Types of Mobile Operating System
Although at present, the market for mobile operating systems is perfectly divided into two camps, Android and iOS, the OS of Apple cell phones, the truth is that as we mentioned at the beginning of this article, They are not the only systems that exist, since we have available many companies that are developing software of these characteristics, and that we can enjoy on other cell phones that are not the most popular and famous. Types of Mobile Operating System mobile operating systems list mobile operating system examples
In the following lines we are going to see a list of the main mobile operating systems that we can find on the market. mobile operating systems list mobile operating system examples
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Android Types of Mobile Operating System
There is no doubt that Android is the most used mobile operating system in the world. This OS is responsible for motorizing thousands of models of smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, wearable devices and other devices around the world. mobile operating systems list mobile operating system examples
The Android operating system was acquired a long time ago by Google from a company named in the same way, which had a very promising development, which Google had been supporting financially, and which was based on the Linux kernel. mobile operating systems list mobile operating system examples
One of the most remarkable characteristics of Android is that it is an open source operating system and is freely distributed, which allows many developers to use it as the operating system of their own designs. In this sense, we can find countless tablets and smart phones with Android as OS of recognized manufacturers such as LG, Sony, Motorola, Huawei and others, but also devices of unknown origin and manufacturers, such as most tablets and phones of so-called “Chinese”. mobile operating systems list mobile operating system examples
The fact that it is a free and open source mobile operating system , and the flexibility when it comes to being modified to reuse it for other purposes, also make it one of the most sought after operating systems by amateur developers and manufacturers or which are just beginning to be installed on multiple devices, as evidenced by hundreds of devices awaiting funding on Kickstarter. mobile operating system examples
Another point where Android stands out, and that possibly distances it far from other mobile operating systems, is its application store, Google Play. In this sense, Android has approximately 3,000,000 apps ready to be downloaded and used , for which all we will need is an account with Google. This impressive number of apps is divided between free and paid applications, but there are many more free apps than the others.
At this point we have to emphasize that Google Play is not the only place where we can get apps for Android, since we can also have other stores that are not official, but also offer countless software that may no longer be available for its use on Google Play. mobile operating system examples
Some of these unofficial stores, better known as alternatives to Google Play , are Aptoide, XDA Labs, F-Droid, which only deal with open source Android software, Uptodown, APK Mirror and APK Pure, among others. However, we must be especially cautious when downloading software from these sites, as it may contain malware, just like some of the Google Play apps.
Android occupies the place that it currently occupies among hardware manufacturers, developers and the general public due to all these particularities, and also because it is a very simple system to use and customize, that is, practically all the modules that compose it can be modified to suit our taste, through the tools that are offered from the factory or through third-party programs with the well-known root procedure, with which various aspects of the phone can be modified in depth or tablet. mobile operating systems list
iOS Types of Mobile Operating System
The other heavyweight of mobile operating systems. In this case, unlike Android, iOS is directly associated with a specific type of hardware, so it will be practically impossible for us to obtain a copy of it to be able to use it in our projects. iOS is a paid and closed source mobile operating system, developed in 2007 by Apple originally for the purpose of being used on the iPhone, but was later adapted for other Apple devices such as the iPod and iPad.
According to computer security experts, iOS is a very secure mobile operating system with a high resistance to attacks, mainly due to its roots based on Unix and its permission system, which give it a strength that is usually only seen in computers. derived from that system like Linux.
In this sense, one of the most well-known security features of iOS is activation by iCloud, a procedure by which, in case of theft or loss, it allows blocking or disabling the device if we do not have the credentials to access said service.
Users and experts also tend to highlight the stability of this mobile operating system, which is fundamentally due to having been developed around specific hardware, taking advantage of each of its advantages. If we add an excellent programming design to this, we obtain a very solid product with high performance, something that few systems can boast.
At this point, the fact that Android can be downloaded and used in practically anything, also works against, since it is usually installed on devices with insufficient hardware to be able to run it correctly, which translates into a bad user experience for the consumer. Types of Mobile Operating System
As iOS is a mobile operating system developed to run only in certain hardware scenarios, it assures the user that their cell phone will always have the best performance, regardless of the version of the phone they are using.
