What is the Android Operating System

The Android Operating System is clearly making it's presence felt in the past year and is bound to continue to continue to increase in numbers in the future. Unlike other mobile operating systems in the market, the Android Operating System is open-source by nature. Based on Linux, Android began after Google purchased the rights from the initial developer of the operating system. They then founded the Open Handset Alliance which is a group of companies from various but related sectors in communication, hardware and software that all adhere to and believe in the importance of advocating open standards for mobile devices.

For instance, Samsung, a Korean electronics brand, has a wide range of devices that run on Android. With the recent worldwide release of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and its bigger siblings, the 8.9 and the 10.1, there should absolutely no contest that Samsung and Android are aggressive in capturing market shares of the tablet PC market.

Other brands such as Acer, Archos, Asus, known in the computer biz, alongside long-time electronics favorites Sony, Motorola, Toshiba and ZTE are also joining the race in tablet supremacy. With Android as the operating system for all the devices that these companies churn out, the choice finally boils down to the specifications. Some are drool-worthy for a gadget-freak who wants his information and entertainment accessible on, for instance, a super bright or crisp screen, or even to the casual user who wants to own a tablet simply to play a couple of games that are available on the Android Market. Others are open to the idea of buying a tablet if only to have a device that is light yet packed with usable features.

Applications that run on the Android Operating System can be downloaded through the Android Market. Almost a million applications are present in the Android App store today. Unlike other App stores, most of the Apps in the Android Market are free. While that is already a plus in any user’s book, it does not guarantee the quality of Apps that are available. The Android Operating System has been well-received by consumers, and should continue to grow if the developers keep improving as they have in the past.