Is Android Really Open Source?

Android application development has been all the hype since the announcement of the platform, and it has made several claims regarding its open source features. Because of this, many standard smartphone users made the jump to Android hoping that they would experience open source in the same way that they had on their Linux machines. The question is whether or not the open source platform has lived up to its promises.
What is the actual definition of open source? In the world of software development, it is when software is distributed with a license that gives users the freedom to modify the code, reuse it for their purposes and redistribute it. The principles of open source software development is based on a community approach where groups of people collaborate in the development process, often on a voluntary basis. Often times, the developers are also the end users. The work they do not only benefits them in the long run, but also the community as a whole.
The Android platform is open source with regards to the fact that a user will be able to download the code and do what they want with it. They can make modifications and they can upload these modifications to their phones. However, there is no transparency with regards to the operating system's development going on behind the scene. There also lacks a development community where individual programmers are contributing to the project on a regular basis. Developers are left to take whatever Google provides with each major software release.

Although Google is doing the bare minimum to release Android as open source, they are not the only barriers to a truly open source development environment. The phone carriers have maintained tight control over their devices and release them with the Android operating system locked down. Their reasoning behind this is that they believe a truly open source development environment would pose a severe threat to the existing phone services and network. The theory is that a skilled programmer could potentially hijack part of or all of a network. Is this possible? It is certainly a matter of debate and many people believe that these theories are unfounded.
Android application development is not completely restricted to Google's parameters. Many have found root hacks that allow for more access to the software, and Google does not keep users on as short a leash as Apple keeps its iOS developers. With that being the case, many have found that working with Android still provides more freedom than developing for the iPhone.
While Android is technically open source, Google still has a large foothold in the independent development process. However, this has not hindered the growth of the Android smartphone and it's popularity among consumers. Open or not, the demand for Android application development will continue to rise and flourish under the existing development environment.

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Tether Your Android Tablet to Your Smart Phone

The concept of tethering Android tablets or your touch screen tablet to your cell phone offers a number of advantages and improves the versatility of the device. Tethering is convenient and once again stretches the capabilities of everyday technology to make our lives easier than ever.
What does it actually mean to "tether" one mobile device to another? And why would we even care about doing this? Before digging a bit deeper into the advantages of tethering your Android tablet to your smart phone, let's look at the commonly accepted definition for tethering so that we are all on the same wavelength.
According to Wikipedia: "Tethering is the use of a mobile device such as a mobile phone to supply internet access for another device which is otherwise unconnected, using the mobile device as a modem. This can be done through Bluetooth wireless technology or cables (such as USB)." Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tethering
It is easy to see why tethering would be of use to us. Tethering allows you to connect your Android tablet to the internet via your cell phone's built in 3G connection. The recent explosion of the touch screen tablet craze, tethering gives us the ability to save money and hassle by not paying for monthly internet subscriptions for all of our devices. Tethering makes for the most cost effective use of a smart phone.
Tethering Android tablets to a smart phone is useful in emergencies when one needs reliable, fast online access and the nearby Wi-Fi connection is weak or non-existent. Tethering an Android touch screen tablet to a smart phone is great for business people who travel frequently or find themselves needing internet access in normally inconvenient situations. Tethering can bail one out of emergency situations if the internet connection at home is down.
Another advantage to tethering is that it is an ideal option for those who don't like the potential security issues of public Wi-Fi. Tethering is much more secure and allows complete privacy when handling confidential work or other files.
With all the tethering software available and the easy, widespread use of Android, tethering is a very viable option indeed as there is plenty of support in case difficulties arise. Tethering is definitely the next step in advancing smart phone and internet tablet technology. Tethering proves that the way we access the internet expands and gets better each and every day.

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All About Android Launcher Themes

If you've installed any of the many launchers available in the Android Market, you've probably seen multiple mentions of theming. If you've wondered what it is, you're not alone - there are a lot of people who have no idea what theming is, even after they begin using a custom launcher. We'll look to cover the most important aspects of Android launcher themes here, so that you have a better understanding of what they can do for you.
Themes Can Change Almost Everything
Your icons, wallpaper, and dock settings can all be changed with a launcher theme. They have a great deal of power behind them, and can completely overhaul the appearance of your device. One popular theme for GO Launcher is the iPhone theme. It replaces your dock with icons inspired by the iOS dock, and gives an iOS theme to all of the icons in your app drawer and on your homescreens. It even changes your wallpaper to an iPhone theme. In short, it replaces your stale layout.
But They Can't Change Everything
Themes can only affect so many elements of your phone. All of those elements have to be integrated into the launcher. That means that things like your notification bar, the looks of certain apps and your lock screen are all left untouched by a theme. If you want to change those, you need to flash a custom ROM, which is in a different league of difficulty compared to installing a theme.
They Can Be Based on Anything
Take a look in the Market for LauncherPro things, or load up GO Launcher and visit their GO Store. You'll see a lot of themes, such as iPhone and Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) themes. But not all themes follow the same design principles. Some are just based on colors, while some are seemingly-random collections of elements.
Themes Aren't Universal
You installed ADW, now you've switched to LauncherPro. Suddenly, that ADW theme you loved in ADW is no longer available. This is because themes are built specific to different launchers. If you're using one launcher, and install a theme for a different launcher from the Market, it won't be compatible. If the theme you are looking at isn't made for your launcher, your best bet is to search for a comparable one that is.

Anybody Can Make Them
If you're dead-set on having a certain theme but can't find it, you can always create your own. It requires at least fundamental knowledge of Photoshop or other image editing software, but beyond that it's not a complicated process. Check the website for your favorite launcher and chances are you'll be able to find tutorials on building your own themes.

Britney Fuller is a writer who enjoys sharing her knowledge and advice with readers. For more on Android launchers, Snake Bytez offers readers information on the best Android launcher.

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