When you buy a smartphone, you’re probably thinking, “Why isn’t Android the same for all phones?” In fact, the software and operating system is largely the same, but manufacturers add their own extras and customizations. Android phone makers must make sure their phones remain compatible with millions of applications and the Android operating system. Because most of the work goes into the Android application framework, it’s important for manufacturers to keep this in mind when creating their products.
One thing you need to know is that there are several different versions of Android. The core of Android, called vanilla and stock, lands in the Android Open Source Project. While Android is generally open source, most smartphones use a lot of non-open source software. These applications fall under Google Play Services, which include a variety of Google branded products. While some smartphones have more open source software than others, the core is the same.
Many Android devices are preloaded with Google apps, such as Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Play Music & TV. Google also makes a wide range of other products and services available on Android, such as TV and game consoles. The Android OS is used on many different electronic devices, including game consoles, digital cameras, PCs, and wearables. The APK file format is used for these software packages, which are distributed through open-source platforms and proprietary application stores.
