Chapter One - Introduction to Mobile Oses

In today’s digital world, mobile devices have become an essential part of our daily lives—enabling communication, entertainment, productivity, navigation, and countless other tasks. At the heart of every smartphone, tablet, or wearable device lies a Mobile Operating System (Mobile OS)—a specialized software platform that manages both the hardware and software resources of mobile devices and provides a foundation for running mobile applications.

This presentation offers an insightful overview of Mobile Operating Systems, tailored for students, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how mobile devices function at the system level. It starts by explaining what an operating system is, and then zooms into the unique characteristics of mobile OSes, including their architecture, user interface, hardware interaction, and application ecosystem.

Key mobile operating systems covered in this presentation include:

Android OS – Developed by Google, Android is the most widely used mobile OS globally. It is open-source, customizable, and supports a vast ecosystem of devices and apps.

iOS – Apple’s proprietary operating system powers the iPhone and iPad. Known for its smooth performance, tight security, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.

HarmonyOS – Developed by Huawei, this newer OS is designed for a range of devices, including smartphones, wearables, and IoT devices, focusing on cross-device collaboration.

KaiOS – A lightweight OS based on Linux, designed for feature phones with support for apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps, and YouTube.

Other Legacy OSes – Brief insights into older or less common systems like Symbian, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry OS which played important roles in the evolution of mobile technology.

The slide also highlights the differences between mobile OSes and desktop OSes, the challenges of mobile computing, and the role of app stores and security mechanisms that make mobile OSes resilient and user-friendly.

Through clear diagrams, comparisons, and real-world examples, this presentation helps learners understand the evolution, components, and significance of mobile operating systems in shaping the modern mobile experience.

Whether you're preparing for a tech career, learning mobile development, or simply interested in understanding what powers your pocket-sized computer, this presentation will give you a solid foundational understanding of the mobile OS landscape.

1. UNIT 1 Introduction to Mobile Oses flutterjunction.com

2. Course Outline Introduction to Mobile Oses Build and Structure of Mobile Oses Introduction to development environment Introduction to Android API Levels/ Android Versions Pros and Cons of Android Comparison of Android with other OS Introduction to Android VM and Run time Installation and Configuration of Android Studio Running Emulator Adb Command line interfaces flutterjunction.com

3. Introduction to Mobile OSes Android Open-source OS Customizable by manufacturers (e.g., Samsung, Xiaomi). Powers phones, tablets, TVs, and cars (Android Auto). Based on Linux Kernel Largest app ecosystem via Google Play Store. flutterjunction.com

4. Introduction to Mobile OSes iOS Closed-source, exclusive to iPhones/iPads. Optimized for performance and security. Strict app review process for quality control. Was programmed in C,C++ and objective C A pp ecosystem via App Store. flutterjunction.com

5. Introduction to Mobile OSes Ubuntu Touch Linux-based Supports phone-to-desktop convergence. Focused on privacy and open-source values. Limited app ecosystem compared to Android/iOS. Offers a unique "convergence" feature, allowing the device to function as both a smartphone and a desktop computer when connected to a monitor and keyboard. flutterjunction.com

6. Introduction to Mobile OSes BlackBerry OS Legacy OS known for physical keyboards and encryption. Targeted enterprise/business users. Replaced by Android on modern BlackBerry devices. Helped to establish the importance of mobile security and productivity features in smartphones. flutterjunction.com

7. Introduction to Mobile OSes Tizen(Samsung) Built with HTML5, C, C++. Used in wearables (Galaxy Watch) and smart TVs. Lightweight and energy-efficient. Limited third-party app support. Developed by Samsung and Intel. flutterjunction.com

8. Introduction to Mobile OSes Firefox OS O pen source Os Discontinued Apps built with HTML5/JavaScript. Aimed at low-cost devices. Relied on web technologies instead of native apps. flutterjunction.com

