Future of Mobile: Android and the Open Handset Alliance (OHA)

by Dave Burke (Google)

Software development kit released on Monday: http://code.google.com/android/documentation.html

• Exposes Java for application developers -- SDK is based on Eclipse (works on Windows, Mac & Linux)

• Free phone stack provides at least 10% reduction of bill of materials for device
• Applications run as individual Linux processes with different user ids
• Complete two-way sync for user data (google gears?)
• Leveraging open APIs to expose application functionality

• Scalable to work with different device capabilities & input

• Component-based -- user can replace components
  • e.g.
• Overall architecture:

  • has freetype, media framework, SGL, OpenGL, LibWebCore (part of WebKit) libraries

  • Java runs in Dalvik Java VM
  • Four core apps: home, dialer, contacts, browser (can all be swapped out)
  • Can run MIDP applications in parallel
• Full source will be released with first handset
• Browser has visual history
• Can use Google Maps as a control in your own applications
• Example development process:
  • Emulator is real ARM emulator
  • Can create user interface declaratively using XML
  • Plugin picks up ids from UI XML and makes them available in java code completion
  • Can extend javascript in running browser component with native Java code
  • manifest file has permissions where can add security permissions
• Application Developer Challenge will distribute $10 million in awards to developers of applications for the platform
  • Developers retain all intellectual property and other rights to their applications while granting Google a license to evaluate and test the application for purposes of the Challenge as well as a license to display the application to promote the Android platform. More information will be provided when we make the Terms and Conditions available

• Android has simpler security system (for the user) than MIDP -- need details here

• Already works with real handsets but not available to public

• WebKit engine supports Netscape-style plugins

• Released under Apache license at the moment
• Designed for high-end platforms that include an MMU
• Own set of APIs providing full access to the device as opposed to MIDP
• Java is 1.5 so has generics etc.