Google Shows Off Highly Anticipated Android Software
Attendees of Google's annual developer conference were privy to the most extensive demonstration of the Android platform to date. Android is Google's highly anticipated, open source software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and applications. Developers can create applications for it with the Android SDK using Java.
Wednesday's demonstration gave programmers a glimpse of some of Android's features. The demonstration used touch screen technology, similar to that of the iPhone, though project leader Andy Rubin said it can be customized to work with a track ball as well. With the touch screen users will be able to unlock their phones by drawing a unique figure rather than using a password. One application was a compass tool that roams while the user looks at photographic images on a city map. The software also included a tool for zooming on web content and creating bookmarks for websites on the device's homepage. A mobile version of Pac Man was featured as well.
Rubin acknowledged that the Android platform is nearly finished but would not give a release date. He did say that devices powered by Android would hit the market some time in the last six months of the year. Google has partnered with 34 companies for its Android launch including handset makers Samsung Electronics Co., HTC and LG Electronics Inc.
Google hopes that the open source nature of Android will allow developers to create a wide variety of applications that will make Android powered devices more appealing to the public which, in turn, will result in more eyes viewing the Internet search leader's advertisements. Google is expected to pull in $20 billion this year in advertising revenue, mostly from personal computer viewing though. Android will allow Google to tap into the mobile market and analysts believe it could add another $5 billion in ad revenues within five years.
[via CNet]
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