications. | Android is a popular operating system for mobile devices, offering a range of features and functionalities. |
| Process control | The ability to manage and regulate the execution of processes or tasks within a system or application. | Android’s improved process control enables better performance and efficiency in managing system resources. |
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Vocabulary Quiz
1. Which word means ‘a system of control where one company or group has complete power’?
A) Monopoly
B) Open-source
C) Fragmentation
D) Carrier
2. What does ‘open-source’ mean in the context of Android?
A) A system where only one company can use the software
B) A type of phone that can only be used with one carrier
C) Software that is free and can be modified by anyone
D) A type of operating system that is only used for tablets
3. What was the name of the first Android phone sold by T-Mobile?
A) HTC Dream
B) Motorola Droid
C) T-Mobile Sidekick
D) iPhone
4. What is ‘fragmentation’ in the context of Android?
A) The process of making software free for everyone
B) The issue of different devices running different versions of the operating system
C) The act of creating a new company to develop smartphones
D) The process of designing a phone with a keyboard
5. What is the name of the latest release of Android mentioned in the text?
A) Android 7.0
B) Android Oreo 8.0
C) iOS 10
D) Windows 10
Answer Key:
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. B
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense
Grammar Quiz:
Choose the correct answer for each question:
1. By the time Andy started Android, ____________________ a company that developed the Hip Top.
he has started
he started
he had started
he starts
2. The mobile phone industry ____________________ by carrier companies when Andy tried to produce his phone.
was controlled
is controlled
has been controlled
had been controlled
3. Before Larry Page bought Android, ____________________ a new business model to end the carrier monopoly.
he develops
he developed
he has developed
he had developed
4. By the time the iPhone was unveiled, Andy’s team ____________________ a fully functional operating system.
had developed
developed
has developed
develops
5. When Android surpassed iOS in market share, Apple ____________________ on its high-priced and exclusive approach.
has focused
focused
had focused
was focusing
Answer Key:
5. had focused