Regarding the functionalities of iOS, it offers practically the same as any of the other modern operating systems: widgets, notifications, battery consumption monitoring, app folders, touch shortcuts, song recognition and other options, but it also has with its own characteristics such as 3D Touch technology, the possibility of eliminating pre-installed applications that do not serve us, a true scourge on Android and of course Siri, its virtual assistant, which allows us to activate multiple functions of the device only with our voice.
Also, in the same way as Android, it has an app store, perhaps not as stocked as Google’s, but let’s not forget that it is an operating system that is dependent on specific hardware, which reduces its dialing quota. Similarly, in the iOS application store we can find all kinds of excellent quality software, both free and paid.
Alternatives to iOS and Android Types of Mobile Operating System
As we already know, for some years now, Android and iOS have been the two most used mobile operating systems in the world. After the abandonment of the market of previously emblematic brands such as BlackBerry or new ones such as Microsoft with Windows Phone, or the various attempts of “cell phones for everyone” such as Firefox, the user’s possibilities are increasingly limited in all directions, leaving out millions of users who cannot access a cell phone with the hardware power necessary to run complex operating systems. Also in this context, hundreds of thousands of users are left out who for some reason do not want to use Android or iOS, because they simply are not satisfied with its functions.
For this reason, from this point we present the best alternatives to iOS and Android that currently exist, which are not as well known among the general public, but which are capable of conforming both in price and in benefits to a wide range of consumers. Types of Mobile Operating System
KaiOS Types of Mobile Operating System
The first alternative to large mobile operating systems is KaiOS, an OS already integrated into cheap cell phones that is currently ascending the world scene. KaiOS is a development of a Hong Kong-based company called KaiOS Technologies, which dedicates its efforts to developing this mobile operating system aimed at basic cell phones, which provides them with smartphone capacity but without the need for a touch screen. , piece of hardware that usually makes the assembly of a cell phone more expensive.
First of all, the most important advantage of cell phones equipped with KaiOS as an operating system is their price, which is much lower than that of standard smartphones. However, lacking the touch screen, operation of the unit must be done via the keys, just as we would in other decades.
But in return, a cell phone equipped with KaiOS has many more features than a standard cell phone in the same price range. First of all, they consume much less power and memory, which is why the battery life is really long.
Then we also have the possibility of having 4G, Wi-Fi and web browser, GPS system with its corresponding Maps app, in addition to the social network apps Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or the WhatsApp messaging app , as well as games and other productivity apps.
But undoubtedly the most interesting thing about these cell phones with KaiOS is that they have an assistant that will allow users to perform many of the tasks they need, which can completely replace the lack of a touch screen.
This wizard is executed by means of a button, and we give it the order that we want the phone to fulfill, such as performing searches or executing applications. This is ideal for older adults, since they should not depend on the screen or the keys to be able to use the cell phone normally.
Like other operating systems, KaiOS also has an application store, in which more than 500 free apps of all kinds are concentrated.
HarmonyOS
This mobile operating system was born from the hand of the renowned manufacturer of cell phones and other devices Huawei, given the need to have its own operating system so as not to have to give in to the demands of the US government, in a very complicated political-economic context. .
Although Huawei has not given too many details about this development, the truth is that we do know that it is the continuation of a work begun in 2012 with the aim of creating its own ecosystem of apps and technology oriented to industrial applications and the Internet of Things that could be controlled by the company without the intervention of third parties.
However, after the problems with the US government, the project was apparently resumed and reformulated, thus becoming HarmonyOS , which is basically a mobile operating system with the particularity of being compatible with the Android application platform. to say that it is in a nutshell a kind of replacement for the AOSP (Android Open Source Project).
Although Huawei’s intention is to launch its next developments with HarmonyOS installed, the truth is that there is still some suspicion on the part of operators and users, who have shown reluctance when consulted, since they would not bet on having a cell phone with an operating system that is not yet well established.
For now, HarmonyOS seems more like a weapon to wield in the face of the US attacks on this kind of economic Cold War , than an operating system that can be interesting for the consumer.
KDE Plasma for mobile
Most likely, many of us have known or heard of Plasma, the spectacular desktop provided with the KDE Linux distribution. And it is also most likely that we were truly delighted with its quality and functionality. Well, for some years now, there has been a project that allows us to install this desktop, along with all the other features, on a cell phone.
