Android 101: A Beginner's Guide to the Android Platform
Archive note. This story reflects what was known when it was first covered. Prices, availability and carrier offers are historical. For the current picture, start with the topic guides.
What Android is
Android plays the same role on a phone as iOS does on an iPhone or BlackBerry OS does on a BlackBerry. It is mostly used on smartphones, but tablets and other media devices run it too.
Google does not build most Android phones itself. It partnered with HTC for the Nexus One and later with Samsung for the Nexus S. Because any manufacturer can use the platform, buyers were not tied to a single model.
Variety of phones
That openness produced a wide range of hardware. At the time you could choose from:
- Phones with a full QWERTY keyboard
- Touchscreens from 3 to 5 inches
- OLED and LCD displays
- Front and back cameras
- FM tuners
Apps
The Android Market listed more than 150,000 apps at the time of writing. They covered productivity, podcasts, note taking, music and movie players, and popular games such as Angry Birds, which was free on Android. Most apps were free or cost around 99 cents.
Browsing and email
Browsers such as Firefox and Chrome were available, with Flash support. Gmail and Google’s other online services were easy to reach, and any POP or IMAP email account could be added.
Choosing a phone
All Canadian carriers carried a selection of Android phones, so the practical step was to compare current models and pick the features you wanted.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Android?
Google creates the platform, and many manufacturers build phones that run it.
Is the Android Market still around?
No. It was later replaced by Google Play, and the app counts in this article are long out of date.
Why was Android available on so many phones?
It is an open platform, so any manufacturer could build a device with it.