Android device activation all over the globe is hitting the roof. As tweeted by Android chief Andy Rubin, “There are now over 500,000 Android devices activated every day, and it’s growing at 4.4% w/w.”

The announcement of 400,000 device activation last month during Google’s I/O event further highlights the drama of its current advancement. Last year around this time, device activation was only 100,000, and then it hit 300,000 by December 2010, running up to 400,000 just last month.  Increasing by 100k in just the past four weeks, Android’s rate of increase is also on the rise.

Android’s flailing OS environment

The platform’s growth is also credited to Honeycomb, its tablet-only operating system. Come to think of it, virtually all manufacturers these days rely on Google’s operating systems to run their devices — smartphone or tablet.

Android’s market share has soared along with its reputation (for better or worse). A comScore report reveals that Android accounts for 36.4 percent of the U.S. smartphone market by Q1 2011, outperforming Apple, which only holds 26 percent. RIM and Microsoft follows with 25.7 percent and 6.7 percent market share respectively. Gartner, on the other hand, sees a good future for Android-powered handsets. The research firm said April that it expects 630 million smartphones to hit the shelves by 2012, and Android will comprise 49.2 percent of these phones, followed by Apple with 18.9 percent share.

Ice Cream Sandwiches Look Awfully Tasty to Microsoft

The figure isn’t surprising, given Android’s steady wave of new devices. A rumor circulating lately reveals that Samsung will be the first company to manufacture a smartphone to run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich, says BGR. The device is expected to release around Thanksgiving, and with impressive specifications sporting a dual-core 1.2 or even 1.5 GHz process, 1GB RAM and 4G LTE connectivity, as well as a 720p, Super AMOLED HD display. Android Ice Cream Sandwich will be the convergence point for smartphones, tablets and in the string of similar devices.

Skyrocketing success, impressive figures and a shoot up in popularity; these achievements come with legal implications as the mobile industry becomes more established. Google’s facing some scrutiny over its location-aware tracking methods, as well as some patent claims from Microsoft and Oracle. Microsoft recently sued General Dynamics Intronix for using some patented technology on its Android products, and the two parties have come into a consensus of the having Itronix pay for the damages. Moreover, the Android market is dealing with the growing number of malicious apps on its market. However, despite the negativities, this generation is obviously Android’s, and it won’t be an easy feat to obstruct its momentum.