The version history of
the Android operating system began
with the release of version 1.0 in September 2008. Android is a mobile operating system developed
by Google and
the Open Handset Alliance. Android has seen a
number of updates since its original release. These
updates to the base operating system typically fix bugs and
add new features. Generally, each version is developed under a code name based
on adessert item.
The code names were released in alphabetic order: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich.
Android 1.0
 |
| HTC Dream (G1) introduced Android 1.0 |
Released 23 September 2008. The
first Android device, the HTC Dream
(G1), had these Android 1.0 features:
§
Android
Market application download and updates through the Market app
§
Web browser to
show, zoom and pan full HTML and XHTML web pages – multiple pages show as
windows ("cards")Video
§
Camera support, but no way to change
resolution, white balance, quality, etc.
§
Folders allow the grouping of a number of
app icons into a single folder icon on the Home screen.
§
Email provides access to email servers
commonly found on the Internet and supports POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP.
§
Gmail synchronization with the Gmail app
§
Google
Contacts synchronization with the People app
§
Google
Calendar synchronization with the Calendar app
§
Google Maps with Latitude and Street View to view maps and satellite
imagery, as well as find local business and get driving directions using GPS[8]
§
Google Sync allows
management of over-the-air synchronization of Gmail, People, and Calendar
§
Google Search of
the internet and phone apps, contacts, calendar, etc
§
Google Talk instant
messaging
§
Instant
messaging, text messaging, and MMS
§
Media Player enables
managing, importing, and playing back but lacked video and stereo Bluetooth
support
§
Notifications appear in the Status bar –
drag down to see details, also ringtone, LEDs and vibration options.
§
Voice Dialer allows dialing and placing of
phone calls without typing a name or number
§
Wallpaper allows the user to set the
background image or photo behind the Home screen icons and widgets.
§
YouTube video
player
§
Other apps include: Alarm Clock,
Calculator, Dialer (Phone), Home screen (launcher), Pictures (Gallery), and
Settings.
§
Other supported features include: WiFi, and
Bluetooth.
Android 1.1
On 9 February 2009, Android 1.1 update for
Android was released for T-Mobile G1 only. Included in the update
were resolved issues, API changes and:
§
Maps: Adds details and reviews when a user
does a search on Maps and clicks on a business to view its details.
§
Dialer: In-call screen timeout default is
now longer when using the speakerphone, Show/Hide Dialpad
§
Messaging: Saving attachments
§
System: Adds support for marquee in layouts.
1.5 Cupcake
 |
| The Android Emulator default home screen (v1.5) |
Based on Linux kernel 2.6.27.
On 30 April 2009, the official 1.5 (Cupcake) update for Android was
released. There were several new features and UI updates included in the
1.5 update:
§
Virtual keyboard: Support for 3rd party
keyboards with text prediction & user dictionary for custom words
§
Widgets:
Miniature application views that can be embedded in other applications (such as
the Home screen) and receive periodic updates
§
Camera: Video recording
§
Gallery: Video playback (MPEG-4 & 3GP
formats)
§
Bluetooth: Stereo support added (A2DP and
AVRCP profiles), Auto-pairing
§
Browser: Copy and paste features added
§
Contacts: Shows user picture for Favorites
§
Dialer: Specific date/time stamp for events
in call log and one-touch access to a contact card from call log event
§
System: Animated screen transitions
§
Upload videos to YouTube
§
Upload photos on Picasa
1.6 Donut
Based on Linux kernel 2.6.29 On 15
September 2009, the 1.6 (Donut) SDK was released. Included in the update
were:
§
Search: Voice Search & text entry
search enhanced to include bookmarks & history, contacts, the web, and more
§
Search: Developers can now include their
content in search results
§
Text to speech: Features a multi-lingual
speech synthesis engine to allow any Android application to "speak" a
string of text
§
Android Market: Allows easier searching,
app screenshots, etc.
§
Camera, camcorder, and Gallery: Updated integrated
with faster camera access
§
Gallery: Now enables users to select
multiple photos for deletion
§
System: Updated technology support
for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPNs, and a text-to-speech engine
§
Display: Support for WVGA screen
resolutions
§
Speed improvements in searching and camera
applications
§
Expanded Gesture framework and new
GestureBuilder development tool
§
Google free turn-by-turn navigation
2.0/2.1 Eclair
2.0
Based on Linux kernel 2.6.29 On 26
October 2009, the 2.0 (Eclair) SDK was released. Changes included:
§
Sync: Expanded Account sync. Multiple
accounts can be added to a device for email and contact synchronization
§
Email: Exchange support, Combined inbox to
browse email from multiple accounts in one page.
