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Android Inc. Formed
Android Inc. was formed in Palo Alto, California in 2003 by 4 people. One being Andy Rubin, Nick Sears, Rich Miner, and Chris White. Andy Rubin described the Android project as "tremendous potential in developing smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner's location and preferences." -
Google acquired Android
At first, Android was a digital camera operating system, but five months later, they decided to move onto a handset operating system because the digital camera market wasn't big enough for their goals. They were competing against Symbian Mobile and Windows Mobile OS.
Once Google took over, they kept making handset Operating System, and made the first public BETA, Android 0.9. -
First Public BETA
First public BETA of Android, Android 0.9. -
Android 1.0
Android 1.0, released Septemeber 23rd, 2008, Google edited the code to their OS after Apple released the iPhone with iPhone OS. It took almost an extra year to fully complete their competitor for Apple. The first version was internally known as Astro and wasn't in order of the deserts yet. It was initially released for the HTC Dream under the T-Mobile carrier services. -
Android 1.1
No codenames, but was internally known as "Petit Four". This update doesn't bring any major updates to the operating system but does allow you to save images and or attachments from emails and SMS/MMS messages. -
Android Cupcake 1.5
The first major update to the Android operating system, and starts the incremental deserts for codenames.
Brought support for MPEG-4 and 3GP video formats, copy and paste features in-browser application, automatic-rotation feature, automatic pairing for specific types of Bluetooth devices and support for widgets. -
Android Donut 1.6
Brings better speech recognition for searching via the web or your phone for anything you search for, support for WVGA resolutions, updated CDMA, EVDO, VPN and text-to-speech technology and better integrates the camera and gallery applications into the operating system -
Android Eclair 2.0 - 2.1
The next major update to Android after Donut, which brings many new updates such as Bluetooth 2.1, Microsoft Exchange account synchronization through email or gmail applications, better camera support, revamped UI for most applications along with the system, and the addition of live wallpapers and better optimized operating system and applications. -
Android Froyo 2.2 - 2.2.3
Android Froyo brought Adobe Flash support, which was actually later removed from the operating system, better Wi-Fi tethering through USB, integrates Chromes V8 javascript engine, implemented JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation, file uploads in the browser application and also in Google Chrome, and more secure passwords via alphanumeric and numeric characters to create passwords. -
Android Gingerbread 2.3 - 2.3.7
Android Gingerbread brings native support to SIP VoIP (Voice over IP) telephony, NFC (Near-Field-Communications), updated donwload manager application, changed file system from YAFFS, to ext4, more native support for sensors, improved battery life, and optimizations, and gives support to AAC audio encoding and updates graphical and audio support. -
Android Honeycomb 3.0 - 3.2.6
This version of Android was only available for Tablet devices, and was fully optimized for all tablets. It brought an updated system UI, System bar, Google search bar, updated widgets and the addition of more widgets, HTTPS stack was updated with SNI (Server Name Indication), and a updated keyboard for faster typing and also voice typing using the Google Keyboard application. -
Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 - 4.0.4
Android gets a new default font, which is now Roboto, and it gives full support for both tablets and phones. It also brings new features like pinch-to-zoom, improved screen shot and copy and paste features, Android Beam Beta, face unlock feature, built-in photo editor, 1080p video recording support, and Wi-Fi direct sharing features. -
Android Jelly Bean 4.1 - 4.3.1
Jelly Bean brings support for Bi-directional languages, and better supports other languages, enhanced accessibility features, USB audio inputs, multi-channel audio, and the ability for 3rd party application launchers or 3rd party home screen applications to add widgets to their homescreens without root access. -
Android Kit Kat 4.4.2 - 4.4.4
This version of Android is the oldest one which is still atleast partially supported on an android device and is still one of the most popular due to android updating issues and cost of some android devices available in certain countries. It brings a lot of new and updates features such as NFC host card emulation, verified boot which can better secure your device, Bluetooth MAP (Message Access Profile) support, and a native screen recording feature when using ADB with Android Studio. -
Android Lollipop 5.0 - 5.1.2
This update was one of the biggest in android version history due to a completely new minimalistic look on the UI. It also marks the starting point of the project volta which basically enhances battery life. It also has application pinning and every application on the adroid operating system has been updated with a new material desgin look to match the UI. -
Android x86
Android x86 begins and brings Android to computers via a custom computer ROM. Can be dual booted with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and Mac OS X operating systems. -
Android Marshmallow 6.0 - 6.0.1
The next version of Android which wasn't quite as popular as the previous lollipop update updated the notification drawer and also introduced Doze, the next major operating system upgrade. It also brings support for MIDI devices, USB Type-C, brings an updated 4K display support for certain applications, autonomous backup and restore features, and better control on what applications have certain permissions like microphone, camera, gallery, etc. Also new emoji (Unicode 7 & 8). -
Android Nougat 7.0 - 7.1.2
Nougat didn't make it to enough devices to be really popular due to the fact that most devices in 2015 and 2016 were either still on Android Jelly Bean and Kit Kat, or they were stuck on Lollipop. Though, Nougat did bring some cool features like Unicode 9 emoji, Daydream VR headset support, PIP mode (Picture-In-Picture) for Android TV, Vulkan 3D rendering, updated keyboard application with GIF's, circular application icons, battery usage alerts, and fingerprint gestures and Google Assistant. -
Android Oreo 8.0 - The future
The newest version of Android, with some new update additions to the operating system but not so much new features. It does bring a 2x faster boot up time on a Google Pixel, which Google doesn't currently know whether that will help other devices but they're working on it, downloadable fonts, notification grouping and snoozing, Project Treble, native screen recording, Wi-Fi Assistant, and Unicode 10.0 emoji support.
