Android Terminology

Apps

Applications, or executable programs that run under the Android OS. Apps is simply an abbreviation for the plural of Applications. App would refer to a single application.

App Drawer

The app drawer is the location for all of your apps. It is accessible from the home screen and is usually located in the bottom row of icons. The app drawer holds all of the applications that your phone came with and the ones that you have since downloaded from the Android Market. If you are ever looking for an App and can’t find an icon for it on your Home Screen then you can just click the App Drawer. If you long press an app icon in the app drawer you will have the option to copy that icon to your desktop. Note: if an app you've installed in not visible on the desktop, or in the app drawer, then check the "Manage Apps" area to find a complete listing off all install apps.

App Tray

See: App Drawer.

Custom ROM

The Custom ROM is a ROM derived from the Stock ROM, which has been hacked as in modified for some purpose, such as to be more fast and efficient. Custom ROM images may be described as updated "nightly" for the ROM that is still trial or early alpha stage, "RC (Release Candidate)" for the most stable ROM, as well as "stable" for the ROM which is considered to be almost the same stability when compared to parent ROM (Stock ROM). You typically need to have root access to the Android before you can apply a custom ROM.

Dock

The bottom bar of icons that are part of the launcher.

Firmware

See "Stock ROM" and "Custom ROM." When people say they're flashing a new ROM, it means they are flashing a new version of the firmware on to their phone.

Launcher

The Launcher is part of the UI (User Interface) and it controls your home screen, app drawer and launches apps. The Launcher is what lets you customize your home screen, make phone calls, and perform other tasks. Launcher is built into Android, however there are a number of alternative Launchers available for download in the Android Market. You do not need to have root privilege to install an alternative launcher.

Manage Apps (Manage Applications)

Also known as: Uninstall List, Apps List, Installed Programs. The Manage Apps area is part of the Settings Menu Set where all installed Android Apps are listed. It can be found by pressing Menu, and Manage Apps, or by pressing Menu, Settings, Applications, and Manage Applications. Apps you install can be removed from the Manage Apps screen. Apps that come with your phone, or pushed by your carrier, sometimes cannot be removed from here without hacking the phone to gain root access. Use Manage Apps to help manage storage, memory usage, and security. There are certain types of spy apps and malware that can hide from the Manage Apps list, however, most all apps will be listed here.

Multitasking

In Microsoft Windows users are familiar with the ability to press ALT-TAB and quickly switch between one open application to another without having to close either one. On an Android device users can switch between open applications too by holding down "Long Press" the Home icon/button. Press and hold the Home button for about two seconds, see the list of recent running apps, scroll up and down the list and touch on any of the recent apps to jump to that app.

Notification Bar

The thin area at the top of the screen that lists notifications. It also displays other information such as the time, cell and data reception. It can be pulled down to display all of the current notifications, including unread emails and text messages.

OTA (Over the Air)

OTA in the Android world often refers to updates pushed to your phone from your provider, over the air, such as firmware updates. These happen without you having to manually download and install anything. OTA more generally refers to services that can be accessed on a phone without the need for a USB cable or a local Bluetooth connection. Providers like Verizon allow backups of your contacts, and other data OTA to their servers, which sometimes is described as a "cloud."

Root

Root is an access level that gives you full control over your Android device. The manufacturers and your carrier typically do not wish for you to have root access. With root access you can remove unwanted apps that your carrier force onto your device, which will save memory and make your Android run faster. Furthermore, with root access you can do much harm, even render your Android device completely useless. Root access, accomplished by "rooting your Android, also known as jail breaking, or hacking" gives you the equivalent to root system level access on a UNIX system, or System Administrator privilege on a Microsoft Windows system. The use of rooting, as a verb, is the act of exploiting a flaw in the Firmware to gain root access.

SBF (System Boot File)

SBF or SBF File refers to System Boot File. A SBF is an image which restores the phone to its default, "straight from the factory" state in terms of software. To load the SBF to the phone use a flash program such as RSDLite, which is ran on a PC, after the PC has the appropriate drivers installed. Sometimes SBF is used as a verb, describing the process of using a flash program to restore the System Boot File to an Android device. So SBF'ing is the process where you connect your phone tho a computer while the device is in bootloader mode, and push a .sbf file to it with an SDK program such as RSD Lite.

SDK (Software Development Kit)

Android Software Development Kit, Android SDK. Android applications are written in the JAVA programming language. The Android Software Development Kit can be installed on your person computer allowing you to develop Android Apps. The Android SDK includes sample projects with source code, development tools, an emulator, and required libraries to build Android applications.

SDK Program

This is a lose description used by hackers to describe part of the Android Software Development Kit that they often use to allow a PC to interact with an Android device and Google. The SDK Program is referred to in guide explaining how to install a Custom ROM, just for one example. The SDK Program is actually the Android SDK, see: SDK (Software Development Kit).

Stock ROM

The original factory firmware for your phone. This is the ROM created by the manufacturer.

Widgets

Widgets are apps that you place on your Home Screen. They run without you having to click on them. Widget examples include a desktop screen event calendar, clock, or message notification list.