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The Total Newbie's Dictionary
Whether you're a newbie or an experienced user, you're bound to encounter terms that you don't understand during your quest for Android perfection.
If you came here from a link on another Wiki page, press CTRL + F, type the term you want to find, and then press Enter to search for it.
References to other terms are italicized.
Binary code: Software written in the language that computers understand: zeros and ones. Binary editions of IHO are recommended for most users since they're pre-configured and ready to install.
Developers in the Android community take IHO's source code, make changes as they see fit, and then translate (compile) their work into ready-to-use binary code for the general public.
Bloatware: Undesirable preinstalled software that hogs space and slows your system down. Cellular companies get paid big bucks to bundle bloatware with new phones. It frequently requires root privileges to remove.
Closed Source: Software whose source code is not shared with the public. Without access to the source code, third-party developers can't make any changes or improvements to the software. Microsoft Windows is an example of closed source software.
Compile/Compiling: The process of translating source code into binary code.
Open Source: Software whose source code is shared with the public. Since anyone can download the source code, third-party developers can make changes or improvements to the software. IHO is an example of open source software.
Overclocking: Making a component in a electronic device, such as its CPU, run faster than the factory specifications. Overclocking increases performance, but it can also damage your device.
Recovery console: A simple operating system used to perform maintenance tasks such as backups.
- ClockworkMod Recovery (which can be installed from ROM Manager) and its derivatives are fully supported.
- The semi-official IHO Recovery is still under development. Only the LG Optimus V (VM670) is currently supported.
- Xionia-based recovery consoles are known to create problems. Use them at your own risk!
Root/Rooting: There are two levels of user access in Android: regular user and root. Phones ship with regular user access because cellular companies don't want customers uninstalling bloatware or modifying their phones.
"Rooting" is the process of gaining root privileges.
Shell: A program that processes commands from a terminal. Shells can execute complex commands that would be very difficult to perform with graphical programs.
Source code: Software written in a language that humans can understand. Since computers only understand software written as zeros and ones (binary code), source code must be translated (compiled) into binary code before it can be used. The source edition of IHO is recommended for developers.
Terminal: A program used to interact with a computer by typing in commands instead of using point-and-click graphical programs. Terminal commands are processed by a shell.
Tethering: Sharing your phone's Internet connection with a computer. Cellular companies frown on tethering unless you pay extra since computers use much more data than phones.
.APK: A type of file that install Android applications, much like .EXE files in Windows.
Bricked: A phone that is completely unusable due to a serious software problem.
Froyo: An older release of the Android operating system, version 2.2. It was released in June 2010.
Gingerbread: The most recent release of the Android operating system, version 2.3. It was released in December 2010.
Logcat: An Android troubleshooting tool that records a detailed log of everything that happens on your phone until you tell it to stop.
Nandroid: A tool for backing up and restoring ROM. Nandroid backups can be performed in a recovery console.
OTA: An official Android update released by a cellular company. Modified versions of Android such as IHO are incompatible with OTA updates.
ROM:
- Your phone's internal memory. Its Android operating system, settings, and apps are stored here.
- A snapshot of a phone's internal memory. Third-party ROMs can be loaded in a recovery console to install customized versions of Android.
Stock: Unaltered; something that adheres to its default specifications.
Terminal Emulator: An app that makes your phone act like a terminal so you can access Android's built-in shell.
Vanilla: See stock.