What is Android OS? Easily explained

The name "Android OS" often comes up when you hear or read from smartphones. You can find out exactly what Android OS is, what it can do and where it is used in this article. First of all, you should differentiate between the two most important smartphone operating systems at the moment: Android OS and iOS.

Classify Android OS: Overview of operating systems

In addition to Android smartphones, iOS devices are also available on the market. You will also find cell phones with less common systems such as Windows Phone OS or Blackberry OS.

• The smartphones and tablets from Apple run on the iOS operating system.
• On the other hand, all smartphones of the brands Samsung, Sony or HTC run with the Android operating system, which is also called "Android OS". This system comes from Google, but is constantly changed by the individual cell phone manufacturers.
• A derived version of the "Android OS" operating system called "Android Wear" runs on the smartwatches.
• You also know an operating system from your computer: Here, the Windows operating systems Windows 8, Windows 7 or MacOS or Linux run on conventional devices.
• An operating system is basically a large piece of software that is required by the respective hardware in order to be able to process the system resources.
• Several computer programs and functions are usually integrated in one operating system, including Android OS:

What can Android OS do?

The term "Android" comes from the Greek "androïdes" and means "human-like". Like humans, the operating system should be able to do as much as possible:

• Android OS is installed on most smartphones and tablets from various companies. These include LG, HTC and Samsung.
• There are now many different versions of Android. The current Android update has the number 5.0 or 5.1 and is called "Lollipop". Compared to older versions, there are significantly more functions here. Earlier security gaps have also been closed.
• You control the system via the touchscreen of your smartphone and the hardware buttons, if there are any.
• Android has a homescreen on which you can find icons for various applications that you can start with Android OS. If you touch the symbols, the respective program or game starts.
• You expand the software of your Android smartphone with other so-called apps that you can purchase free of charge but also for a fee via the Play Store.
• Another characteristic of the Android OS is the upper notification bar, through which you receive messages from the various apps or the system.
• Android is free software. With the appropriate programming experience, you can develop Android extensions and Android applications yourself and offer them to other users in the Play Store.

The different versions of Android and their names

The first version of the operating system is now from 2008. The version Android 1.0 is also known as "Apple Pie".

• It should be explained here: The Android versions are arranged according to the alphabet and are always named after a dessert (in the English language).
• Android was invented by software developer Andy Rubin. But already in 2005 the company Google bought the company founded in 2003.
• The current Android version 5 called "Lollipop" will soon receive its successor, which is currently only called "Android M". It is not yet known whether "Muffin", Milkshake "or any other milk dish is hidden behind the" M ".

More detailed information about the features of Android 5 can be found in another article.