List of features in Android

This is a list of features in the Android operating system.^[1][2][3]

General

Messaging

SMS and MMS are available forms of messaging, including threaded text messaging and Android Cloud To Device Messaging (C2DM) and now enhanced version of C2DM, Android Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) is also a part of Android Push Messaging services. Android phones also have the ability to send and receive RCS via the messages app (if supported by the carrier).

Autocorrection and Dictionary

Android has an feature called autocorrection. When any word is misspelled, then Android recommends the meaningful and correct words matching the words that are available in dictionary. Users can add, edit, and remove words from dictionary as per their wish.^[4]

Web browser

The web browser available in Android is based on the open-source Blink (previously WebKit) layout engine, coupled with Chromium's V8 JavaScript engine. Then the WebKit-using Android Browser scored 100/100 on the Acid3 test on Android 4.0 ICS; the Blink-based browser currently has better standards support. The old web browser is variably known as 'Android Browser', 'AOSP browser', 'stock browser', 'native browser', and 'default browser' (from the time it was always the default). Starting with Android 4.2, this browser was deprecated in favor of Google Chrome for Android.^[5] Since Android 5.0 Lollipop, the WebView browser that apps can use to display web content without leaving the app has been separated from the rest of the Android firmware in order to facilitate separate security updates by Google.

Voice-based features

Google search through voice has been available since initial release.^[6] Voice actions for calling, texting, navigation, etc. are supported on Android 2.2 onwards.^[7] As of Android 4.1, Google has expanded Voice Actions with ability to talk back and read answers from Google's Knowledge Graph when queried with specific commands.^[8] The ability to control hardware has not yet been implemented.

Multi-touch

Android has native support for multi-touch which was initially made available in handsets such as the HTC Hero. The feature was originally disabled at the kernel level (possibly to avoid infringing Apple's patents on touch-screen technology at the time).^[9] Google has since released an update for the Nexus One and the Motorola Droid which enables multi-touch natively.^[10]

Multitasking

Multitasking of applications, with unique handling of memory allocation, is available.^[11]

Screen capture

Android supports capturing a screenshot by pressing the power and home-screen buttons at the same time.^[12] Prior to Android 4.0, the only methods of capturing a screenshot were through manufacturer and third-party customizations (apps), or otherwise by using a PC connection (DDMS developer's tool). These alternative methods are still available with the latest Android.

TV recording

Android TV supports capturing and replaying TV recordings. ^[13]

Video calling

Android does not support native video calling, but some handsets have a customized version of the operating system that supports it, either via the UMTS network (like the Samsung Galaxy S) or over IP. Video calling through Google Talk is available in Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) and later. Gingerbread allows Nexus S to place Internet calls with a SIP account. This allows for enhanced VoIP dialing to other SIP accounts and even phone numbers. Skype 2.1 offers video calling in Android 2.3, including front camera support. Users with the Google+ Android app can perform video chat with other Google+ users through Hangouts.

Multiple language support

Android supports multiple languages.^[14]

Accessibility

Built-in text-to-speech is provided by TalkBack for people with low or no vision. Enhancements for people with hearing difficulties are available, as are other aids.

Connectivity

Connectivity

Android supports connectivity technologies including GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth, LTE, CDMA, EV-DO, UMTS, NFC, THAILAND and WiMAX.

Bluetooth

Supports voice dialing and sending contacts between phones, playing music, sending files (OPP), accessing the phone book (PBAP), A2DP and AVRCP. Keyboard, mouse and joystick (HID) support is available in Android 3.1+, and in earlier versions through manufacturer customizations and third-party applications.^[15]

Tethering

Android supports tethering, which allows a phone to be used as a wireless/wired Wi-Fi hotspot. Before Android 2.2, this was supported by third-party applications or manufacturer customizations.^[16]

Media

Streaming media support

RTP/RTSP streaming 3GPP PSS, ISMA, HTML progressive download (HTML5 <video> tag). Adobe Flash Streaming (RTMP) and HTTP Dynamic Streaming are supported by the Flash plugin.^[17] Apple HTTP Live Streaming is supported by RealPlayer for Android,^[18] and by the operating system since Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).^[19]

