Android in Netbooks

Android’s Impact on Netbooks
Mike Demler
DIGDIA
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
1

Agenda
What is Android?
A Brief Tour of the Android Software Stack
Enabling Applications Beyond Smartphones
Examples of Android in Netbooks
Conclusions
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
2

What is Android?
A robot in the form of a human being?
Applications for smartphones?
A user interface?
An OS for connected devices?
An ecosystem?
All of the above.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
3

Android’s Origins
Google buys Android
Founded by Andy Rubin, now Google VP Engineering
Open Handset Alliance formed
Announcing the development of Android
Originally 34 members
Semiconductors, H/W, S/W, wireless operators
Now 71 members
Google announces Android Open Source Project.

Open Handset Alliance
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
5

Android Open Source Project
The first free, open source, fully customizable mobile platform.
Licensed by Apache 2.0: Use and modify, develop proprietary features.
A complete software stack
An operating system, middleware, and key mobile applications.
APIs for third-party application development.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
6

Android: The Operating System
Built on Linux 2.6.24
But Android is NOT Linux.
Linux provides a proven open-source foundation.
“Enhanced” for mobile devices.
Optimizations:
Multiprocessing with IPC.
Minimize memory requirements.
More aggressive power management to conserve battery life.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
7

Android Libraries
Built for mobile applications
Customized “Bionic” libc
BSD license allows keeping enhancements proprietary.
Supports multi-processing with small memory footprint.
H/W abstraction layer outside of kernel for proprietary devices.
WebKit (Safari) for browsing.
Open GL 3D graphics
Native A/V codecs
Can be replaced with H/W accelerators.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
8

Android in Operation
Each application runs in its own process.
Provides security.
Optimized ‘Dalvik’ VM
Addresses limitations of mobile vs. desktop computing.
Designed to run applications efficiently with limited memory and CPU resources.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
9

Android Applications
Applications are generally written in Java (blue boxes).
But compiled for Dalvik.
Basic Android applications are part of the package.
Other Google apps require OEM agreement; i.e. Maps
All applications run at the same priority.
All built-in apps can be replaced or enhanced.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
10

The Android Application Market
Android market
Now >50,000 apps
Apps must pass the “Compatibility Test Suite”
Google’s App Store does not support non-smartphone devices
Apps can be pre-installed by manufacturers or through 3rd party sites
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
11
For a comprehensive, up-to-date list of the thousands of titles that are available, you will need to view Android Market on a handset.

Advantages of Android
Cost: free.
Openness: copy, use, modify, retain IP.
Ecosystem
Google
Semiconductors, S/W, app developers, CE manufacturers.
vs. Linux: a complete software stack.
“Linux is kind of like going to NAPA Auto Parts and trying to leave with an automobile… Android fixes that problem.”
TI’s George Martin at ESC Silicon Valley
vs. Windows: not limited to Intel processors.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
12

Android & Embedded Processors- Beyond Smartphones
Processor cores for mobile applications
ARM: Solution Center for Android - SCA
MIPS: MIPSandroid.org
Integrated Application Processors
Qualcomm Snapdragon (Nexus-One, HTC Incredible, etc.)
TI OMAP (Motorola DROID)
Samsung (Moment)
NvidiaTegra
Marvell Armada
Freescale
Intel Atom
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
13

Android in Netbooks- HP/Compaq AirLife 100
“Compaq touch experience” powered by Android™
Customized for larger screen
Qualcomm Snapdragon™ QSD8250™ chipset
Integrated 3G mobile broadband
GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA
1 GHz CPU & 600 MHz DSP
3D graphics & HD video
Sold only through Telefónica
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
14

Android in Netbooks- Acer Aspire® One D250-1613
Dual-boot with Microsoft Windows
Intel® Atom™ N280 Processor
Intel announced porting of Android at IDF-Beijing
Android on Intel Atom is the application processor for Google TV
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
15

Android in Netbooks- LemoteYeeLoong 8089
MIPS-Based Loongson processor
Joint venture with Chinese Institute of Computing Technologies
“The world's first laptop that contains completely free software”
Objective to develop a scalable computer architecture.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
16

Android in Netbooks- ThunderSoft
Android netbook solutions:
Added multi-window, drag & drop UI.
Supports mouse and cursor.
Modified browser: multi-tab.
H/W acceleration for 3D graphics, HD video playback.
ARM processors
Qualcomm
TI OMAP
Freescale
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
17

Summary
Android is an open and rapidly expanding ecosystem.
OHA spawned the Open Embedded Software Foundation.
Netbook applications are beginning to be introduced.
Expected impact will be greatest in Asia.
Bigger impact in U.S. will be Android-based tablets.
San Francisco, CA
May 2010
18

For More Information
“The Android Invasion”
See my reports at www.digdia.com:
Discount to attendees
Email me at mike.demler@digdia.com
Also see my blog:
The World Is Analog
Follow me on Twitter:
MikeDemler
San Francisco, CA
May 2010

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Android in Netbooks

by Mike Demler on May 27, 2010

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