§
Bluetooth: 2.1 support
§
Contacts: Tap a contact photo and select to
call, SMS, or email the person.
§
Messaging: Search all saved SMS and MMS
messages. Auto delete oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is
reached.
§
Camera: Flash support, Digital zoom, Scene
mode, White balance, Color effect, Macro focus
§
Virtual keyboard: Improved typing speed,
smarter dictionary learns from word usage and includes contact names as
suggestions.
§
Browser: Refreshed UI, Bookmark thumbnails,
Double-tap zoom, Support for HTML5
§
Calendar: Agenda view enhanced, Attending
status for each invitee, Invite new guests to events.
§
System: Optimized hardware speed, Revamped
UI
§
Display: Support for more screen sizes and
resolutions, Better contrast ratio
§
Maps: Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
§
MotionEvent class enhanced to track
multi-touch events
§
Live Wallpapers: Home screen background
images can be animated to show movement
2.0.1
The 2.0.1 SDK was released on 3 December
2009.
§
Android 2.0.1 is a minor platform release
deployable to Android-powered handsets starting in December 2009. This release
includes minor API changes, bug fixes and framework behavioral changes.
2.1
The 2.1 SDK was released on 12 January
2010.
§
Android 2.1 is a minor platform release
deployable to Android-powered handsets starting in January 2010. This release
includes new API changes and bug fixes.
2.2
Froyo
2.2.2 latest release. Based on Linux
kernel 2.6.32. On 20 May 2010, the 2.2 (Froyo) SDK was
released. Changes included:
§
System: Speed, memory, and performance
optimizations
§
Additional application speed improvements
courtesy of JIT implementation
§
Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser
application
§
Improved Microsoft Exchange support
(security policies, auto-discovery, GAL look-up, calendar synchronization,
remote wipe)
§
Improved application launcher with
shortcuts to Phone and Browser applications
§
USB tethering and
Wi-Fi hotspot functionality
§
Added an option to disable data access
over mobile network
§
Updated Market application with batch and
automatic update features
§
Quick switching between multiple keyboard
languages and their dictionaries
§
Voice dialing and contact sharing over
Bluetooth
§
Support for numeric and alphanumeric
passwords
§
Support for file upload fields in the
Browser application
§
Support for installing applications to the
expandable memory
§
Adobe Flash support
§
Display: Support for extra high PPI screens
(320 ppi), such as 4" 720p
2.3.x
Gingerbread
 |
| Google Nexus S introduced Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" |
2.3
Based on Linux kernel 2.6.35 On 6
December 2010, the 2.3 (Gingerbread) SDK was released. Changes included:
§
System: Updated user interface design for
simplicity and speed
§
Display: Support for extra-large screen
sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher)
§
Internet calling: Native support for SIP VoIP telephony
§
Virtual Keyboard: Faster, more intuitive
text input, improved accuracy, better suggested text. Voice input mode
§
Copy/Paste: Enhanced. Select a word by
press-hold, copy, and paste
§
Near Field Communication lets the
user read an NFC tag embedded in a poster, sticker, or advertisement
§
New audio effects such as reverb,
equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost
§
New Download
Manager giving users easy access to any file downloaded from
the browser, email, or another application
§
Camera: Access multiple cameras on the
device, including a front-facing camera, if available
§
Media: Support for WebM/VP8 video playback,
and AAC audio encoding
§
System: Improved power
management with a more active role in managing apps that are
keeping the device awake for too long
§
System: Enhanced support for native code
development
§
System: Switched from YAFFS to ext4 on newer devices
§
Audio, graphical, and input enhancements
for game developers
§
Concurrent garbage collection for
increased performance
§
Native support for more sensors (such
as gyroscopes and barometers)
2.3.3
§
Several improvements and APIs to the
Android 2.3 platform.
2.3.4
§
Support for voice or video chat using Google Talk.
2.3.5
25 Jul 2011
§
Brought improved network performance for
the Nexus S 4G, among other fixes and improvements.
§
Fixed Bluetooth bug on Samsung Galaxy S
§
Improved Gmail application
2.3.6
§
Voice search bug fixed.
