mains relatively limited in the indian market, where phones are sod more on technical specifications (cameras megapixel count, storage space, size of the display and so on) rather than the software running on them. But there are indications that coming months will see that the coming months wills ee Android-driven devices from Samsung and Motorala as well. This will allow many more users to access features like high-quality Internet browsing, push mail, on line chatting and the like that most people associate with higher-end devices.What is Android?
An operating system developed for mobile devices, Android is based on open Linux kernel. It has been designed in such a manner that it can allow developers to create applications that can make the most of all the features a handset can offer. This is because unlike other mobile platforms, Android treats third-party applications on the same level as core applications that are an integral part of the operating system. This may pave the way for some of the most powerful applications that can be made for a mobile phone-from office suites to browsers to e-mail clients - as there are no restrictions on the developers.
Free of cost
Android can well change the entire smartphone market in India. it is available totally free of cost to anyone who wants to use it. A person can change it an use it as per his needs. If that does not seem special, just consider the amount of money cellphone manufacturers using Andro
id will save as they will not need to invest in developing an OS or pay the lkes of Microsoft or Nokia for the use of their OSIn real terms that would cut a significant amount off the software costs of the phone. Ideal cost for an Android-driven cellphone would be somewhere between Rs.10000 and Rs15000 a space generally occupied by low-end smart phones in the country.
The magic of Android
Speaking of handsets brings us to the one that has started tll the chatter of Android in India - HTC magic. As a piece of hardware, it is a sleek looking plastic body with decent technical specifrications (3.2 MP camera, 8.1 cm touchsreen, GPS, Wi-Fi) but it is when you switch it on that the power of Android hits you fullin the face. The home screen of the device is spread over three screens which you can access by flicking your finger to the right or left. This home screen is totqllyin your control-you can polace apoplications and widgets wherever you want on it (there is no invisible grid that insists that applications have to be polaced in a straight line). That apart, the software on the phone has just about everything a smartphone user could want-an excellent Internet browser, an e-mail client that supports MLS exchange server and the option to search for content on the phone and the Internet. There is even a dedicated search button below the touchscreen. The phone works at blinding speed with hardly any lag time, even when you have several applications open, and serves up a decent battery life.
Absense of applications
Unfortunately, the OS of the device has some limitations. A closer look reveals the absence of some Google applications such as the e-mail client. the chat facility, Google Maps and, to top it all, the much talked-about Android Market. The reason for this is the fact that the version of Android running on the HTC Magic is different from the one made by Google-as the Os is open source, HTC has made some changes to it. As of now, these changes ten to cripple the device as one has no maps to make use of its GPS facility and cannot download applications for it. While HTC insists that access to Android Market will be provide din the coming days through a software patch, Android supporters have been disappointed at the exclusion of what many feel is the 'killer app' of the OS on its India debut.
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