Android was originally developed by an independent company called Android Inc., which was established back in 2003. Android Inc. was acquired in 2005 by Google and pretty soon the very first version of the Android OS was in shape. From the off, Google planned to make Android a flexible, non-proprietary operating system and it was marketed as such to the manufacturers of phone handsets and also to mobile telephony networks.
At first, Android was not very well understood by tech pundits and critics. It was assumed that Google was planning to use Android as the foundation for a head to head battle with Apple in which Google would seek to come up with its own wonder phone – a potential iPhone killer. In fact, although Google has produced several low-key handsets, it turned out that the internet search giant was playing a rather different game. Instead of trying to beat Apple with its own handset range, it became apparent that Google was planning to outflank Apple, by allowing the Android software to be usable across a wide range of competing handsets made by different manufacturers.
When it first began to appear on smartphones in 2008, Android was a slow starter. The software was widely criticised for being clunky and subject to various bugs and flaws. At that time, the iPhone was certainly the ruler of the smartphone roost, and many observers made the mistake of thinking that was how it would always be. In fact, since then, Apple seems to have hit a plateau and has arguably gone into a slight decline. Android, on the other hand, is going from strength to strength with every year that goes by.
Whereas the early incarnations of the Android mobile OS were slated for being rough around the edges as compared with the super smooth user experience of Apple's iOS, that state of affairs has changed gradually for the better. It is fair to say that the experience of using an Android handset in late 2012 is quite different to using the 2008 version of Android. Nowadays, it is widely acknowledged that Android is not only giving the iPhone a run for its money but is actually outstripping Apple's flagship device in sales.
In addition to providing very flexible functionality to users, especially in terms of the possibilities offered for customizing their devices, Android has been universally praised for being open source every step of the way. Being open source has allowed Android to evolve quickly and successfully; in particular, the scope for downloading third party apps onto Android devices is one of the primary selling points of the platform.
Whereas Apple seeks to restrict and block third party developers, by not permitting them to develop software without first securing a license to do so, Android is free and open. The result is that the app scene on Android is very lively indeed, and this is without question one of the biggest factors in attracting consumers to buy Android smartphones instead of the latest iPhones.
At first, Android was not very well understood by tech pundits and critics. It was assumed that Google was planning to use Android as the foundation for a head to head battle with Apple in which Google would seek to come up with its own wonder phone – a potential iPhone killer. In fact, although Google has produced several low-key handsets, it turned out that the internet search giant was playing a rather different game. Instead of trying to beat Apple with its own handset range, it became apparent that Google was planning to outflank Apple, by allowing the Android software to be usable across a wide range of competing handsets made by different manufacturers.
When it first began to appear on smartphones in 2008, Android was a slow starter. The software was widely criticised for being clunky and subject to various bugs and flaws. At that time, the iPhone was certainly the ruler of the smartphone roost, and many observers made the mistake of thinking that was how it would always be. In fact, since then, Apple seems to have hit a plateau and has arguably gone into a slight decline. Android, on the other hand, is going from strength to strength with every year that goes by.
Whereas the early incarnations of the Android mobile OS were slated for being rough around the edges as compared with the super smooth user experience of Apple's iOS, that state of affairs has changed gradually for the better. It is fair to say that the experience of using an Android handset in late 2012 is quite different to using the 2008 version of Android. Nowadays, it is widely acknowledged that Android is not only giving the iPhone a run for its money but is actually outstripping Apple's flagship device in sales.
In addition to providing very flexible functionality to users, especially in terms of the possibilities offered for customizing their devices, Android has been universally praised for being open source every step of the way. Being open source has allowed Android to evolve quickly and successfully; in particular, the scope for downloading third party apps onto Android devices is one of the primary selling points of the platform.
Whereas Apple seeks to restrict and block third party developers, by not permitting them to develop software without first securing a license to do so, Android is free and open. The result is that the app scene on Android is very lively indeed, and this is without question one of the biggest factors in attracting consumers to buy Android smartphones instead of the latest iPhones.