What is Android? Is it a Droid? A Smart Phone? A Mobile Operating System? A Tablet? A Device?

July 3, 2012 · 89 comments

What is Android

Tech is confusing.  When someone says Android most people probably think of a specific type of smart phone created by Google that runs one of numerous versions of the Android Operating System – but it isn’t ONE phone.

What IS Android?

Android is actually an open source Linux based Mobile Operating System created by a company named Android, Inc that was bought out by Google in 2005.

The Android OS runs on devices other than Google phones – particularly tablet devices – and naming a phone after an operating system is going to make this confusing forever more. It gets worse. According to the Wikipedia Android page:

“While Android is designed primarily for smartphones and tablets, the open and customizable nature of the operating system allows it to be used on other electronics, including laptops and netbooks, smartbooks,[63] ebook readers,[64] and smart TVs (Google TV).

Further, the OS has seen niche applications on wristwatches,[65] headphones,[66] car CD and DVD players,[67] smart glasses (Project Glass), refrigerators, vehicle satnav systems, home automation systems, games consoles, mirrors,[68] cameras,[69] portable media players[70] landlines,[71] and treadmills.[72]“

Or consider this Comparison of Android Devices definition:

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an
operating system, middleware, and key applications.[1]

So technically I suppose you could call ANYTHING running the Android O/S an Android, but it is not even ONE kind of phone!

I’m publishing this post because I’ve been asked to write about Android Apps and to do that well I first have to understand what Android is.

Because there is so much interest in Android I have agreed to share some specific types of Apps and additional information.

For any who wonder, I choose not to use smart phones personally because I have no desire to be tracked wherever I go. For anyone concerned with privacy, I recommend How To See Where Your Android Device Has Been Tracking You.

Androids are a Privacy Nightmare

BEST ANDROID PHONES:

BEST ANDROID TABLETS:

ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM STATS

  • Q1 2012, Android had a 59% smartphone market share worldwide

 ANDROID APPS



Enjoyed this post?

Please use the social buttons below to share it on your favorite social sites or send it via email. Be sure to see our new posts by subscribing via RSS or by email to get our unique insights into what really works to increase your income. Also, check out more posts from the Best of GrowMap.

{ 89 comments… read them below or add one }

Astoria who writes about PhoneGap developers May 16, 2013 at 1:57 am

Android operating system is product of Google and provides open source to the users. The term droid definitely change the mobile world, if we see the SAMSUNG s4 review which is based on Android makes a strong position with respect to iPhone.

Reply

PatrickB April 28, 2013 at 3:50 pm

With the new Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One looming, as well as the new Facebook Home for Android, I think Android has finally turned the corner and will be the go-to operating system for mobile users. Whether Android can hold that lead depends on how innovative Apple’s next version of the iPhone is, but I think Apple definitely has a lot of ground to make up.

Reply

Nagaraju G who writes about the android mobile April 21, 2013 at 7:15 pm

Well Said, android os is very awesome and i really love to play my new android phone with latest os in it as it has so many countless features
Nagaraju G would love you to read ..Go anywhere with Few Clicks – ToucherMy Profile

Reply

Riki April 16, 2013 at 1:33 pm

I am very impressed with the android because they are very popular today. Whereas, to my knowledge, Android is a new mobile operating system. Thanks so much for the share with us.
Riki would love you to read ..Baby Car Seat CoversMy Profile

Reply

John who writes about Android News April 16, 2013 at 10:22 am

Android definitely has an edge over the other manufacturers due to it’s open source code.
John would love you to read ..How To Recover Your Android PhoneMy Profile

Reply

Greg who writes about Phone Service April 15, 2013 at 9:07 pm

android will always be the great OS for me. there are tons of apps. out there unlike iOS, most of their applications are not for free.

Reply

Ansh who writes about PhoneGap development March 28, 2013 at 7:47 pm

Android is a leader who is leading the smart phones market these days. According to the reports every 7 people use Smartphones in US out of every 10. US is the best place for Apple IOS and people are crazy about it but these days Android is rocking the world and almost 50 % of the Smartphone users are using the android OS in their gedgets.

