added ability to retrieve device manufacturer

platform/platform.android.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export module platformNames {
 // It is not meant to be initialized - thus it is not capitalized
 export class device implements definition.device {
     private static MIN_TABLET_PIXELS = 600;
+    private static _manufacturer: string;
     private static _model: string;
     private static _osVersion: string;
     private static _sdkVersion: string;
@@ -22,6 +23,14 @@ export class device implements definition.device {
         return platformNames.android;
     }
 
+    static get manufacturer(): string {
+        if (!device._manufacturer) {
+            device._manufacturer = android.os.Build.MANUFACTURER;
+        }
+
+        return device._manufacturer;
+    }
+
     static get osVersion(): string {
         if (!device._osVersion) {
             device._osVersion = android.os.Build.VERSION.RELEASE;

platform/platform.d.ts

@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ declare module "platform" {
      * An object containing device specific information.
      */
     export class device {
+        /**
+         * Gets the manufacturer of the device.
+         * For example: "Apple" or "HTC" or "Samsung".
+         */
+        static manufacturer: string;
+
         /**
          * Gets the model of the device.
          * For example: "Nexus 5" or "iPhone.

platform/platform.ios.ts

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ export class device implements definition.device {
     private static _sdkVersion: string;
     private static _deviceType: string;
 
+    static get manufacturer(): string {
+        return "Apple";
+    }
+
     static get os(): string {
         return platformNames.ios;
     }