Although Apple‘s iOS was the first operating system for cell phones, Google’s Android is by far the most popular today. Originally created for digital cameras, the evolution of Android has been significant since it came with the HTC Dream phone from T-Mobile in 2008 to become the powerful system it is today.
Android was developed in 2003 by Andy Rubin , who soon realized that the camera market would not be so massive, so he turned his attention to phones. But Android Inc. only rose to fame in 2005, when it was bought by Google, which was trying to enter the phone business. But it did not do so as a hardware manufacturer, but instead commercialized the popular operating system.
Android 1.0 (2008)
The first version, Android 1.0, is obviously much less developed than the operating system we know today, but it still has some similarities. Most agree that they hit the drop-down window for notifications, surprising iOS. Another innovation was Google Play Store, then called Market. While Apple had launched the App Store months earlier, they both pushed the concept of a centralized place to download apps.
With this system the use of widgets also started on the home screen -something that iOS does not allow until now-, although these were only limited to what Google developed. This first version already had a deep integration with Gmail.
Android 1.5 Cupcake (2009)
The first major Android update, Cupcake, was significant for many reasons, but probably its biggest milestone is having been the first operating system with an on-screen keyboard. Previously, manufacturers had to include physical keyboards in devices. With this version, Google also opened the Widgets SDK for external developers. Currently, most applications have at least one widget . Another milestone is related to the videos. Previously, Android did not support video recording, so users had to settle for capturing photos. All of that (fortunately) changed.
Android 1.6 Donut (2009)
Android Donut was a major update. It brought the operating system to millions of people, adding support for CDMA networks like Verizon, Sprint and several major ones in Asia. Although it was intended to be user friendly, some of its biggest updates were in the code. For example, it was the first version to support different screen sizes.
Donut was also a pioneer in including what is now considered a staple: the quick search box. This allowed users to quickly search the web, local files or contacts from the home screen, without the need to open an application. It also introduced cosmetic changes, such as a redesigned Android Market, which offered a selection with the best free and paid applications.
Android 2.0 Eclair (2009)
While updates have been significant, until then these were improvements to the operating system itself. In 2009, Android 2.0 Eclair arrived, incorporating deep tweaks, many of which still exist.
He was the first to use Google Maps navigation, which put virtually buried GPS for cars. Although Maps has changed a lot, some of its most relevant features appeared then, such as turn-by-turn navigation or voice guidance. And although there were navigation applications, these were not free.
The internet browser was also updated. Google added HTML5 support and the ability to play videos, catching up with the iPhone. Finally, users could now swipe the screen to unlock the device, just like on Apple’s phone, or change the silent mode.
Android 2.2 Froyo (2010)
Android Froyo arrived in 2010 with the Nexus One, the first Nexus phone. Froyo was more focused on refining the Android experience, offering users five home screen panels instead of three, plus a new Gallery app. Froyo was the first version to offer support for mobile hotspots . Users could also lock the screen with a PIN, complementing the existing pattern lock.
Android 2.3 Gingerbread (2010)
The Nexus show turned out and the arrival of Gingerbread confirmed it. Google chose for launch the Nexus S -built by Samsung-, a phone derived from the successful Galaxy S of the South Korean manufacturer. Gingerbread was another great Android refinement, and saw a redesign of Android’s widgets and home screen.
Gingerbread also came with an improved keyboard, with improved multi-touch support, which allowed multiple keystrokes to access a secondary keyboard. Finally, added support for the front camera. What would we do today without selfies?
Android 3.0 Honeycomb (2011)
The Honeycomb launch was interesting because it was aimed at tablets. It was even shown for the first time on a Motorola device, which would eventually become Xoom. Honeycomb gave some clues about the design of future versions of Android. Instead of continuing with the classic green color, Google opted for blue. Also, it offered previews for individual widgets. Perhaps its greatest innovation was that it eliminated the need for the physical button: the home, back, and menu buttons were included in the software, so they could be hidden or displayed depending on the application.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (2011)
The Nexus S was a great phone, but it was not the end of the Google and Samsung partnership. Both companies came together again for the launch of the Galaxy Nexus , which with the Ice Cream Sandwich update brought many Honeycomb features to cell phones.
The operating system brought the virtual buttons, as well as a tight and refined interface that made use of the blue reflections. Other features, such as face unlock, data usage analysis, and new email and calendar apps, have also arrived in this release.
