2. Android’s Impact on Netbooks Agenda What is Android? A Brief Tour of the Android Software Stack Enabling Applications Beyond Smartphones Examples of Android in Netbooks Conclusions San Francisco, CA May 2010 2
3. What is Android? A robot in the form of a human being? Applications for smartphones? A user interface? An OS for connected devices? An ecosystem? All of the above. San Francisco, CA May 2010 3
4. Android’s Origins Google buys Android Founded by Andy Rubin, now Google VP Engineering Open Handset Alliance formed Announcing the development of Android Originally 34 members Semiconductors, H/W, S/W, wireless operators Now 71 members Google announces Android Open Source Project.
6. Android Open Source Project The first free, open source, fully customizable mobile platform. Licensed by Apache 2.0: Use and modify, develop proprietary features. A complete software stack An operating system, middleware, and key mobile applications. APIs for third-party application development. San Francisco, CA May 2010 6
7. Android: The Operating System Built on Linux 2.6.24 But Android is NOT Linux. Linux provides a proven open-source foundation. “Enhanced” for mobile devices. Optimizations: Multiprocessing with IPC. Minimize memory requirements. More aggressive power management to conserve battery life. San Francisco, CA May 2010 7
8. Android Libraries Built for mobile applications Customized “Bionic” libc BSD license allows keeping enhancements proprietary. Supports multi-processing with small memory footprint. H/W abstraction layer outside of kernel for proprietary devices. WebKit (Safari) for browsing. Open GL 3D graphics Native A/V codecs Can be replaced with H/W accelerators. San Francisco, CA May 2010 8
9. Android in Operation Each application runs in its own process. Provides security. Optimized ‘Dalvik’ VM Addresses limitations of mobile vs. desktop computing. Designed to run applications efficiently with limited memory and CPU resources. San Francisco, CA May 2010 9
10. Android Applications Applications are generally written in Java (blue boxes). But compiled for Dalvik. Basic Android applications are part of the package. Other Google apps require OEM agreement; i.e. Maps All applications run at the same priority. All built-in apps can be replaced or enhanced. San Francisco, CA May 2010 10
11. The Android Application Market Android market Now >50,000 apps Apps must pass the “Compatibility Test Suite” Google’s App Store does not support non-smartphone devices Apps can be pre-installed by manufacturers or through 3rd party sites San Francisco, CA May 2010 11 For a comprehensive, up-to-date list of the thousands of titles that are available, you will need to view Android Market on a handset.
12. Advantages of Android Cost: free. Openness: copy, use, modify, retain IP. Ecosystem Google Semiconductors, S/W, app developers, CE manufacturers. vs. Linux: a complete software stack. “Linux is kind of like going to NAPA Auto Parts and trying to leave with an automobile… Android fixes that problem.” TI’s George Martin at ESC Silicon Valley vs. Windows: not limited to Intel processors. San Francisco, CA May 2010 12
13. Android & Embedded Processors- Beyond Smartphones Processor cores for mobile applications ARM: Solution Center for Android - SCA MIPS: MIPSandroid.org Integrated Application Processors Qualcomm Snapdragon (Nexus-One, HTC Incredible, etc.) TI OMAP (Motorola DROID) Samsung (Moment) NvidiaTegra Marvell Armada Freescale Intel Atom San Francisco, CA May 2010 13
14. Android in Netbooks- HP/Compaq AirLife 100 “Compaq touch experience” powered by Android™ Customized for larger screen Qualcomm Snapdragon™ QSD8250™ chipset Integrated 3G mobile broadband GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA 1 GHz CPU & 600 MHz DSP 3D graphics & HD video Sold only through Telefónica San Francisco, CA May 2010 14
15. Android in Netbooks- Acer Aspire® One D250-1613 Dual-boot with Microsoft Windows Intel® Atom™ N280 Processor Intel announced porting of Android at IDF-Beijing Android on Intel Atom is the application processor for Google TV San Francisco, CA May 2010 15
16. Android in Netbooks- LemoteYeeLoong 8089 MIPS-Based Loongson processor Joint venture with Chinese Institute of Computing Technologies “The world's first laptop that contains completely free software” Objective to develop a scalable computer architecture. San Francisco, CA May 2010 16
17. Android in Netbooks- ThunderSoft Android netbook solutions: Added multi-window, drag & drop UI. Supports mouse and cursor. Modified browser: multi-tab. H/W acceleration for 3D graphics, HD video playback. ARM processors Qualcomm TI OMAP Freescale San Francisco, CA May 2010 17
18. Android’s Impact on Netbooks Summary Android is an open and rapidly expanding ecosystem. OHA spawned the Open Embedded Software Foundation. Netbook applications are beginning to be introduced. Expected impact will be greatest in Asia. Bigger impact in U.S. will be Android-based tablets. San Francisco, CA May 2010 18
19. For More Information “The Android Invasion” See my reports at www.digdia.com: Discount to attendees Email me at mike.demler@digdia.com Also see my blog: The World Is Analog Follow me on Twitter: MikeDemler San Francisco, CA May 2010