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Last year when Apple launch his Iphone, it certainly started a revolution in the previously rather sleepy market. Now a year later, the eyes of millions of people are glimmering toward the future Iphone revision of the mobile device, the Iphone 2. During the past year, Apple has developed and enhanced his new product, it has also radically change his commercial strategy, in order to be much more aggressive on the market and much more widespread.

Now although Apple has clearly fix what will be the next standard of the future devices, the other major companies certainly haven’t slept all this year. Just like Apple last year another player which was previously a total strange to mobile devices is about to enter the ring, namely Google.

But unlike Apple, instead of developing their own device and going solo on the market like a good old Cowboy, they choose to develop a framework that will be installed on other mobile constructors (They Probably intended initially, at least in the US, but as they could not win the auction for the 700 MHz band, this will probably have to wait).

So what is exactly Android ? Android is a software platform and also an OS developed for mobile devices (the underlying is based on Linux). It was developed by Google as well as the other members of the Open Handset Alliance. The Alliance is formed by Mobile operators, Software companies, Commercialization Companies , Semi-Conductor and finally Handset manufacturers. Amongst then we can cite :

• China Mobile, NTT DoCoMo
• Ebay, Google
• Intel, NVidia
• HTC, LG, Motorola …

(a more exhaustive list is available here)

Just like Apple, Android offers developpers a SDK, but unlike the Iphone SDK, it is available on Windows (XP and Vista), MacOs and Linux. Moreover, Google is also 10 Million US dollars prize for a competition that will reward the coolest softwares. In the Android Developer Challenge I, the 50 most promising entries received by April 14 will each receive a $25,000 award to fund further development. Those selected will then be eligible for even greater recognition via ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards. The Top 50 Applications (results from Android Developer Challenge Part 1, Round 1) were announced on 12 May 2008 (source Wikipedia).

Now enough talking, let’s see what’s under the groom’s dress and discover what Android is capable of.This first video demonstrate a live demo of Android :

This one demonstrate the use of the accelerometer in Google Maps. Quite inmressive :

Last but not least, here comes Pac-Man

As we can see the battle for the future of mobile device is not over yet, I’d even say it has barely started. Let’s see who will next retaliate for our greatest pleasure

Source: Android Community