8 useful Google Android resources

Network World - If you’ve found yourself playing catch-up on Google Android, here’s a selection of resources from Network World and our sister publications to get you up to speed quickly.

How Android conquered the mobile market

This is our big picture look on how the heck Android snuck up on everyone, when three years ago it was very unclear whether Google’s mobile bet would go anywhere.  Since January, Android has doubled its total market share in the mobile operating system market, and devices based on Android accounted for a whopping 44% of smartphones purchased in the third quarter of 2010, according to figures from NPD, one of many outfits tracking smartphone sales and usage.

iPhone vs. Droid vs. BlackBerry

We look at the three hot smartphone platforms in the United States from Apple, Google’s partners and Research in Motion as part of our broader  series on Networking’s Greatest Arguments. For a closer look at Android OS 2.2 vs Apple’s iOS 4, check out this piece from sister site InfoWorld.  

A Brief History of Android

We won’t bog you down with a ton of details, but zip through this slideshow to learn about how Android got to where it is from its humble beginnings at Google in November, 2007.  Then test your knowledge by taking our Google Android Quiz. 

Why customers choose Android

Many Android customers started with something else. Here’s what 7 BlackBerry geeks have to say about why they made the switch from their RIM devices to Android products. 

Best Android apps

Our friends at PC World took at stab at picking the 22 best apps of all sorts in the Android Market, including SkyFire and Barcode Scanner. For few narrower lists, you can also try the 10 Best Entertainment Apps and 10 Free Android Apps for Staying in the Know. Oh, and if you want to get some work done, see 10 Must-Have Android Apps for Business.

Android security

Google Android security is improving but has some catching up to do with the iPhone and BlackBerry. Here’s what a Forrester analyst has to say about Android security and here’s what IT pros at big organizations like Del Monte Foods and Ford have to say about smartphone security concerns and priorities.  The good news is that technologies from companies like Good Technology are being designed to support Android devices. 

Android tips

Network World Senior Editor Jon Brodkin is an early Android smartphone user and offers his tips on installing Flash on Froyo (Android OS 2.2) and offers his impressions of Froyo on a Motorola Droid. Separately, PC World offers tips on making sure Android app developers aren’t snooping on your privacy.  This final article is a little older, with some of it relating specifically to Android OS 2.0, but many of these 40 Android tips still apply.

Android blogs

While Network World continues to boost its Android coverage, other good sources of Android news are blogs dedicated to the Google mobile platform. Check out the Android section from this list of 50 smartphone blogs compiled early in 2010.

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