Android (Mobile OS) was unveiled on November 5, 2007 and since then it has grown into an amazing mobile Operating system it has evolved on different dimension from user perspective to developers innovation. Today it 8th version Android Oreo is available as considered as most optimized mobile OS for best user experience.
Tech Tuesday-Harness the Power of Effective Resource Planning with OnePlan’s ...
Android OS Journey: Evolution to Dominate Mobiles
1. Android OS evolution over years to turn into a dominating
mobile operating system
Android Mobile OS: Journey of
Evolution
2. Android OS Journey
Android Operating System is behind one billion + smartphones and tablets
worldwide. Till today 14 major versions of android have been successfully released
and in every version there is something exciting has arrived to please the user and
enhance the user experience.
Era of android officially began on Oct 22nd, 2008 with launch of T-MOBILE G1 in USA.
Since then, it has evolved into one of the most powerful operating systems all over
the globe. This landmark was achieved with many years of efforts and dedication to
establish android as an authority in arena of mobile operating system.
3. Android 1.0
On September 23, 2008, HTC Dream was
launched packed with very first version of
android. Despite being first release of android,
users witnessed exciting features like Google
Maps, YouTube video player, camera support,
Gmail synchronisation with the Gmail app, web
browser, and Contacts and Calendar
synchronisation.
Soon after this an update in form of Android 1.1
was released on February 9, 2009 with few more
new features as well as fixed few bugs.
4. Android 1.5 - Cupcake
Android performed few alphas and betas
over T-Mobile’s G1 before final release of
cupcake. Cupcake update came with lots of
user-friendly stuff and had support for
third-party virtual keyboards as well as
the ability to upload videos and photos on
YouTube and Picasa. There was also full
support for copy and paste. This was
remarkable initiative by Android but there
was still more to arrive.
5. Android 1.6 - Donut
Android donut supported CDMA and version it
was first time that Android enabled running of
multiple screen resolutions and aspect ratios.
Donut introduced the concept of the Quick
Search Box. Now no need of pressing the Search
button on an Android phone's keypad and it
emerged as really user friendly. This update was
unveiled on October 1, 2009.
6. Android 2.0 - Eclair
Eclair emerged as most impactful version that
Android had witnessed since its first release
both visually and architecturally.
✓ User were amazed by 854 x 480 display.
✓ Support for multiple Google accounts
allowed adding work and personal
account on same device
✓ Google Maps Navigation was big update
that assisted users in step by step auto
navigation.
✓ Eclair added a quick contact bar to
search among list of contacts with
different parameters like email, text and
call.
7. Android 2.2 - Froyo
Froyo empowered Android users to manage
their devices on behalf of voice typing and
search
Below are more exciting features of froyo
● An overall redesigned gallery caught
attention of the users
● Mobile hotspot support was a big leap in
this update
● There was inclusion of password/PIN lock
that made device more secure
8. Android 2.3 - Gingerbread
Gingerbread witnessed an overhaul with
dark theme. NFC support was most welcome
feature in this version along Selfie camera
focused on photogenic users. Gingerbread
update witnessed decrease in stock Android
experience which evolved into custom UI to
connect users with Android. Download
manager that appeared in Gingerbread was a
useful feature for Android users.
9. Android 3.0- Honeycomb
✓ Honeycomb update mainly focused on tablets,
as recent release of iPad then was cause of
concern for android. “Holographic” interface
was rolled out which was highly intuitive
keyboard for big screen devices
✓ This update came without any physical button
for Home, Back, Menu, and Search. Back and
Home were supported with virtual buttons.
✓ Action bar, a permanently-placed bar at the
top of each app and helped users in smoothly
multitask the device.
10. Android 4.0 - Ice Cream Sandwich
Ice Cream Sandwich arrived with amazingly
awesome look and feel to Android OS.
✓ Now apps can be closed with a quick swipe.
✓ It was possible to shoot 1080p video.
✓ Face unlock for feature was introduced and it
enhanced security.
✓ Folder creation was simplified by dragging
one icon over another.
✓ Ice Cream Sandwich displayed overall usage
in different time frames to help user avoid
notorious resource intensive apps.
11. Android 4.1 - Jelly Bean
Jelly arrived with Google Now as the flagship feature
which was also undoubtedly most appreciated
feature of the update. It emerged as an effective voice
assistant which refined user searching experience
It was most responsive update from android where
users were able to share files with Android Beam.
From developers perspective jelly bean allowed them
to develop dynamic notifications that were able to
expand in the notification drop down and displayed
extra information and controls without the need to
access the application in particular.
12. Android 4.4 - KitKat
Android Kitkat least resource hungry OS update from
google. It was equally fast and highly efficient.
An innovative voice command ‘OK Google’ was flagship
feature of this version that assisted in starting the Google
Now. This version was smart enough to guess what user
is looking for before they asked for it. Support for Emoji
was pleasing experience for users.
This version enabled android to be installed with as
minimum as 512MB RAM for seamless operation.
Success of this amazing feature was witnessed in form of
many smartphone developing companies opting android
over other mobile OS.
13. Android 5.0 - Lollipop
Google material design was major highlight of
this update which altered the look and feel of
icons, animations, as well as multitasking menu.
Integration of notification bar with lock screen
and introduction of silent mode for notifications
boosted the efficiency of the device
It was a flexible version where users can unlock
the mobile device with a trusted Bluetooth
device. Android OS expanded to Android Wear.
This made possible to let user experience
android on watches like Moto 360 and Google
Glass headset.
14. Android 6.0 - Marshmallow
Android Marshmallow which was unveiled during
September 2015 was primarily focused on
boosting the battery life with doze mode as well as
it enhanced the security with fingerprint sensor
and Now on Tap
Marshmallow was more intended towards
maintenance and less over User Interface. The
exciting add on included new method of handling
app permission as well as new and enhanced
Google Now. battery life was now enhanced
enough to last the device for an entire day without
a recharge.
15. Android 7.0 - Nougat
Android nougat was full with features that
made users prefer it over other mobile OS
platforms. The major one being multi window
support that enabled split screen views
Dark theme that was launched with first beta
version of Android Nougat was taken back
due to design restrictions. Various other
significant add ons were Night Light
(basically a blue light filter), Daydream VR
mode, and the Google Assistant (an exciting
evolution of Google Now)
16. Android 8.0 - Oreo
Oreo is the latest update that will offers all the
awesome features. User now can watch YouTube
clips in a resizable box with help of exciting picture-in-
picture video mode. Google claims that new iteration
will significantly reduce the boot time as well as
optimize performances for apps which run in
background most of the time.
More and better option are available for notification
customization such like notification can be put to silent
till user finds a suitable time to handle it. There is also
support for amazingly fast Bluetooth 5.0. which is one
of the biggest features in Android O which ensure to
pair up the device with IoT products