This document provides information about Android, an open source software stack for mobile devices. It discusses that Android will allow developers to write applications that run on mobile phones. The document outlines some of Android's features like its application framework, Dalvik virtual machine, integrated browser, graphics APIs, SQLite database, media codecs, and support for Bluetooth, cellular networks and other wireless technologies. It also describes Android's architecture and challenges of developing for mobile like limited CPU, RAM, storage and intermittent network connectivity. Opportunities mentioned include the large user base of mobile phones and potential for new mobile application categories. Suggested project ideas involve developing web scrapers, asynchronous games, and a location-aware planner application.

1. Android
Google

2. Android
An Open Handset Alliance Project
• http://code.google.com/android
• Write apps to run on mobile phones
• Will be released as open source
• Can download the SDK today!

3. Android Features
• Application Framework
• Dalvik virtual machine
• Integrated (webkit) browser
• 2D and 3D graphics APIs with HW
• SQLite
• Video and audio codecs
• Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G, and WiFi
• Camera, GPS, compass, and accelerometer

4. Android Architecture

5. Challenges
• CPU typically runs 500-600 Mhz
• RAM available to an App may only be a few megabytes
• Disk (flash) access is very slow
• Lifecycle - apps must pause/quit often, and restore to give
the illusion that they are always running
• UI design
o typical screen may be HVGA (320x480)
o may be in portrait or landscape
o very high DPI - small text may not be readable
o touch resolution is very low (~25 pixel)
• Network access may be slow and (very) intermittent

6. Opportunities
• 100s of millions of mobile phone users
• Very high growth, esp. in Asia
• "Wild wild west" of application development
o think 1985 on the desktop (if you were born by then)
o no dominant 3rd party developers.... yet
o what will the killer app categories be?
o what does it mean to have any app + the internet in
your pocket?
• You can develop for it today!

7. Possibilities
Augmented Campus Reality Web scraping
• camera + maps + compass • news filters
= heads up info • sport scores
• dook news eliminators
Games
• multi-player (bluetooth, Distributed computing?
wifi, cell) • 10,000 phones all donating
• location-based (scavenger their idle time
hunt) • tiny terminal (phone) + fast
cpu/network (server)
Custom overlays for maps
• weather, traffic, friends Shared whiteboard

8. Project Suggestions
• Web Scrapers [movies, weather, sports, <topic> news]
o Find multiple web sources
o Scrape them for the relevant information
o Present in a custom UI on the phone
• Asynchronous games [chess, poker, risk]
o Develop an API for all games to communicate through
1.Establish connections by phone number
– Send and receive game data
– Ability to reopen connections
• Planner/To-do list with location data
o Decide route to next class, meeting, etc
o Find a order/route for non time-critical tasks
o Connect to campus directory to find
teachers/classmates