Google's Android was demonstrated recently at the Google I/O conference. Initial demonstrations of the updated -- though still in progress -- mobile operating system included footage of unlocking the device, the application launcher and the Home Screen.
The Google I/O conference was this week, and the team working on Android took the opportunity to show off this upcoming mobile operating system.
It's clear that a great deal of work has been done on the user interface in the last few months, as it looks significantly more polished than it did during the first demonstrations of Android last fall.
The first of these shows the process for unlocking the phone by drawing a pattern on the screen, the application launcher with icons and a status bar, and the Home Screen. It also introduces the web browser, which allows users to display a miniature version of a whole web page, but then expand a portion of the page for easier reading.
More about Android
The group behind this operating system is called the Open Handset Alliance, and it's a collection of 30+ companies, including Intel, TI, Sprint, T-Mobile, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, and Wind River, but being led by Google.
Android will consist of a Linux-based operating system, middleware, and key mobile applications. Many of these are likely to tie into Google's services, like Gmail and Google Maps.
Because this platform will be open source, the Alliance hopes it will be quickly extended to incorporate new technologies as they emerge.
In addition, it will be open to third-parties to create applications using Java.
The initial smartphones running Android are scheduled for release later this year. The first of these will be from HTC, but this will be followed up by devices from a variety of companies and wireless carriers.
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