What is Android?

What is Android?

Hey Guys, It's so crazy that millions of Android users, who use android mobile don't have any idea about the real meaning of Android. Have you ever thought about it?

One more crazy thing is the "Android Symbol". Haven't you ever got question, why Google has chosen this one? confused ???

This symbol is related to its name. The real meaning of Android is "One Robot that looks like Man". So the symbol resemble to "Robot".

Android is an operating system (developed by Google) that is used in devices like Smart phones, Tablets, TV. As per Google, Android is a software stack for mobile that include middle ware and key application. Android is Linux based operating system and its applications are written in Java Language. Android was basically developed in 2003 by Andy Rubin (Co-Developer of Danger Company) and other people. In August 2005, Google purchased Android. The first Android OS smart phone was G1 of T-Mobile, which was officially released on 23rd Sept, 2008 in market.

Android has a large community of developers writing applications that extend the functionality of devices, written primarily in a customized version of the Java programming language. In October 2012, there were approximately 700,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications downloaded from Google Play, was 25 billion. 1.5 billion downloads a month and growing.

Millions of people already use Android because it makes your mobile device so much more powerful and useful. On Android, the home screen, web browser, email and everything in between are designed to make your life easier. And because Android is open, you can create a unique mobile experience that’s just right for you.   Android has become the world's most widely used smartphone platform. Despite being primarily designed for phones and tablets, it has seen additional applications on televisions, games consoles and other electronics.

Android had a worldwide smartphone market share of 75% during the third quarter of 2012, with 500 million devices activated in total and 1.3 million activations per day. Android's open nature has further encouraged a large community of developers and enthusiasts to use the open source code as a foundation for community-driven projects, which add new features for advanced users or bring Android to devices which were officially released running other operating systems.

Android powers hundreds of millions of mobile devices in more than 190 countries around the world. Android gives you a world-class platform for creating apps and games for Android users everywhere, as well as an open marketplace for distributing to them instantly.

Android Versions:

Android has list of Versions. It starts from 1.0 version (2.3, 3.0, 4.0, 4.2). Google name these versions with different food items like Ice cream Sandwich, Eclair, Jelly bean, KeyLime Pie etc.

Android is under ongoing development by Google and the Open Handset Alliance, and has seen a number of updates to its base operating system since its original release. These updates typically fix bugs and add new features.

Google launched first android mobile (T-Mobile G1) in 2008. Gradually, various mobile companies (Samsung, HTC, SONY...) launched different versions (like Froyo, Honeycomb, Jelly Bean) of android. The most current and most famous version of android is Jelly Bean. Google is supposed to launch next version of Android in KeyLime Pie.

Here, you can see the different versions of android with their code name, Released date and API level number.

Android Version Difference:

Version: 1.0

Code Name: Android 1.0

Symbol:  - - - - -

Features:  

Ø  Android Market application download

Ø  Web Browser

Ø  Camera Support

Ø  Google Search

Ø  Google Talk

Ø  Google Maps

Ø  Media Player

Ø  YouTube Video Player

Ø  Notification appear in the status bar

Ø  Alarm Clock, Calculator, Gallery

Version: Android 1.1

Code Name: Petit Four (Not Used Officially)

Symbol:  - - - - -

Features:

Ø  Details and reviews on Maps

Ø  Longer in-call screen timeout

Ø  Ability to show/hide dialpad

Ø  Ability to save attachments in messages

Ø  Support added for marquee in system layouts

Version: 1.5

Code Name: Cupcake

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  Support For Widgets

Ø  Video Recording and playback in MPEG-4 & 3GP Format

Ø  Upload Videos to YouTube

Ø  Upload photos to Picasa

Ø  Auto-Rotation option

Ø  Animated screen transition

Ø  Copy-Paste features to Web Browser

Ø  Pictures Shown for Favorites in Contacts

Ø  Third-Party virtual Keyboards

Ø  Audio-pairing and stereo support for Bluetooth

Version: 1.6

Code Name: Donut

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  Google Maps Navigation

Ø  Voice and text entry search

Ø  Gallery, camera and camcorder fully integrated

Ø  Select multiple photos for deletion

Ø  Text-to-speech engine

Ø  Support for WVGA screen resolutions

Ø  Expanded Gesture framework

Ø  Universal Search Function

Version: 2.0 /2.0.1 / 2.1

Code Name: Eclair

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  New Camera features, including flash support, digital zoom, scene mode

Ø  Improved Google Maps 3.1.2

Ø  Ability to tap Contacts photo and select to call, SMS or email the person

Ø  Support for more screen sizes and resolution

Ø  Support for HTML5

Ø  Bluetooth 2.1 support

Ø  Live Wallpapers

Ø  Updated UI

Ø  Improved Google Maps

Version: 2.2

Code Name: Froyo

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  Application launcher with shortcuts