9. Introduction to Mobile OSes Symbian(Nokia) Dominated early smartphones (pre-2010). Modular design for hardware flexibility. Phased out due to competition from Android/iOS. flutterjunction.com

10. Introduction to Mobile OSes Windows Phone Discontinued Featured Live Tiles for dynamic updates. Integrated with Microsoft services (Office, OneDrive). Struggled with app shortages. flutterjunction.com

11. flutterjunction.com Components

12. Build and Structure of Mobile Os Hardware Physical components that form the foundation of a mobile device. Core components: CPU(Processor), RAM(Memory) , Storage (ROM) Sensors: GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, fingerprint scanner Connectivity Modules : Cellular (4G/5G modems), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC Multimedia Hardware: Camera, Speaker, Touchscreen Power Management: Battery Security Hardware: Secure Enclave (iOS) or Titan M Chip (Android) flutterjunction.com

13. Build and Structure of Mobile Os 2. Kernel Core engine of OS Boss or conductor of computer’s brain Interacts with hardware Manages hardware, memory, CPU and processes Android: Modified Linux Kernel iOS: XNU Kernel (Darwin-based) flutterjunction.com

14. Build and Structure of Mobile Os 3. Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) Interface between the hardware and software layers Provides standard APIs to access hardware (e.g., camera, sensors) Enables hardware-independent programming for developers Example: Android's Camera HAL allows apps to use device cameras without knowing hardware specifics flutterjunction.com

15. Build and Structure of Mobile Os 4 . Middleware Libraries, APIs and Runtime environment Includes GPS, Wi-Fi, security, multimedia, etc. Android: Android Runtime (ART), native libraries iOS: Cocoa Touch frameworks Role: Connects kernel to application framework and apps flutterjunction.com

16. Build and Structure of Mobile Os 5. Application Framework High-level API layer for developers Manages: Application lifecycle, User interface (UI), Notifications, background tasks, and permissions Android: Activities, Services, Fragments iOS: ViewControllers, UIKit, SwiftUI flutterjunction.com

17. Build and Structure of Mobile Os 6 . Application Topmost layer where user apps live System Apps: Pre-installed (e.g., Camera, Dialer) User Apps: Installed from app stores (e.g., WhatsApp, Instagram) Apps run in isolated environments (sandboxing) for security flutterjunction.com

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19. Core Architecture Layers Working Example When Volume Button is Pressed Kernel Layer Button driver in the kernel receives the hardware interrupt Kernel identifies which button was pressed Kernel passes this raw input event to the HAL flutterjunction.com

20. Core Architecture Layers Working Example When Volume Button is Pressed Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) Volume button HAL module receives the event Translates hardware-specific signal into a standardized format Routes the standardized event to the appropriate system service flutterjunction.com

21. Core Architecture Layers Working Example When Volume Button is Pressed Middleware Layer Audio Service receives the volume change event Checks system settings for volume limits and restrictions Calculates new volume level based on current state Updates system audio settings in memory Triggers UI feedback mechanisms flutterjunction.com

22. Core Architecture Layers Working Example When Volume Button is Pressed Application Framework Layer Volume Manager notifies registered applications about volume change UI System receives instruction to display volume indicator Notification system prepares to notify affected applications flutterjunction.com

23. Core Architecture Layers Working Example When Volume Button is Pressed Application Layer Volume UI overlay appears on screen showing volume level Currently active media applications receive volume change notification Applications adjust their audio output accordingly Any app with volume-change listeners reacts to the event flutterjunction.com

24. Development Environment It's the tools and technologies used to build mobile apps. Includes IDEs, frameworks, emulators, and languages. IDEs: Android Studio, Xcode. Programming Languages: Java, Kotlin (Android); Swift, Objective-C (iOS). Frameworks Flutter, React Native (cross-platform); Jetpack, UIKit (native). Emulators/Simulators Android Emulator, iOS Simulator. SDKs & Build Tools Android SDK, iOS SDK; Gradle, CocoaPods. Version Control: Git, GitHub, GitLab. flutterjunction.com

