The Basics of Android

Android was created by Andy Rubin 2003. His goal was to develop a universal operating system for cameras. However, Rubin eventually changed the direction of Android since he determined smartphones would be the future. After making changes to have Android work as an operating system for mobile phones, it was bought by Google in 2005. Google improved the Android OS themselves and released the first phone running the operating system in 2008 by the name of HTC Dream. The release of this phone was the first time in which consumers would be able to experience Android OS themselves.

One of the factors which aided Android to become the largest operating system in the world was the fact that it is open source. This means that any user may access the code of Android for free. This allows people and companies to make their own products which run Android instead of investing into making their own, original operating systems. In addition, it's common for companies to take the vanilla functions and look of Android and customize it to give their OS more originality. For example, the icons for the preinstalled applications may be redesigned, and the apps could be given additional features. Also, other tweaks that companies may make is to the power bar. This is the menu that drops when the user swipes down from the top. This menu holds functions such as turning on or off one’s Wi-Fi or cellular data and connecting wirelessly to an external display or a Bluetooth speaker. Since Android is open source, companies can easily customize the look of the power bar as well as add additional toggles that will aid the user in common tasks.

TLDR: Android is the most popular and used operating system since it allows others to use its basis to customize and create new, OSs due to it being open source.