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!
 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
        Android Architecture
  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
 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!