Introducing the Android Computing Platform

Abstract

Computing continues to become more “personal,” increasingly accessible anytime, anywhere. At the forefront of this development are handheld devices that are transforming into computing platforms. Mobile phones are no longer just for talking—they have been capable of carrying data and video for some time. Significantly, the mobile device is becoming so capable of general-purpose computing that it’s destined to become the next PC (Personal Computer). It is also anticipated that even a number of traditional PC manufacturers such as ASUS, HP, and Dell will be producing devices of various form factors based on the Android OS. The battle lines between operating systems, computing platforms, programming languages, and development frameworks are being shifted and reapplied to mobile devices.