Media support

Android supports the following audio/video/still media formats: WebM, H.263, H.264, AAC, HE-AAC (in 3GP or MP4 container), MPEG-4 SP, AMR, AMR-WB (in 3GP container), MP3, MIDI, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and WebP.^[3]

External storage

Most Android devices include ultraSD card slots and can read microSD cards formatted with the FAT32, Ext3 or Ext4 file systems. To allow use of external storage media such as USB flash drives and USB HDDs, some Android devices are packaged with USB-OTG cables. Storage formatted with FAT32 is handled by the Linux Kernel vFAT driver, while 3rd party solutions are required to handle some other file systems such as NTFS, HFS Plus and exFAT.

Hardware support

Android devices can include still/video cameras, touchscreens, GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers, magnetometers, dedicated gaming controls, proximity and pressure sensors, thermometers, accelerated 2D bit blits (with hardware orientation, scaling, pixel format conversion) and accelerated 3D graphics.

Other

Java support

While most Android applications are written in Java, there is a Java virtual machine in the platform and Java byte code is not executed. Java classes are compiled into Dalvik executables and run on using Android Runtime or in Dalvik in older versions, a specialized virtual machine designed specifically for Android and optimized for battery-powered mobile devices with limited memory and CPU. J2ME support can be provided via third-party applications.

Handset layouts

The platform works for various screen sizes from smartphone sizes and to tablet size, and can potentially connect to an external screen, e.g. through HDMI, or wirelessly with Miracast. Portrait and landscape orientations are supported and usually switching between by turning. A 2D graphics library, 3D graphics library based on OpenGL ES 2.0 specifications is used.

Storage

SQLite, a lightweight relational database, is used for data storage purposes.

Native Apps

Android apps are also written in Kotlin

Instant Apps

Android apps are hosted on a specific website path and load instead of the website itself. They are part-apps and load almost instantly without the need for an installation. One of the first apps being developed with such functionality is the B&H app.^[20][21][22]

See also

• Android software development
• Android rooting
• Index of Android OS articles

References

1. "What is Android?". Android Developers. July 21, 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
2. Topolsky, Joshua (November 12, 2007). "Google's Android OS early look SDK now available". Engadge t. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
3. "Android Supported Media Formats". Android Developers. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
4. Tech Mirages (2016-10-22), How To Add or Remove Words From Android Dictionary, retrieved 2017-12-25
5. Amadeo, Ron (2016-10-31). "The (updated) history of Android - page 22". Ars Technica. from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
6. . Android Developers. Archived from the original on 2010-11-12. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
7. "Voice Actions for Android". google.com. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
8. . Geek.com. 2012-06-27. Archived from the original on 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
9. Musil, Steven (February 11, 2009). "Report: Apple nixed Android's multitouch". CNET News. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
10. Ziegler, Chris (February 2, 2010). "Nexus One gets a software update, enables multitouch". Engadget. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
11. Bray, Tim (April 28, 2010). "Multitasking the Android Way". Android Developers. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
12. Nancy Gohring (October 19, 2011). "Samsung, Google Unveil Latest Android OS, Phone". PCWorld. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
13. "TV recording|Android Developers". March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
14. . Android Developers. December 6, 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
15. . Android Developers. Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
16. JR Raphael (May 6, 2010). "Use Your Android Phone as a Wireless Modem". PCWorld. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
17. "Flash Flayer 10.1 for Android 2.2 Release Notes". Adobe Knowledgebase. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
18. "RealNetworks Gives Handset and Tablet OEMs Ability to Deliver HTTP Live Content to Android Users". realnetworks.com (Press release). September 10, 2010. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
19. . Google: Android SDK. Archived from the original on 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
20. "Android Instant Apps Is Google's New Way For You To Use Apps You Don't Have Installed". Android Police. 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
21. Popper, Ben (2016-05-18). "Android Instant Apps lets you use apps without downloading them". The Verge. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
22. "Google unveils Android Instant Apps that launch immediately, no installation required". VentureBeat. 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-08-18.