However, it is not a simple launcher app or similar, but rather a true mobile operating system, which offers support for Ubuntu Touch applications, and what is better news, for Android apps, what will happen in the not too distant future.
However, and despite not having its own application store, the truth is that we can use dozens of applications that are already popular in the KDE desktop environment , such as Okular, a PDF reader, in addition to those of any phone such as calendar, messaging, map app, file manager, web browser, gallery app and all the other usual applications for a device of this type.
In the event that we are interested in having this mobile operating system from KDE, unfortunately there are still no phones or tablets on the market. However, we can install Plasma on any compatible device through two options. The first one through Mobile, which is the official image of the project, and which is oriented to cell phones and tablets with more powerful hardware, that is, more than 1 Gb of RAM, and the second is to download the PostmarketOS image , plus focused on devices with less hardware, but that is not official.
Despite all the promise that using the KDE Plasma desktop on a phone can be, the truth is that to do so we will have to have a lot of knowledge, since it promises to be a rather complex task.
However, with a view to the future, Plasma Mobile will surely become an alternative to Android that cannot be ignored.
Tizen
Although Tizen is not exactly a new mobile operating system , since its origins date back to 2012, the truth is that it took a long time to be recognized by the general public, mainly due to the fact that its most successful implementation has been so far. on smart TVs.
However, its area of implementation goes further, since we can also find it motorizing many other types of devices with a touch screen, such as watches, smart bands and other types of wearables, ice cream makers and electrical appliances, information booths and also within the automobile, fulfilling the role of an entertainment system and many other functions.
This operating system was developed by Samsung with the purpose of having an OS that with few modifications, could be adapted to all types of devices and industries. For this reason, its developers offer different types of Tizen profiles , within which we can count on Tizen IVI, which deals with information and entertainment in the vehicle, Tizen Mobile, for smartphones, tablets and other portable devices, Tizen TV, of course for smart TVs and Tizen Wearable, a profile that includes all wearable devices, such as smart bands.
All this flexibility is possible thanks to the fact that Tizen OS was developed from scratch based on Linux, something that it shares with many of the current operating systems, and all the experience dumped on the penguin system over many years, which gives it great advantages and characteristics, such as security, something already proven in other implementations where Linux is used.
It is also a benefit of the use of Linux, that Tizen is an open source mobile operating system, so that any developer, regardless of its importance in the market, can make use of it in their own projects, which is not small.
Ubuntu Touch
Finally, we could not pass up another derivative of Linux , but this time from the hand of one of the most successful distributions of the penguin in recent years: Ubuntu. Ubuntu Touch is the mobile operating system that represents the culmination of efforts by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, to have an ecosystem of operating systems.
However, today for various reasons, the Ubuntu distribution or Canonical itself have little or nothing to do with Ubuntu Touch, which is supported by a group of developers from the UBport Community, which however does not interfere in any way. in which the operating system they develop does not succeed in its task, achieving a well-finished product with excellent performance. Types of Mobile Operating System
Currently, Ubuntu Touch is not easy to obtain, since they have only been officially installed on a few smartphones and tablets. However, for enthusiasts there is a way to install Ubuntu Touch on a significant number of devices, whereby they could be brought back to life with new software. mobile operating systems list
To do this, the developers offer on their official site a list of all devices compatible with Ubuntu Touch and instructions for installing the operating system on those devices. It may not be the ideal solution for everyone, but those who handle a bit more issues related to ROMS and other operations of the phone will appreciate. What’s more, there is also the possibility of using an installer, developed by the UBports team, which allows us to install Ubuntu Touch almost effortlessly and with a few clicks. IF we have any of the devices on this list, we can do it without any complication. mobile operating system examples
Among the features offered by Ubuntu Touch we can find a strong commitment to privacy, which is why they offer blockers and all kinds of implementations to ensure that the privacy of our data remains intact.
Finally, another of the great advantages of Ubuntu Touch is its application store, in which we will be able to get quality apps with excellent features that are completely free, such as Discord, Mercado Libre, Telegram, Gmail and many more.
