Mobile Applications Lesson 002: Mobile Device Synchronization

What are the two mainstream OSs for mobile devices?

Android and iOS.

Android

Offers an open-source code base instead of a closed-source or proprietary code base.

What does the open-source nature of the Android code base allow?

Manufacturers to modify the OS before device implementation.

Why do companies outside of Apple prefer to use Android as a baseline as opposed to creating their own OS?

It saves considerable time and money.

iOS

Developed by Apple for iPhones and iPads but is now used only on iPhones, with iPadOS being used for iPads.

What does iOS rely on at a core level?

Closed-source code developed and sponsored by Apple.

Open-Source

Software and source code are freely available for developers to download, modify, and redistribute.

What does open-source code give companies?

Free utilization, unlimited modification capability, unlimited creativity, and are cost-effective.

Closed-Source

A proprietary software, licensed under the copyright holder’s exclusive rights, such as Apple, and shared under specific terms and conditions.

What is limited when someone is allowed to utilize closed-source software?

Modifying, sharing, studying, redistributing, or reverse engineering the code.

What is the beauty of open-source code?

Creativity and change thrive in this environment.

What are examples of other places that a user can get their applications from other than the Google Play store?

Amazon Appstore, GetJar, and SlideME.

What makes it possible for Android users to use other app stores other than Google Play?

The fact that Android is open-source.

What is Apple’s approach to software?

The walled garden.

Because of Apple’s approach to software, what is the limiting factor when it comes to where a user can download applications?

Apps can only be downloaded from the Apple app store.

App Store

An iOS application for accessing, purchasing, and downloading applications.

What is included in Apple’s terms of service regarding where a user can download applications?

Users utilizing Apple products cannot download applications from anywhere other than the App Store.

What is used to create Android applications?

Java programming language and the Android Studio integrated development enviornment.

What systems can use Android applications?

Linux, Windows, and macOS.

What is needed after installing an application on a device?

A way to synchronize the data across different devices.

What is one of the easiest ways to synchronize data to different devices?

By using a shared account across a cloud network.

What are the three main cloud providers?

Microsoft, Google, and Apple.

Microsoft 365

Provides the ability to have office productivity software and a large amount of storage space in the cloud.

What is Microsoft’s application for cloud storage called?

OneDrive.

Google Workspaces

Requires a Gmail or enterprise account with a custom domain.

iCloud

Apple’s cloud storage implementation with a free tier that works well with iPhones or iPads.