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Celebrating the Fabulous Decade Milestone of Android

Ten Years ago, we started this journey by introducing the version “first” of Android Operating System with T-Mobile G1 and launched it live in the Android Market (now Google Play). Android has grown a long way since its introduction and now it is on the 10th version with 2 Billion of active users of Android device around the globe.  

Its OS has taken many new forms and the G1 Mobile had the first version of Android OS and didn’t have a name after a dessert. This version had many best features which is used even at present like pull-down notification, multitasking between the apps, sharing content across apps. But it did not have some advanced features like voice search, turn by turn navigation, working with NFC technology. The latest version of the Android OS Android 9 Pie, has all of those best features. 

On this occasion of the 10th Birthday, let us engrave the journey of this 10 Years and different versions of release that we had seen so far. 

Cupcake (Version 1.5): Easy share, Customization, Virtual Keyboard

Cupcake version had the virtual keywords which opened the doors to full touchscreen. Cupcake had alongside app folders which are the existing feature still used now. It enables you to customize your device. So, sharing became easy with the copy and paste option and ability to share, capture, upload video.  

Donut (Version 1.6): Searching across the phone and web became easy

Donut introduced the easy way to search through across the phone and the web from a single box on the home screen. In the search box, you type in your search keywords relating to the information you are looking out for. On this version itself the search relevant result fetching system introduced and whenever the user types the repeated text, this system will get back the most relevant data that you have searched out previously from your device. Scalability is also the determining factor in this version. Which is also laid the foundation for the very high-density screens and phones of small to big sizes we are seeing now. 

Eclair (Android 2.0+) – Helped to find your destinations easily through Maps Navigation and speech-to-text

Google Map navigation feature made the smartphone works smartly navigating the user to reach the right place. Google Maps data included many features like in-car navigation system, which is looking like a 3D view directing the user with the direction, voice guidance, traffic updates, satellite view and more. It has speech-to-text transcription features that allow users to input their text using voices like emails and messages. 

Voice Actions in Froyo (Android 2.2+) accessing smartphone became even more hands-free.

With Froyo, performing search functions, getting direction, setting alarm became easier. Just by inputting voice, Froyo embraced user with voice inputting system.  

Gingerbird ( Android 2.3) facilitated early battery management facilities. 

Gingerbird gave a new way to effectively manage the battery usage by monitoring the whole device performance like screen brightness to any active app and effectively managing those applications on the battery usage of the device. With the introduction of Android 9, Google has facilitated this battery management into a new level with adaptive battery. An AI is used to learn about which apps the user use the most and prioritize battery allocation for the highly used apps. 

Honeycomb (Android 3.0) facilitated more shapes and sizes

Honeycomb facilitated(Android 3.0) holo design language along with larger sized layout and rich animation fitted to the tablet’s large size screen. It is in this version, we had the scalable groundwork that was adaptable on more kinds of android device and gave room for the flexible and robust platform for the new forms of an Android device like Android TV, Android Auto and Wearable device that was introduced later on and from now onwards in future.

Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) Flexibility in Navigation

Ice Cream Sandwich Android version gave a simplified and organized design which was easy for the users to easily use and understand the device functions. Certain features like App folder, Favourite tray paved way for users to easily find and use their favorite Apps. The additional NFC technology not only opened the doors for mobile and wireless payment transaction. Also paved a way for beaming of the map, direction, video, link by just tapping two smartphones together. It is in this version, navigation became easier with the arrival of quick settings and the ability to swipe and dismiss the recent apps and list of notification on the home screen of the device.  

Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) brought intelligence assistance on the palm of every hand.

Jelly Bean Version( Android 4.1) brought intelligence assistance on the palm of every hand. You can get on-going updates like daily weather, commute times before you start the journey. Notification became richer and even more customized providing the way for the user to know the in-depth content of that particular app updates and immediately take action. Customization in the sense user can enable or block notification for the apps they want to receive future notification and for which they do not want.  

KitKat (Android 4.4) introduces OK Google Concept. 

KitKat was built on using the earlier voice action, binding Google Now with the enhanced voice technology and voice search action. By just saying Ok Google you will get the relevant results for your search query. KitKat brought lighter color and transparency to the Android's design, embracing material design concept in Android Lolipop.  

Lollipop ( Android 5.0) 

With Lollipop version, Android introduced the Material Design giving a new feel and look that made it easier for navigation on the device. Material design combined the concept of good design with innovation technology. It provides the seamless transition across the several Android devices, that you use throughout the day, So from wherever you left, you can start off from there from Android Phones, Wearables, Tablet, TV. 

Marshmallow (Android 6.0) 

Marshmallow is like the next step to the introduction of the Google Assistant that we are seeing today. With now on Tap, you could simply tap the app and hold the home button to get the full-fledged information customized to your task. You no need to leave from what you’re doing and without switching off between screen and app or whatever activity you are doing, you could perform the other sessions. 

To save your battery usage, Marshmallow brought some battery saving features. With Doze, your device battery usage is saved by putting your device to sleep state when it is not used. Standby restricts the impact of rarely used apps of your device and its effect on battery life. 

Nougat – Android 7.0 (New Emoji) 

Nougat focused on the improvements that you were already using on your phone. It introduced the Multi-Window concept which is flexible to use two or more App parallelly. This version brought VR capability in an enhanced way giving a new way for VR Apps. Introduced 63 Emoji with gender representation and six skin tone option. We can use this Emoji for representing our thoughts in a more precise manner. It facilitates an adjustable display size for the flexibility access of app screen. Instant reply for the notification and data server which limits the amount of data that your device and app use. 

World’s Favourite Cookie became the name for (Android 8.0) – Oreo 

Oreo facilitated effective ways of handling the tasks performed on your mobile device. This enhances you with picture-in-picture option, use your apps in a faster way. Oreo also continued to provide users with the visual cohesion, easier gestures like swiping up from the home screen to see all other apps of the device.

Also, with Oreo (Go Edition) we have optimized the configuration for entry level device by which it is the first ever configuration specially built with. By this way, it is the first time all smartphone users get powerful experience.

Android 9.0 (Pie)

The way we spend phones and the various app has changed a lot since the day of Cupcake. The biggest update that flourished in this Android Version is that users can control and track their time spent with each app per day. This is called as digital well being. An app timer and a dashboard let you see how much time you spend on various apps. So with Android 9 you know to manage better your digital usage with the app. Your phone also changes the way it works for and knows your way of usage and accordingly serve you the best. For this reason, AI is used to learn the Apps that we use more and prioritize the battery usage thereby managing the battery life and efficient way to use your smartphone smartly. 

Bottom Line: 

From the start of the earliest version of the Android till the latest advancement, Android has evolved over and traveled a long way to what it is now. With support from the community of users, partners and developers, it has made innovations and giving impressive support for people access the power of Internet technology.