A Brief History of Android

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANDROID

Google's Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers. It is open source in nature and the code is released under the Apache License which allows the software to be freely modified and distributed by device manufacturers, wireless carriers, as well as individual users.

MILESTONES

October 2003
Android Inc founded by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner Nick Sears, & Chris White

August 2005
Google acquires Android Inc

5 November 2007
Open Handset Alliance (OHA) Formed. Android Unveiled

12 November 2007
Android Beta SDK Released

23 September 2008
Android 1.0 Released.Featured on HTC Dream (G1)

9 February 2009
Android 1.1 update released for T-Mobile G1

30 APRIL 2009 ANDROID 1.5: cupcake Released
ENHANCEMENTS
Camcorder support to record and watch videos

Ability to easily upload images and videos to Picasa and Youtube

A number of Bluetooth improvements

Widgets and folders can now be placed on the home screen

Animation on various screen transitions

On-screen keyboard with text-prediction

15 SEPTEMBER 2009 ANDROID 1.6: Donut Released
ENHANCEMENTS
New camera, camcorder and photo gallery interfaces

Improved voice search and search experience

Support for higher screen resolutions

Google turn-by-turn navigation

Text to speech engine

Multi-touch gesture support

VPN (Virtual Private Network) support

26 OCTOBER 2009 ANDROID 2.0:Eclair Released
ENHANCEMENTS

Improve UI

Contact and Account improvements and sychronization

Email support for exchange, supports multiple account aggregation

More camera improvements including flash, digital zoom, white balance, scene modes and macro focus

Improved virtual keyboard

Browser improvements including key functions of HTML5

Improved speed

Improvements to Calender and Google Maps

Bluetooth 2.1 support and related Bluetooth features

Live wallpapers

3 DECEMBER 2009 ANDROID 2.0.1: SDK Released.
12 JANUARY 2010 ANDROID 2.1: SDK Released.
20 MAY 210 ANDROID 2.2: Froyo Released.

ENHANCEMENTS

Camera control improvements with more on-screen buttons

Tethering with up to 8 WiFi hotspots or via USB connection

Multi-lingual keyboard support allows quick language switching

More performance improvements for faster app access and browser speedups

Bluetooth improvements including voice dialing, contract sharing, support for bluetooth car and desk docks

Numerous enhancements for Microsoft's Exchange, such as remote wipe, calender support, global address lists and improved security

New home screen tips widget

6 DECEMBER 2010 ANDROID 2.3: Gingerbread Released
ENHANCEMENTS

UI refinements for simplicity and speed

Faster, more intuitive text input on the virtual keyboard

One-touch word selection and copy/paste

Improved power management and power usage status

Application status and ability to manually stop applications

Internet phone calling

Near-Field Communication (NFC) support to read NFC tags

New download manager

Multiple camera support (i.e front and rear cameras)

Support for barometer, gravity, gyroscope, linear acceleration and rotation

22 FEBRUARY 2011 ANDROID 2.3.3: SDK Released
22 FEBRUARY 2011 ANDROID 3.0: Honeycomb Released

ENHANCEMENTS

New UI for tablets includes a new system bar, action bar, customizable home screens and recent apps list

Redesigned keyboard for faster more accurate entry

Improved text selection, copy and paste

Synchronize media files via USB without mounting a USB mass-storage device

Support for physical keyboards via Bluetooth or USB

Bluetooth tethering allows more devices to share the network connetion

Updated applications for larger screens including browser, camera, gallery, contact and email

Multi-core processor support

High-performance 2D and 3D graphic support

10 MAY 2011 ANDROID 3.1: SDK Released
ENHANCEMENTS

UI refinements to navigation and animations

USB devices and accessories supported, including mice, keyboards, digital cameras and more.

Expanded recent apps list

Resizeable Home screen widgets

Support for joysticks and gamepads

Improved Wi-Fi networking stability,including connection while the screen is off

Updated set of standard apps, including browser, gallery calender, contacts and email.

Enterprise support features

18 JULY 2011 ANDROID 3.2: SDK Released
ENHANCEMENTS

Further enhancements for Tablets

Compatibility zoom for fixed-sized applications

Direct application access to SD card file system

Extended screen API for managing different screen sizes

19 OCTOBER 2011 ANDROID 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich Released
ENHANCEMENTS

Refined UI

Recent Apps selection

Home folders and favorites tray

Resizable Widgets

Lock Screen actions

Quick Response for calls

Network data control

NFC based sharing

Face Unlock

WiFi-Direct support

9 JULY 2012 ANDROID 4.1: Jelly bean Released.
ENHANCEMENTS

Improved touch response and transitions

Expandable, actionable notifications

Instant review of taken photos

External braille input and output via USB

Improved Voice search

USB audio

Google Wallet

29 OCTOBER 2012 ANDROID 4.2: Jelly Bean 4.2 Released.

ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE

Multiple users for tablets

Photo Sphere to take 360 degree images

Built-in keyboard gesture typing (like Swype)

Daydream to display info while idle or docked

Beam photos and videos

Distribution of Android Versions Across Devices

Android Version Share of Devices

Donut 0.20%
Eclair 2.40%
Froyo 9.00%
Gingerbread 47.60%
Honeycomb 1.50%
Ice Cream Sandwich 29.10%
Jelly Bean 10.20%