Reply

Dan March 27, 2013 at 3:44 am

This is a very good article. Android is a great affordable OS which is becoming very popular.
Dan would love you to read ..Motorcycle GPS Navigator – All Terrain EditionMy Profile

Reply

Smartkathy who writes about Android Blogs March 3, 2013 at 10:22 pm

Hi there. Really a great post. Very good information about Android OS and its history. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Smartkathy would love you to read ..Android Apps Development – Fast and Easy Applications for Mobile PhonesMy Profile

Reply

Androjar March 3, 2013 at 9:23 pm

Nicely written post . I agree that android phone are a bit hazardous if you want to keep your location private.
Androjar would love you to read ..10 most interesting Temple Run like games for AndroidMy Profile

Reply

Sunil who writes about CommentLuv Blogs March 2, 2013 at 8:35 am

I agree with this post and yeah Android is best OS for smartphones.It gives awesome view and processing to its users.Very informative article sir.Keep it up
Sunil would love you to read ..Top 5 Best Samsung Android Phones In India With PriceMy Profile

Reply

Dr.Mobi who writes about The Mobi Mag February 21, 2013 at 3:58 am

Your Article hits me as it makes me think how we usually use the word Android to point to different things. We relate to the gadgets using the Android OS as Droids and Smartphones in particular as Android Smartphones.
Dr.Mobi would love you to read ..[How to] Download & Install Incompatible Apps on Android devicesMy Profile

Reply

androgue February 20, 2013 at 4:43 am

yeaahh adnroid is the best one of operating sytem on mobile devices :P i like coz i got freedom of entertaiment :P yahahah :)

Reply

Chris February 17, 2013 at 10:27 am

Great article. I guess some people really do confuse Android with something other than an awesome OS. They really should read your article, though.

Reply

Gaurav Pareek February 16, 2013 at 8:32 pm

I think all the mobile operating systems have the power to entertain people. I am using an Android phone Samsung Galaxy S2 and i can do many things with this phone instead of any java kind of phone.
Gaurav Pareek would love you to read ..Celkon A27 Smartphone Specifications, Drawbacks, Features and PriceMy Profile

Reply

Sanjeev Singh February 10, 2013 at 11:12 pm

I think Windows mobile of Microsoft with Nokia will bang the smartphone market. And may be this new year would be of both Nokia & Microsoft
Sanjeev Singh would love you to read ..2013: Smartphone war has just BegunMy Profile

Reply

Jishnu who writes about Technology Exposed February 7, 2013 at 10:04 pm

For me Android is an OS too much vulnerable to malwares.

Thank you for writing this article.
Jishnu would love you to read ..Best Free Internet Security Suite For 2013My Profile

Reply

SouthAfrican Casino February 4, 2013 at 8:38 pm

I didn’t know that user can be tracked using their phones. This sound terrifying.

Reply

Android Launchers February 11, 2013 at 8:51 pm

It’s strange that you don’t know about mobile phone tracking. A user can be easily tracked either via GPS or multilateration of radio signals.
Android Launchers would love you to read ..Top 5 Wi-Fi File Transfer Apps for iPhoneMy Profile

Reply

myles February 1, 2013 at 1:38 am

Yea android has become a real weapon , in the hands of a common man. Lol, i meant it is cheap , it is affordable and it is effeicent.!! and most part it is amazing.!! i love it <3
myles would love you to read ..Turn your Android Phone to lumia !My Profile

Reply

One Click Root January 31, 2013 at 10:56 pm

In rooting your Android smart phone there’s a risk on it, it may ruin your phone and turn into a useless brick. Also it will break the warranty on of your phone.
One Click Root would love you to read ..Is Your Favorite Android App Tracking You? Prepare to Be SurprisedMy Profile

Reply

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge
This blog uses premium CommentLuv which allows you to put your keywords with your name if you have had 1 approved comments. Use your real name and then @ your keywords (maximum of 5) WARNING: Comments that contain ONLY keywords are likely to be deleted. Please use a name followed by @ your keywords.

Previous post:

Next post: