The Android Glossary

ADB: Android Debug Bridge

AMOLED: Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode

Android: Google’s open-source mobile operating system

AOSP: The Android Open Source Project

.apk: The file extension of an Android application.

Bluetooth: A short-range radio that lets you connect headsets, speakerphones or computers

Bootloader: An internal mode that helps in flashing ROMs

CDMA: One of two standards for cell phone communications. Code Division Multiple Access, it can be found in US Carriers Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

Cupcake: Android 1.5

DLNA: Dynamic Living Network Alliance allows wireless transmission of content from your Android
device to your television or other DLNA equipped device

Donut: Android 1.6

Eclair: Android 2.0-2.1

Factory Reset: Wiping all data, settings, and apps from a phone to make it stock a.k.a “out of the box”. In most versions of Android this can be found under Settings>Privacy.

FC: Short for force close

Froyo: Android 2.2

Gingerbread: Android 2.3

Google: Largest search engine company in the world and the company that created Android.

GSM: One of two standards for cell phone communications. Global System for Mobile communications, this is the system that requires the use of a “sim” card.

Hard Reset: Wiping all data, settings, and apps from a phone to make it stock a.k.a “out of the box”

Honeycomb: Android 3.0


JIT: Just-in-Time Compiler

Kernel: basic Linux building block of Android.

Linux: An open source variant of Unix, used as the underlying system on Android devices.

Live wallpapers: Animated wallpapers

NFC: Near-field communication

OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer

OTA: Over the Air as in OTA update. Most carriers use this system of over the air updates to send out an update to an Android device. This can include a security, service or operating system update.

OS: Operating System

QR code: (Quick Response Code) A black-and-white barcode that, when scanned by your phone, can open a web link, point to an application in the Market, etc.

Recovery Mode: A special mode within your Android device to which allows a firmware restoration
Root: A method of unlocking the Android operating system to allow deeper programs deeper access than is allowed out of the box.

SD card (or microSD card): A small plastic “card” that expands the available storage memory on your phone

SIM card: The little card used in GSM phones

Soft Reset: turning off phone or removing battery

Tethering: The act of using your smartphone’s data to provide Internet access to another device

USB: Universal Serial Bus

WiMax: World Interoperability For Microwave Access. Originally not considered 4G by the International Telecommunications Union (see above) it is now considered 4G and is the 4G that Sprint utilizes in their 4G network which is a partnership with Clearwire