CHAPTER 1 RATIONALE OF THE RESEARCH The worlds leading mobile operating system today is Android.

Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Android is open source. This open source code and permissive licensing allows the software to be freely modified and distributed by device manufacturers, wireless carriers and enthusiast developers. Additionally, Android has a large community of developers writing applications ("apps") that extend the functionality of devices, written primarily in a customized version of the Java programming language. In October 2012, there were approximately 700,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications downloaded from Google Play, Android's primary app store, was 25 billion. A developer survey conducted in AprilMay 2013 found that Android is the most popular platform for developers, used by 71% of the mobile developer population. Due to this reasons, Android easily became the worlds most widely used operating system and easily reached the top beating the Symbian operating system in the process. Because of these factors, a lot of people worldwide are now using Android-powered devices. Every people in every walks of life has now the ability to purchase a smartphone of their own. Because of this, giant smartphone companies (e.g. Samsung, HTC, Sony) releases smartphones one after another. Even entry-level smartphones are feature-packed that large communities of enthusiast developers can be found. Communities of enthusiast developers can be easily found. One way is by just searching a Facebook group about a particular smartphone. Just search in Facebook, and in seconds, Facebook will generate a number of Facebook group with active members. Because of these Facebook group systems, information about a particular smartphone can easily be disseminate. Tutorials, how-to guides, walkthroughs on different tweaking procedures or customizat ions can easily be found. Guides on Rooting, Theming, Supercharging, Flashing a custom Rom, and the likes are easily found on the Internet. But still a lot of people is not knowledgeable enough or is not very well-informed about the Android environment. Even though information can be easily found, a lot of people still find Android confusing. And thats why the researcher want to conduct this research. The researcher wants to figure out why people dont customize their Android phones despite of accurate information that can be easily searched and found in the Internet. Is it fear of bricking their phones? Is it lack of resources (e.g. Internet connection, Computers, Cables, Drivers)? Is it lack of knowledge? Is it lack of experience? Is it personal choice? Or is it a combination of two or more reasons stated? STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM As an Android user for over two years now, the researcher learned that not everyone who uses Androidpowered devices is knowledgeable or is even familiar on the Android environment. In the Internet, we see people having problems about their Android devices. Or people asking how to root their devices, on how to flash a custom rom. The researcher have a friend who own a high-end Android device, but when I ask her if her device is

already rooted, she doesnt have a clue at all and told me that she didnt even heard the term before. And for the researcher, a question arises because of these scenarios; that why dont people try to maximize their Android devices? Specifically, the study aims to answer the following: 1. Do people (people like students, employees, housewives) really maximize (Maximize meaning using the smartphones not just for texting, calling, alarm clocks) the full potential of their Android Devices? 2. If yes, why do people maximize their Android devices? How and in what way do these people maximize their Android devices? 3. If not, what are the common reasons why people dont customize their Android device? Is it fear? Is it lack of knowledge? Is it being inexperienced? Is it lack of resources (e.g. Internet connection, Computers, Cables, Drivers)? Is it Personal choice? Or is it a combination of these? 4. What are the advantages of customizing (flashing custom roms, applying tweaks) your Android device? 5. What are the dangers of customizing (flashing custom roms, applying tweaks) your Android device?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The main objective of the study is to share valuable knowledge to enthusiast developers and to fellow Android users the valuable information when the research is already conducted. The research will help enthusiast developers when developing better applications because this research will give information about people who uses their developed applications. The research will serve as a great achievement on the part of the researcher. METHODS To conduct this research, the researcher will use the following methods in conducting the research: Library Research: the researcher will use Library Research method to help me identify different terminologies in the research. And it will also help the researcher in the research in gathering facts and truthful ideas regarding the subject of Android. Survey Research: the researcher will try to use Survey Research method to get the statistics of Android users who customizes their Android phone. The researcher will conduct Public Opinion Polls and will also distribute survey questionnaires to chosen people. Focus Groups: The researcher also want to conduct surveys on Focus Groups or on expert people about the subject or expert enthusiast developers to ask for their experiences. Observational Method. The researcher will use observational methods to observe and take down notes

about the subjects. The researcher will observe the interviewees behavior while answering different questions asked. STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH