As you know Google was promoting an Android Code Day which was besides promote the new OS would also clarify some questions and show how to code on the platform. Instead it looks like coders seem to have come away with more questions than answers about android os, this includes better understanding of Android’s structure and what Google lacks to support. Also doubts about low cost-cellphones using android os were raised in the workshop.

RegDeveloper’s Lance Davis attended a London workshop and has given a comprehensive run-down behind android os and what it seems to be the strengths and weaknesses and also what expects for the next months.

For now Android os is based on the Linux 2.6 kernel "Hardware abstraction layer" supporting memory, power and audio management it also includes the applications Home, Contacs, Phone and Browser. One thing that Lance point out it is the lack of messaging applications on the android os, which is kind of bizarre as their strengths are in e-mail and IM.

Another thing that was pointed out is that Google has the obligation to release the API for the applications, however the “anti-fragmentation agreement” that the whole OHA signed does not cover applications. Lancer report has a wide analyze on the event but one thing that stood up was the prediction on which handsets would ship using Android os.

[W]hat really matters is sales. The mobile phone market is huge, but only a tiny fraction belongs to the kind of expensive devices which will run Android. Google suggests a minimum specification of a 200MHz ARM9, with 64Mb RAM and 64Mb Flash. We all know what minimum specs mean.  Other comments indicate that they expect a hardware MMU and hardware graphics acceleration. And it wasn’t disclosed if that whole 200MHz CPU is needed for Android, or if the baseband and telephony stacks runs within that. Still, a sensible guess puts it in the same class as an N95″ Lance Davis, RegDeveloper

One of the main reasons Android was welcome with open arms by manufactures was the search for low cost mobile os and the freedom of developing their own platform. One thing is certain, the Mobile World Congress promises interesting handsets with Google’s platform.

[via Google-Phone]

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