Android - the most popular operating system

Android is a mobile operating system based on the Linux kernel and currently developed by Google. With a user interface based on direct manipulation, Android is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, with specialized user interfaces for televisions (Android TV), cars (Android Auto), and wrist watches (Android Wear).

Today, Android powers hundreds of millions of mobile devices in more than 190 countries around the world. It's the largest installed base of any mobile platform and growing fast and every day another million users power up their Android devices for the first time and start looking for apps, games, and other digital content.

Since the day it was launched, Android gaining it's popularity world wide. It has been available free of cost and Google made it clear that it will be free in future as well.

So, why Android is the most popular operating system in the world?

1. Open Source

Android is an open-source software stack for a wide range of mobile devices and a corresponding open-source project led by Google. The openness caught the attention of manufacturers across the world and many initially adopted it for low cost smartphones. Seeing the huge response of the buyers to the Android-based phones, many equipment manufacturers joined the league and more are joining every day.

2. Highly Customizable

Unlike Windows or any other operating system, device manufacturers are free to modify Android as per their needs. Users enjoy much needed flexibility and ease of use because manufacturers are now able to modify anything and everything they need to make the experience a pleasant one.

3. Multitasking

Android OS is one of the best multitasking operating system. Android phones can run many applications simultaneously, it means you can browse, Facebook while listened to the song. Recent, Android version also support split screen feature - which help you to work on two apps side by side at the same time.

4. Large number of applications

Android App marketing place (Google Play Store) is the biggest marketplace in the world. It also created an opportunity for millions of application developers around the globe to show their skills and come up with newer applications for Android phones. Therefore, Android users have a wide variety of applications to choose from and can customize their phones for a personal experience.

5. Can install a modified ROM

If you are not satisfied with the standard view of Android, do not worry there are many custom ROM that can be used in your mobile phones Android just by rooted device.

6. Language support

Smartphones are not for business executives alone. Even people who are unfamiliar with English use smartphones. Although many of them tend to stick with the English interface, it is still an advantage that a system ships non-English interfaces. Android supports its interface in 70 languages, which means a vast group of people can experience the OS in their mother tongues.

7. App stores

It is estimated that more than a million apps have been developed for Android. iOS pioneered the app store idea, but now Android has gone much further. Lack of a good app store is the key disadvantage of Windows Phone. When Android users are in need of some tool, they simply go to the Play Store and find it there. But that is not the case with many other OS'.

8. Hardware

Android supports a large number of platforms including 32- and 64-bit: ARM architectures, x86, x86-64, MIPS and MIPS64. This enables Android to be used in devices other than limited mobile phones. From 2012 onward, Android tablets using Intel processors have been available. Android-x86 can run on desktop PCs. Android RAM requirements start from 512MB in normal cases.

Android opened numerous possibilities for device manufacturers, application developers and users, while helping to reduce the cost of smartphones, thus making them accessible to the common man. It has taken user experience to the next level while keeping the prices of smartphones well within the reach of the common man, and that is why Android has become the number one choice among smartphone users and became popular.