25. Development Environment 🌍 1. HTML5 💻 Languages: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript 🧰 Frameworks: Bootstrap, jQuery Mobile, Foundation 📦 Distribution: Via URL — not in app stores 🔍 Examples: Wikipedia Mobile, old Facebook Mobile 🏆 Pros: Single codebase, quick updates ⚠️ Cons: No native access, limited offline support flutterjunction.com

26. Development Environment 🧪 2. Hybrid 🧠 Web Apps Wrapped in Native Shell 💻 Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript 🧰 Frameworks: Cordova, Ionic, PhoneGap (discontinued but foundational) 📦 Distribution: Play Store / App Store 🔍 Examples: Early Instagram, Pacifica 🏆 Pros: Web tech + native distribution ⚠️ Cons: Dependent on WebView, slower UI flutterjunction.com

27. Development Environment 🔄 3. Cross Platform 🔁 One Codebase for Multiple Platforms 💻 Languages & Tools: Flutter (Dart) , React Native (JavaScript) Xamarin (.NET / C#), Kotlin Multiplatform 📦 Distribution: Play Store / App Store 🔍 Examples: Google Ads (Flutter), Discord (React Native), Skype (Xamarin) 🏆 Pros: Near-native experience, cost-effective ⚠️ Cons: Slight performance hit, complex debugging flutterjunction.com

28. Development Environment 🌟 4 . Progress Web Apps (PWAs) 🌐 Web Apps with App-like Behavior 💻 Languages: HTML, CSS, JS + service workers 🧰 Frameworks: Angular + Angular PWA Toolkit, React + Workbox, Vue + Vue CLI PWA plugin 📦 Distribution: Browser → "Add to Home Screen" 🔍 Examples: Twitter Lite, Starbucks PWA, Pinterest 🏆 Pros: Offline support, installable, no app store needed ⚠️ Cons: Limited native access, browser-dependent flutterjunction.com

29. Development Environment ✅ 5 . Native 📱 Platform-Specific Development 💻 Languages & Tools: Android: Java / Kotlin + Android Studio, i OS: Swift / Objective-C + Xcode 🧰 Frameworks: Jetpack (Android), Swift UI , UIKit (iOS) 📦 Distribution: Google Play Store / Apple App Store 🔍 Examples: WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok 🏆 Pros: Full performance, hardware access ⚠️ Cons: Separate codebases, higher cost flutterjunction.com

30. Feature Native HTML5 Web Hybrid Cross-Platform PWA Language Java,Kotlin, Swift HTML, JS HTML, JS Dart, JS, C# HTML, JS Frameworks Jetpack, SwiftUI Bootstrap, jQuery Ionic, Cordova Flutter, React Native Angular, React, Vue Codebase Separate Single Single Single Single Performance ✅ Best ❌ Lowest ⚠️ Moderate ✅ Near-native ⚠️ Moderate Hardware Access ✅ Full ❌ Limited ⚠️ Plugin-based ✅ Good ⚠️ Partial Offline Support ✅ Yes ❌ No ⚠️ Some ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Store Distribution ✅ Yes ❌ No ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ⚠️ No (Web only) Examples TikTok Wikipedia MarketWatch Discord, Google Ads Starbucks, Twitter Lite flutterjunction.com

31. Android Open-source mobile operating system developed by Google. Based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen devices. Key Highlights Launched: 2008 Current Owner: Google Programming Languages: Java, Kotlin, C++ App Store: Google Play Store Uses: Smartphones, Tablets, TVs, Smartwatches, Cars (Android Auto) flutterjunction.com

32. Android API Levels API levels define the set of available features and system behaviors. Developers use them to maintain backward compatibility. flutterjunction.com