Ø  USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality

Ø  Added an option to disable data access over mobile network

Ø  Updated Market application with automatic update features

Ø  Voice dialing and contact sharing over Bluetooth 

Ø  Bluetooth-enabled car and desk docks

Ø  Numeric and alphanumeric passwords

Ø  Installing applications to the expandable memory 

Ø  Adobe Flash support

Ø  Support for extra-high-PPI screens (320 ppi), such as 4" 720p

Ø  Gallery allows users to view picture stacks using a zoom gesture

Ø  Speed, memory, and performance optimizations

Ø Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application

Version: 2.3 / 2.3.3

Code Name: Gingerbread

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions

Ø  Faster, more intuitive text input in virtual keyboard

Ø  Enhanced copy/paste functionality

Ø  New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, bass boost

Ø New Download Manager, giving users easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email, or another application

Ø  Support for multiple cameras on the device

Ø  Support for WebM/VP8 video playback, and AAC audio encoding

Ø  Improved power management in managing apps 

Ø  Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance

Ø  Native support for more sensors

Ø  Support for voice or video chat using Google Talk

Ø  Shadow animations for list scrolling

Ø  Camera software enhancements

Ø  Improved battery efficiency

Version: 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2

Code Name: HoneyComb

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  HTTP Live Streaming

Ø  Updated 3D UI

Ø  Google eBooks

Ø  Private browsing

Ø  System-wide Clipboard

Ø  Connectivity for USB accessories

Ø  Expanded Recent Apps list

Ø  Resizable Home screen widgets

Ø  Joysticks and gamepads

Ø  High-performance Wi-Fi lock

Ø  Support for video chat using Google Talk

Ø  Hardware acceleration

Ø  Support for multi-core processors

Ø  Ability to encrypt all user data

Ø  Improved hardware support

Ø  Increased ability of apps to access files on the SD card

Ø  Compatibility display mode for apps

Ø  New display support functions

Ø  Optimized tablet support

Ø  System Bar, featuring quick access to notifications, status, and navigation

Ø  Multi Core Support

Ø  Action Bar, giving access to contextual options, navigation, widgets

Ø  Simplified multitasking

Ø  Redesigned keyboard, making typing fast and accurate

Ø  Simplified, more intuitive copy/paste interface

Ø Quick access to camera exposure, focus, flash, zoom, front-facing camera, time-lapse

Ø  New two-pane Contacts UI

Version: 4.0.1 / 4.0.2 / 4.0.3 / 4.0.4

Code Name: IceCream Sandwich

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  Separation of widgets in a new tab

Ø  Easier-to-create folders, with a drag-and-drop style

Ø  Customizable launcher

Ø  Improved visual voice-mail

Ø  Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar

Ø  Integrated screenshot capture

Ø  Ability to access apps directly from lock screen

Ø  Better voice integration and continuous

Ø  Real-time speech to text dictation

Ø  Face Unlock

Ø  Data Usage section in settings

Ø  Ability to shut down apps that, using data in the background

Ø  Camera app with zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, panorama mode, and the ability to zoom while recording

Ø  Built-in photo editor

Ø  New gallery layout

Ø  Hardware acceleration of the UI

Ø  Web browser, allows up to 16 tabs

Ø  1080p video recording

Ø  Improvements to graphics, databases, and Bluetooth functionality

Ø  New APIs for developers

Ø  Calendar provider enhancements

Ø  Video stabilization and QVGA resolution

Ø  Smoother screen rotation

Ø  Wi-Fi Direct

Ø  Improved phone number recognition

Version: 4.1 / 4.1.1 / 4.1.2 / 4.2 / 4.3

Code Name: Jelly Bean

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  Smoother user interface

Ø  Enhanced accessibility

Ø  User-installable keyboard maps

Ø  Expandable notifications

Ø  Bluetooth data transfer for Android Beam

Ø  Offline voice dictation

Ø  Multichannel audio

Ø  USB audio (for external sound)

Ø  Audio chaining

Ø  Photo Sphere panorama photos

Ø  Keyboard with gesture typing

Ø  Lock screen widgets

Ø  Notification power controls

Ø  Multiple user for tablets

Ø  Support for wireless display

Ø  360 degree images with Photo Sphere

Ø  Triple-tap to magnify the entire screen, zoom with two fingers

Ø  Speech output and Gesture Mode navigation for blind users

Ø  New clock app with built-in world clock, stop watch and timer

Ø  Extended notifications and Actionable Notifications

Version: 5.0

Code Name: Key Lime Pie 

Symbol:

Features:

Ø  Better multiple device support

Ø  Enhanced social network support

Ø  Line-drawing keyboard options

Ø  A video chat app

Ø  Multi-select in the contacts

Ø  Cross-device SMS sync

Ø  And Much More.....

The Magical sequence in name of Android versions:

 Hardly very few android users remember the name or have an idea of all android versions.

Do you know, what's the secret in the name of android Versions?

For that, have a look again on the code name of all android versions shown in above table. Now take the First character of each name (like F in Froyo, H in HoneyComb, K in KeyLime Pie). 

You would have got the idea, what I am trying to show you. Android versions name are given in alphabetical order. The new upcoming Version name is "KeyLime Pie". So, now you can easily imagine that, the name of android's next vesion will start with "L". 

Hence, start to guess the different names of food item start with L....

Enjoy....