Based on the number of Android devices that have accessed Google Play within a 14-day period ending on 3rd Jan 2013 A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANDROID Google's Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers. It is open source in nature and the code is released under the Apache License which allows the software to be freely modified and distributed by device manufacturers, wireless carriers, as well as individual users. MILESTONES • October 2003 Android Inc founded by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, & Chris White 30 APRIL 2009 ANDROID 1.5: Cupcake Released. August 2005 Google acquires Android Inc •5 November 2007 Open Handset Alliance (OHA) Formed. Android ENHANCEMENTS • Camcorder support to record and watch videos • Ability to easily upload images and videos to Picasa and YouTube Unveiled • 12 November 2007 Android Beta SDK Released A number of Bluetooth improvements • Widgets and folders can now be placed on the • 23 September 2008 Android 1.0 Released. Featured on HTC Dream home screen • Animation on various screen transitions (G1) • On-screen keyboard with text-prediction • 9 February 2009 Android 1.1 update released for T-Mobile G1 15 SEPTEMBER 2009 ANDROID 1.6: Donut Released. ENHANCEMENTS • New camera, camcorder and photo gallery interfaces 26 OCTOBER 2009 ANDROID 2.0: Éclair Released. • Improved voice search and search experience • Support for higher screen resolutions • Google turn-by-turn navigation • Text to speech engine • Multi-touch gesture support • VPN (Virtual Private Network) support ENHANCEMENTS • Improved UI • Contact and Account improvements and synchronization • Email support for Exchange, supports multiple account aggregation • More camera improvements including flash, digital zoom, white balance, scene modes and macro focus 3 DECEMBER 2009 ANDROID 2.0.1: SDK Released. Improved virtual keyboard • Browser improvements including key functions of HTML5 12 JANUARY 2010 ANDROID 2.1: SDK Released. • Improved speed • Improvements to Calendar and Google Maps • Bluetooth 2.1 support and related Bluetooth features 20 MAY 2010 ANDROID 2.2: Froyo Released. • Live wallpapers ENHANCEMENTS • Camera control improvements with more on-screen buttons • Tethering with up to 8 WiFi hotspots or via USB connection 6 DECEMBER 2010 ANDROID 2.3: Gingerbread Released. • Multi-lingual keyboard support allows quick language switching • More performance improvements for faster app access and browser speedups ENHANCEMENTS • Ul refinements for simplicity and speed • Faster, more intuitive text input on the virtual keyboard • Bluetooth improvements including voice dialing, contract sharing, support for bluetooth car and desk docks • One-touch word selection and copy/paste • Improved power management and power usage • Numerous enhancements for Microsoft's Exchange, such as remote wipe, calendar support, global address lists and improved security • New home screen tips widget status • Application status and ability to manually stop applications • Internet phone calling Near-Field Communication (NFC) support to read NFC tags 22 FEBRUARY 2011 • New download manager ANDROID 2.3.3: SDK Released. • Multiple camera support (i.e. front and rear cameras) • Support for barometer, gravity, gyroscope, linear acceleration and rotation 22 FEBRUARY 2011 ANDROID 3.0: Honeycomb Released. ENHANCEMENTS 10 MAY 2011 • New Ul optimized for tablets includes a new system bar, action bar, customizable home screens and recent apps list ANDROID 3.1: SDK Released. ENHANCEMENTS • Redesigned keyboard for faster more accurate entry • Ul refinements to navigation and animations • USB devices and accessories supported, including mice, keyboards, digital cameras and • Improved text selection, copy and paste • Synchronize media files via USB without mounting a USB mass-storage device more. • Support for physical keyboards via Bluetooth or USB • Expanded recent apps list • Resizeable Home screen widgets • Bluetooth tethering allows more devices to share the network connection • Support for joysticks and gamepads • Improved Wi-Fi networking stability, including connection while the screen is off • Updated applications for larger screens including browser, camera, gallery, contact and • Updated set of standard apps, including browser, gallery calendar, contacts and email. email • Multi-core processor support • High-performance 2D and 3D graphic support • Enterprise support features 18 JULY 2011 ANDROID 3.2: SDK Released. ENHANCEMENTS 19 OCTOBER 2011 ANDROID 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich Released. • Further enhancements for Tablets • Compatibility zoom for fixed-sized applications • Direct application access to SD card file system • Extended screen API for managing different ENHANCEMENTS • Refined UI screen sizes • Recent Apps selection • Home folders and favorites tray • Resizable Widgets 9 JULY 2012 ANDROID 4.1: Jelly bean Released. • Lock screen actions • Quick Response for calls • Network data control • Improved Email • NFC based sharing ENHANCEMENTS • Improved touch response and transitions • Expandable, actionable notifications • Adaptive keyboard and guesses • Instant review of taken photos • External braille input and output via USB • Improved Voice search • USB audio • Face Unlock • WiFi-Direct support 29 OCTOBER 2012 ANDROID 4.2: Jelly Bean 4.2 Released. • Google Wallet ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE • Multiple users for tablets • Photo Sphere to take 360 degree images • Built-in keyboard gesture typing (like Swype) • Daydream to display info while idle or docked Beam photos and videos Distribution of Android Versions Across Devices* Android Version Share of Devices Donut 0.20% Eclair 2.40% Froyo 9.00% Gingerbread 47.60% Honeycomb 1.50% Ice Cream Sandwich 29.10% Jelly Bean 10.20% *Based on the number of Android devices that have accessed Google Play within a 14-day period ending on 3rd Jan 2013 spice switch up! Sources www.android.com|www.wikipedia.com www.spicestellar.com