33. Android API Levels Version Name Version Number API Level Release Year Cupcake 1.5 3 2009 Gingerbread 2.3 9-10 2010 Jelly Bean 4.1 - 4.3 16-18 2012–2013 Lollipop 5.0 - 5.1 21-22 2014–2015 Marshmallow 6.0 23 2015 Nougat 7.0 - 7.1 24-25 2016 Oreo 8.0 - 8.1 26-27 2017 flutterjunction.com

34. Android API Levels Version Name Version Number API Level Release Year Pie 9.0 28 2018 10 (Q) 10.0 29 2019 11 (R) 11.0 30 2020 12 (S) 12.0 31 2021 13 (Tiramisu) 13.0 33 2022 14 14.0 34 2023 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream) 15.0 35 2024 flutterjunction.com

35. Advantages of Android 🔓 Open-source and highly customizable 🌐 Wide device support from multiple brands 📦 Huge app ecosystem via Play Store 🔄 Seamless integration with Google services 🔧 Developer-friendly tools (Android Studio, Jetpack) flutterjunction.com

36. Disadvantages of Android 🧩 Fragmentation: Devices run on many different Android versions 🐢 Slower updates due to manufacturer delays 🦠 Security concerns due to openness and sideloading ⚙️ Varied performance on low-end vs high-end devices flutterjunction.com

37. Comparison Feature Android iOS HarmonyOS KaiOS Developer Google Apple Huawei KaiOS Tech Source Open-source Closed-source Open-source Linux-based App Store Google Play App Store AppGallery KaiStore Customization ✅ High ❌ Low ⚠️ Medium ⚠️ Low flutterjunction.com

38. Comparison Feature Android iOS HarmonyOS KaiOS Device Variety ✅ Wide ❌ Apple only ✅ Huawei/Honor ⚠️ Feature phones Security ⚠️ Moderate ✅ High ⚠️ Improving ⚠️ Limited Popular Apps ✅ Most supported ✅ Most supported ❌ Limited ❌ Limited Market Share 🌍 ~70%+ (global) 🌎 ~25% 🌏 Growing (Asia) 📱 Small markets flutterjunction.com

39. Introduction to VM and Runtime A Virtual Machine is a software-based simulation of a computer. It runs programs as if they are running on real hardware, but inside a controlled, isolated environment. It allows apps to be portable, so they can run on different devices without rewriting the code for each one. A Runtime is the environment where the app runs, including: System libraries Memory management Code execution Garbage collection (clearing unused memory) flutterjunction.com

40. Introduction to Android VM and Runtime What is Android Runtime? Android uses a Virtual Machine (VM) to run apps, providing isolation, memory management, and performance optimization. flutterjunction.com

41. Dalvik Virtual Machine Used in Android versions < Android 5.0 (Lollipop) Based on Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation Apps compiled into .dex (Dalvik Executable) files Each app runs in its own process & instance of Dalvik VM 🧩 Example: Launching an app compiles code on the fly, slowing down start time. flutterjunction.com

42. Dalvik Virtual Machine flutterjunction.com

43. ART - Ahead-Of-Time Compilation Replaced Dalvik from Android 5.0 onwards Uses Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation Faster app execution and better battery life Supports improved garbage collection and debugging 🧪 Example: Apps are compiled during installation, so they run faster later. flutterjunction.com

44. Dalvik Vs ART Feature Dalvik (JIT) ART (AOT) Compilation Time During execution During installation Performance Slower Faster Battery Usage More Optimized Storage Smaller APKs Larger due to cache flutterjunction.com

45. ADB Command Lines Command Description adb devices Lists connected devices adb install <apk> Installs an APK on the device adb uninstall <package> Uninstalls an app adb logcat Shows system logs (useful for debugging) adb shell Opens a command shell on the device adb push <file> <location> Pushes a file to the device adb pull <file> Pulls a file from the device adb reboot Reboots the connected device flutterjunction.com