What is an android operating system?

[lorla]

I'm looking at getting a new phone and the one I want uses an android operating system but I have no idea what that means. When I Google it, I still don't understand the explanation and it's never in laymans terms. Can anyone explain in really straightforward English?!

[chelle7272]

http://community.phon...ng-systems-explained/

there are several different ones as there are for PC's (Windows, Linux etc). Android is currently rated the best. It makes all the menu's and functions and so on work.

[VHG]

Without an operating system then PCs and phones (and other devices) are just hardware that wont do anything.

An operating system is the main software that runs on a product that makes it work.

The most obvious one is Windows for PCs and laptops.

Many hardware products have an operating system embedded in them, like Sky boxes, routers and other devices.

[mjd]

The android os (operating system) was developed by Google and is used to produce other manufacturers versions of the iPhone.

[lorla]

Lovely thanks all!