1
Targeting Android
In this chapter,
Android the Open Source Mobile Platform
Android Application Architecture
A Sample Android Application
You’ve heard about Android. You’ve read about Android. Now it is time to Unlock Android.
Android is the software platform from Google and the Open Handset Alliance that has the potential to
revolutionize the global cell phone market. This chapter introduces Android – what it is, and importantly, what it is
not. After reading this chapter you will have an understanding of how Android is constructed, how it compares with
other offerings in the market, Android’s foundational technologies, and a preview of Android application
architecture. The chapter concludes with a simple Android application to get things started quickly.
This introductory chapter answers some of the basic questions about what Android is and where it fits. While
there are code examples in this chapter, they are not very in-depth – just enough to get a taste for Android
application development and to convey the key concepts introduced. Aside from some context-setting discussion
in the introductory chapter, this book is about unlocking Android’s capabilities and will hopefully inspire you to join
the effort to unlock the latent potential in the cell phone of the very near future.
1.1 Introducing Android
Android is the first open source mobile application platform that has the potential to make significant inroads in
many markets. When examining Android there are a number of dimensions to consider, both technical and market
related. This first section introduces the platform and provides some context to help better understand Android
and where it fits in the global cell phone scene.
Android is the product of primarily Google, but more appropriately, the Open Handset Alliance. The Open
Handset Alliance is an organization of approximately 30 organizations committed to bringing a “better” and “open”
mobile phone to market. A quote taken from their website says it best, “Android was built from the ground up with
the explicit goal to be the first open, complete, and free platform created specifically for mobile devices.” As
discussed in this section, open is good, complete is good, however “free” may be turn out to be an ambitious goal.
There are many examples of “free” in the computing market that are free from licensing, but of course there is a
“cost of ownership” when taking support and hardware costs into account. And of course, “free” cell phones come
tethered to two year contracts, plus tax. No matter the way some of the details play out, the introduction of
Android is a market moving event and Android is likely to prove an important player in the mobile software
landscape.
With this background of who is behind Android and the basic ambition of the Open Handset Alliance, it is time to
understand a little more about the platform itself and how it fits in the mobile marketplace.
Please post comments or corrections to the Author Online forum at
http://www.manning-sandbox.com/forum.jspa?forumID=411
Licensed to Thow Way Chiam <ken.ctw@gmail.com>
