An introduction to Android

What is Android? Android is the first free, open source and fully customizable mobile platform

Android is the first free, open source and fully customizable mobile platform

What is Android? Bought by Google in an effort to extend its reach from the computer-based internet to the mobile internet Developed by the Open Handset Alliance , a group of more than 30 companies, including Google, T-Mobile, Intel, HTC, Qualcomm and Motorola, etc... A fully integrated bundle of software that will significantly lower the current costs and time for developing mobile devices and services

Bought by Google in an effort to extend its reach from the computer-based internet to the mobile internet

Developed by the Open Handset Alliance , a group of more than 30 companies, including Google, T-Mobile, Intel, HTC, Qualcomm and Motorola, etc...

A fully integrated bundle of software that will significantly lower the current costs and time for developing mobile devices and services

What is Android? Android is currently available on the G1 from T-Mobile Manufactured by HTC More devices rumored to be arriving later in 2009 from HTC, LG, Samsung, Garmin, etc…

Android is currently available on the G1 from T-Mobile

Manufactured by HTC

More devices rumored to be arriving later in 2009 from HTC, LG, Samsung, Garmin, etc…

Android applications Applications access core mobile device functionality through standard APIs Through intents, applications can announce their capabilities for other applications to use Applications without borders Applications embed the web Applications run in parallel Applications can easily embed HTML, Javascript, and style sheets While running in the background, an application can produce notifications to get users’ attention

Applications access core mobile device functionality through standard APIs

Through intents, applications can announce their capabilities for other applications to use

Applications can easily embed HTML, Javascript, and style sheets

While running in the background, an application can produce notifications to get users’ attention

Android applications An overview of apps is available on the Android Market site, but apps can only be downloaded via the device

Android / G1 vs iPhone Flash available soon Flash prohibited by T&C No MMS available 8 GB & 16 GB versions All controls on touchscreen Standard 3.5 mm headphone jack Thinner, lighter; fits in case; elegant Multi-touch (patented) Ship for new battery; memory fixed No multi-tasking, except for music Built-in media player Virtual keypad; multi-lingual; fixed iPhone MMS is standard Only 192 MB; can buy micro SD Touchscreen and trackball controls 5-pin mini-USB plug for headphones Bulky; case won’t fit No multi-touch, only “long touch” Change battery / memory at any time Applications run in background Weak video playback Physical keypad; slides out Android / G1 PUSH Advantage

Android / G1 vs iPhone – Weather Similarities Local navigation Differences iPhone: Access to more weather options is present on screen iPhone: Share functionality

Similarities

Local navigation

Differences

iPhone: Access to more weather options is present on screen

iPhone: Share functionality

Android / G1 vs iPhone – Games Similarities Accelerometer mode Swipe mode Differences iPhone: Touchscreen D-Pad Android / G1: Trackball Access to menu options

Similarities

Accelerometer mode

Swipe mode

Differences

iPhone: Touchscreen D-Pad

Android / G1: Trackball

Access to menu options

Android / G1 limitations Only sync with Gmail; no Exchange or desktop Outlook syncing No speed dialing No video recording functionality No notes, tasks, or to-do list applications pre-installed Basic navigation – back and forward – and bookmarks are hidden Press “Menu”, then “More” for these options No Bluetooth stereo, contacts exchange, modem pairing or wireless keyboards Not truly open-source? Google criticized for trying to control the system

Only sync with Gmail; no Exchange or desktop Outlook syncing

No speed dialing

No video recording functionality

No notes, tasks, or to-do list applications pre-installed

Basic navigation – back and forward – and bookmarks are hidden

Press “Menu”, then “More” for these options

No Bluetooth stereo, contacts exchange, modem pairing or wireless keyboards

Not truly open-source?

Google criticized for trying to control the system

Publishing applications to the Android Market Register using a Google account ($25 fee) Upload the application whenever you want, as many times as you want , and then publish it when ready Once published, users can browse to the application, download it and rate it Unlike Apple's App Store, Google's Android Market doesn't have any approval process for applications After registration, developers can offer their applications in the store without any further validation or approval Apple’s approval can take a month or more

Register using a Google account ($25 fee)

Upload the application whenever you want, as many times as you want , and then publish it when ready

Once published, users can browse to the application, download it and rate it

Unlike Apple's App Store, Google's Android Market doesn't have any approval process for applications

After registration, developers can offer their applications in the store without any further validation or approval

Apple’s approval can take a month or more

Android resources android.com Brief introduction to Android, with some helpful links and videos source.android.com A little more robust, with more content and links android.com/market Overview of available Android applications anddev.org Android development community code.google.com/android/index.html Useful site with information on getting started androiddevelopment.org/ Developers blog androidcommunity.com/ Android community with articles, forums, blogs, etc…

android.com

Brief introduction to Android, with some helpful links and videos

source.android.com

A little more robust, with more content and links

android.com/market

Overview of available Android applications

anddev.org

Android development community

code.google.com/android/index.html

Useful site with information on getting started

androiddevelopment.org/

Developers blog

androidcommunity.com/

Android community with articles, forums, blogs, etc…

Questions? Erik Fields Senior User Experience Architect THINK Interactive email: efields (at) thinkinc.com