Android is Now Eight Years Old

We are so busy in our schedules that we keep ourselves updated with the trends but we forget to take a look since how long they are in the market. Be it Android or Google, do we have any idea when it came in the market or since how long are they surviving here?

Today, here in this blog post we are going to take a look at Android Platform and know about how long has it sustained in the market? 5th November; eight years ago that means in 2007; was the day when Android was born.

Android is now eight years old. 5th November 2007 is the birth of the platform. Android was formally announced along with its union with Google, HTC, Samsung, LG, Sony, Motorola and lots of such software companies, chip manufacturers as well as mobile carriers.

In the initial stages, it was presented as the open source alternative to various mobile operating systems like Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, RIM’s blackberry, Nokia’s Symbian and the most well known iPhone.

Within these eight years, the mobile market has changed rapidly and Android has now dominated the market as it is now the single most used operating system on the planet and runs on billions of phones as well as devices like as tablet, smart watches, set top box, Smart TVs, in car entertainment systems and lots more.

The entire mobile world is dominated by Android now days. Yes, Apple’s iOs is available but it has very less share. Android has now released its full sixth version which can also be said as its thirteenth notable revision.

Still there are plenty of improvements in the platform to be made and manufacturers’, developers are in constant efforts to improve it and we have seen the progress in last eight years.

History of Android:

Android development began in September 2003 and later it was owned by Google in 2005. The SDK or we can say Software Development Kit for Android was released on November 12, 2007. As the beta versions were released on 5th November, it is celebrate as “Android Birthday” every year all over the world.

Let’s take a look at the entire eight years journey of Android:

Android came in the market with the Android beta release in November 2007. Android one is the first commercial version that was released in September 2008.

And from then onwards, Android is continually being developed by Google as well as Open Handset Alliance with number of updates to the base operating system after the initial release. Recently Android’s major update Android 6.0 “Marshmallow” was released in October 2015.

If we closely take a look at Android’s versions then they are named with a confectionery themed code name and are released in alphabetical order with the first version being Android 1.5 Cupcake and following ones as follows:

Android Version names:

1. Cupcake (1.5)
2. Donut (1.6)
3. Éclair (2.0 -2.1)
4. Froyo (2.2–2.2.3)
5. Gingerbread (2.3–2.3.7)
6. Honeycomb (3.0–3.2.6)
7. Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0–4.0.4)
8. Jelly Bean (4.1–4.3.1)
9. KitKat (4.4–4.4.4, 4.4W–4.4W.2)
10. Lollipop (5.0–5.1.1)
11. Marshmallow (6.0)

Different Android Versions and their features:

1. Android 1.0 : It includes:
   • Android Market Application
   • Web Browser
   • Camera Support
   • Access to web email servers that support POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP
   • Gmail synchronization
   • Google Contacts
   • Google Calendar
   • Google Maps with Street View
   • Google Search
   • Google Sync
   • Google Talk
   • Media Player, Bluetooth support
   • Voice Dialer
   • YouTube Video Player
   • Wi Fi Support
2. Android 1.5 Cupcake:
   • Support for third party virtual keyboards
   • Support for Widgets
   • Supports MPEG-4 and 3GP Formats
   • A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth support
   • Animated Screen
   • Auto Rotation
   • Video upload on Youtube and Picassa
3. Android Donut 1.6:
   • Voice based search
   • Including content in search results
   • Support for viewing App Screenshots
   • Fully integrated Gallery, Camera with quick camera access
   • WVGA screen resolutions supported
   • New Gesture Framework
4. Android Éclair 2.0:
   • Microsoft Exchange Email Support
   • Bluetooth 2.1
   • Camera with updated features like as Flash support, Zoom, Scene mode, white balance, Colour effect and Macro Focus
   • UI browser that supports HTML 5
   • Updated Google Maps
   • More Screen size and resolution
   • Motion Event
   • Live Wallpapers, Animated Home Screen Background images
5. Android Froyo 2.2 and 2.2.3:
   • Improvement in Speed and memory
   • Android Cloud Support
   • Browser application with JavaScript
   • Wi-Fi Hotspot Functionality
   • Advanced Microsoft Exchange support
   • Switching between multiple keyboard and languages
   • Includes Numeric and Alphanumeric passwords
   • Adobe Flash support
6. Android Ginger Bread:
   • Updated user interface and design
   • Native support for internet telephony
   • Improved Copy Paste functionality
   • Supports NFC ( Near Field Communication)
   • Advanced Audio Effects
   • Multiple Camera Support
   • Improved support for Native Code Management
   • Sensor support
7. Android Honey Comb 3.0:
   • Tablet support with holographic user interface
   • Includes Action Bar with access to widgets, navigation and other such contents
   • Redesigned Keyboard
   • Intuitive Copy Paste interface
   • Browser with enhanced functionality of multiple browser tabs along with “ Incognito”
   • Supports multi core processors
   • Hardware Acceleration
8. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich:
   • Includes roboto Font Family
   • Soft buttons for Android 3.0
   • New widgets displayed in new tab
   • Pinch to Zoom Functionality
   • Advanced Error Connection
   • Face Unlock feature
   • Data Usage Settings
   • Advanced Camera features like as time lapse settings, panorama mode and zoom while recording
   • In built photo editor
9. Android Jelly Bean 4.1:
   • Smoother User interface
   • Expandable Notification
   • Multi channel Audio
   • USB Audio
   • Turn of Notifications as per the application
   • Rearrangement of shortcuts and widgets
10. Android Jelly Bean 4.3:
    • Blue tooth low energy support
    • Dial pad auto complete in Phone application
    • Supports more languages
    • Lock Screen Improvements
    • Day dream screen savers
    • Multiple user accounts for tablets
    • Group Messaging
11. Android Kitkat 4.4:
    • New Interface with White elements
    • Clock with thin digits
    • Performance optimization
    • Wireless Printing
    • New Framework for UI transitions
    • Storage Access Framework
    • Audio tunnelling and monitoring
    • Bluetooth message Access Profile
    • Text wrapping disabled  in WebView browser component
    • Advanced Camera Features like as Auto Focus, white balance
    • Security enhancements
12. Android 5.0 Lollipop:
    • Supports 64 bit CPU
    • Supports Print Previews
    • Refreshed Lock Screen
    • New Project Volta for improving battery life
    • Audio input and output via USB Devices
    • Updates received by Web Views via Google Play
    • Tap and Go Feature that allows users to transfer data from one android device to another using Google Account
    • Smart Lock Feature
    • Updated Emoji
13. Android 5.1 Lollipop: Along with all above features these will also be available:-
    • High definition voice calls
    • Official support for multiple SIM Cards
    • Device Protection
14. Android 6.0 Marshmallow:
    • Now on tap feature
    • Doze mode
    • Direct share feature for specific apps
    • Do Not disturb mode
    • USB Type C support
    • Demo feature for Screen shots
    • Automatic full data backup and restore for apps
    • MIDI support for musical instruments

Till today Android has covered these many stages and is still marching ahead on the path of progress. We wish Android a very happy new year that aids in its progress and boosts its revenue.

Wind Up

Hope this blog post will be useful for those who wish to know in depth about all of the Android versions and also those who are willing to purchase mobile devices with latest android version.

Before you purchase any device, take a look at the version features and then if they meet your needs you can buy one. For more such updates about Android, Stay connected with Softqube Technologies, Android App development Company India.