2.3.7
§
Google Wallet support
for Nexus S 4G
3.x
Honeycomb
3.0
 |
| Motorola Xoom introduced Android 3.0.1 "Honeycomb" |
3.0.1. Based on Linux kernel
2.6.36. On 22 February 2011, the 3.0 (Honeycomb) SDK was released,
for tablet computers only. The first
device featuring this version, the Motorola Xoom tablet,
was released on February 24, 2011.
Changes include:
§
Optimized tablet support with a new virtual
and “holographic” user interface
§
System Bar: Quick access to notifications,
status, and soft navigation buttons available at the bottom of the screen
§
Action Bar: Access to contextual options,
navigation, widgets, or other types of content at the top of the screen
§
Multitasking: Tap Recent Apps in the System
Bar, to see snapshots of the tasks underway and quickly jump from one app to
another
§
Redesigned keyboard: To make entering text
fast and accurate on larger screen sizes with greater accuracy and efficiency
§
Copy/Paste: Simplified, more intuitive
§
Browser: Multiple tabs replace browser
windows, form auto-fill, and a new “incognito” mode allows anonymous browsing
§
Camera: Quick access to exposure, focus,
flash, zoom, front-facing camera, time-lapse, and more
§
Gallery: View albums and other collections
in full-screen mode, with easy access to thumbnails for other photos
§
Contacts: New two-pane UI and Fast Scroll
to let users easily organize and locate contacts
§
Email: New two-pane UI to make viewing and
organizing messages more efficient. The app lets users select one or more
messages
§
Support for video chat using Google Talk
§
Hardware acceleration
§
Support for multi-core processors
3.1
The 3.1 SDK was released on 10 May
2011. Changes included:
§
UI refinements
§
Connectivity for USB accessories
§
Expanded Recent Apps list
§
Resizable Home screen widgets
§
Support for external keyboards and pointing
devices
§
Support for joysticks and gamepads
§
Media: Support for FLAC audio playback.
§
High-performance Wi-Fi lock maintains
high-performance Wi-Fi connections when device screen is off
§
Support for HTTP proxy for each connected
Wi-Fi access point
3.2
The 3.2 SDK was released on 15 July
2011. Changes included:
§
Improved hardware support, including
optimisations for a wider range of tablets
§
Easier access for apps to files on the SD
card, e.g. for synchronisation
§
Compatibility display mode for apps that
have not yet been optimized for tablet screen resolutions
§
New display support functions that give
developers more control over the look and feel on different Android devices.
4.x
Ice Cream Sandwich
 |
| Galaxy Nexus introduced Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" |
Ice Cream Sandwich was previewed at the May
2011 Google I/O event, and
officially launched at the Galaxy Nexus and
Ice Cream Sandwich release event on 19 October 2011. The SDK for Android
4.0 was publicly released on 19 October 2011. Gabe Cohen from Google said
that it is "theoretically compatible" with any Android 2.3.x
device. The source code for this version is scheduled to be released after
the Galaxy Nexus ships.
Features include:
§
Virtual buttons in the UI, instead of
taking up a capacitive screen
§
Voice typing, capable of recognizing speech
and converting it into text
§
Widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar
list to apps
§
Easier-to-create folders, with a
drag-and-drop style
§
A customizable launcher
§
In a new phone app, visual voicemail
functionality that lets user speed up or slow down *voicemail messages
§
Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar
§
Offline search, a two-line preview, and new
action bar at the bottom of the Gmail app
§
Ability to swipe left or right to switch
between Gmail conversations
§
Integrated screenshot capture (accomplished
by holding Power and Volume-Down buttons)
§
Improved error correction on the keyboard
§
Ability to access apps directly from lock
screen (similar to HTC Sense 3.x)
§
Improved copy and paste functionality
§
Better voice integration and continuous
dictating capability
§
Face Unlock, a facial recognition service
§
New tabbed web browser, allowing up to 16
tabs
§
Automatic syncing of browser with user's
Chrome bookmarks
§
Modern Roboto font
§
Data Usage section in settings that lets
user set warnings when he reaches a certain amount of use and disable data when
exceeding the limit
§
Ability to shut down apps that are using
data in the background
§
Camera app: zero shutter lag, time lapse
settings, zoom while recording
§
Built-in photo editor
§
New gallery layout, organized by location
and person
§
Refreshed 'People' app with social network
integration, status updates and hi-res images
§
Android Beam, a NFC feature that lets user
exchange websites, contact info, directions, YouTube, etc.
§
Hardware acceleration of the UI
§ Resizeable
widgets
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