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Android acronyms and definitions for beginners

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Android is on of the popular Mobile OS developed by Google. It is based on Linux  designed mainly for smart phones and portable devices . Due to its Open Source nature, there are many developers engaged with porting  additional features, modify the features or implement custom built OSs to their devices.

As a newbie it is quite difficult to understand the terms used by developers, here are some information that may useful to you.

1. Bootloader

Bootloader is a set of instructions that defines how and from where to load Operating System Kernel, it loads instantly when we turn ON the device, it will boot the hardware devices. Every Bootloader is device specific, which means every device has its own Bootloader, depends on the hardware used in it e.g. processor, chipsets etc. This is using once when the device boots.

2. Locked Bootloader

Many Android device makers lock the device bootloader due to various reasons, major reasons are, Warranty ( to prevent bricking the device due to flashing wrong ROMs), carrier restrictions (carriers some times provide devices in cheap than market price with various plans ), limiting features etc.

With a Bootloader locked device, users can’t install third party custom ROMs like CyanogenMod  ASOP into their device.

3. Unlocking Bootloader

In many cases, freelance developers introduce Unlocker to most locked devices to allow installation of Custom ROMs for your devices, but once you unlocked the device, you will loss your warranty. you can re-flash locked Bootloader in many cases.

4. Kernel

Kernel is the basic building block of Android based on Linux, this allows interaction between Hardware and Android OS. This is also device specific.

5. ROM (also referred as Flash or Firmware), Stock ROM and Custom ROM

ROM is the image of actual Android OS flashed in the ROM (Read Only Memory). This is also device specific. Stock ROM means the ROM available with the device when you purchase it, which contains many software belong to the device manufacture, carrier etc. Where a custom ROM is a customised version of ROM image made by third party developers for various reasons like adding features are not available with Stock ROM, removing unwanted Bloatware etc.

6. ADB and debugging

ADB Stands for Android Debug Bridge, which allows control, communications and execution of commands to an Android device from a host, to get this Woking, we must enable debugging in our Android device.

7. Baseband

It is radio or modem software depends on your device, carrier, country and Android version.

8. Flashing

This the process of writing or over writing image of ROM or flash into the device. The process and softwares using to this process are different to various devices.

9. Rooting

Most Android devices comes with some software restrictions. Rooting is a process to gain the ultimate control or root access over the android device software, some thing like Administrative power is Windows. Rooting allows some installed applications a variety of additional rights or uses than Stock ROM. it also allows more control over device hardware.

8. APK File

APK stands for Android Application Package, is the application software package format designed for Android. These files are actually ZIP file packages based on JAR format with APK extension.

9. Google Play

This is an application store for Android devices run by Google.

10. sideloading

This is a term using for installing an APK file without Google Play App Store.

11. Tethering

This refers is to connecting your device to another device. it allows sharing the data package available with the device with other devices. if tethering is using over device’s Wi-Fi, it also called Mobile Hotspot.

12. Recovery Mode, CWM (ClockWorkRecoveryMode)

Recovery Mode is an option of booting the device in to a separate recovery partition by pressing a combination of buttons to enable recover the OS, install update and ROM and execute commands. CWM is an alternate recovery mode available by third party developers, it has many additional features over normal Recovery Mode like backing up and Restoring ROMs, proving root access etc.

13. Download Mode

It is using to download new ROMs into the device. We can enter this mode by booting the device with pressing a combination of buttons.

14. JB, ICS, GB, Froyo etc.

These are acronyms for various versions of Android. JB stands for Jelly Bean (4.1) ICS stands for Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) and GB stands for Ginger Bread (2.3) and Froyo (2.2). You may see the differences and updates between these versions from here.

15. OTA (Over-The –Air) update

OTA refers updating Android device software over mobile data or Wi-Fi without using a PC.

16. Overclocking /Underclocking

This refers clocking CPU frequency to low or high for either better performance or battery life.

17. RUU (ROM Update Utility)

This refers the software using for updating ROM.

18. AKU (Adaption Kit Update)

These are minor update packages available to patch the bugs in Android Software.

19. Hard Reset, Soft Reset.

Hard Reset is the process of resetting the device to Factory default state and wipe the whole data kept in.

Soft Resetting the device lose all data in RAM and unsaved information, something like restart in PC.

20. CSC

This refers Customer Software Customization, which contains applications and settings  depends on your country or Region or Carrier.


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