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (2012)
Android Jelly Bean ushered in a new era for the operating system. Its most important change was Google Now , which was quickly accessible from the home screen and brought information such as calendar events, emails, weather reports, among others, in one place. It laid the foundation for what would be today’s digital assistants, including the Google Assistant.
In addition to Google Now, other additions were implemented, such as Project Butter, which sought to dramatically improve Android’s touch performance, tripling the graphics of buffering. It transformed it into a much more fluid experience. The updated font, expandable notifications, increased widget flexibility, and other features also came in this release, which is undoubtedly one of the most important.
Android 4.4 KitKat (2013)
Android 4.4 KitKat coincided with the launch of the Nexus 5 and came with many new features. It was one of the biggest aesthetic changes in the system, modernizing its appearance. The blue accents of Ice Cream Sandwich and Jellybean have been replaced by a more refined white, and various Android apps have been redesigned to show lighter color schemes.
In addition to a new look, KitKat incorporated the search command ” OK, Google “, which allowed the user to access Google Now at any time. It also brought a new phone dialer, full-screen apps, and a new Hangouts app, which offered SMS support along with support for the Hangouts messaging platform.
Android 5.0 Lollipop (2014)
Android Lollipop, which debuted alongside the Nexus 6, was the first to introduce Google’s “Material Design” philosophy. However, the updates were not purely cosmetic: The operating system also exhibited some significant updates under the cover.
Google replaced the old Dalvik VM with Android Runtime, for example, which boasted of an early build. Essentially, this meant that some of the processing power required for applications was supplied before they were opened. On top of that, users saw several notification updates, the addition of RAW image support, and a host of other improvements.
Android 5.0 also saw the arrival of another version of Android, called Android TV , which brought Android to the big screen and is still in use on many televisions today.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow (2015)
Android Marshmallow brought design changes and also under the cover. In particular, the app menu changed almost entirely. Google used a white background instead of black, for example, and added a search bar to help users quickly find the app they needed. Android Marshmallow also brought the addition of memory manager, which allowed you to check the memory usage of any apps used in the last 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours.
Next up were the volume controls. Marshmallow has access to a more complete set of volume controls, allowing you to change it on your device, media, and alarms. Security also received an update within the operating system. Android officially supported the fingerprint sensors, and in addition the permits got a significant renewal. Rather than apps requesting all permissions upfront when downloaded, permissions were requested as needed when required.
Android 7.0 Nougat (2016)
It can be said that Android 7.0 Nougat marked one of the most important updates for Android in its ten years, mainly due to how smart the operating system became. Perhaps the biggest impact on Android at Nougat was that Google Now was replaced by the now highly respected Google Assistant .
Along with the Assistant, Nougat brought an improved notification system, which changed how notifications looked and acted within the operating system. Ads were presented from screen to screen and, unlike previous Android updates, could be grouped together for easy administration. Multitasking also got a boost with Nougat. Whether you were using a phone or a tablet, you could use split-screen mode, allowing you to use two applications at once without having to be constantly exiting and entering each application.
Android 8.0 Oreo (2017)
Android Oreo brought the Android platform to version 8.0 and, in particular, it brought a lot of multitasking functions. Picture-in-picture and native split screen made their debut on Android Oreo, which means you can keep watching your favorite show on Netflix while browsing the web.
Android Oreo also gave us much more control over notifications. With Oreo, users had the ability to turn notification channels on or off, which meant they could get more granular with the notifications that popped up and how they popped up. In particular, notification channels allowed users to sort notifications based on importance. And also in relation to this, Oreo brought notification points and the ability to postpone notifications.
Some other smaller features also came with Oreo. For example, Google removed the blob style for emojis, replacing them with emojis that were a little more in line with the other platforms. Oreo also provided us with auto-enabled Wi-Fi, a smart text selector, and more.
Android 9.0 Pie (2018)
Ten years after the launch of Android on smartphones, we met Android 9.0 Pie, which brought with it several visual changes that made it the most important update for Android in a few years.
In particular, Android 9.0 Pie removed the three-button setup that existed on Android for years, replacing it with a single pill-shaped button and gestures to control things like multitasking. Android 9.0 Pie also brought some changes to notifications, including additional control over the types of notifications that are displayed and where they are displayed, as well as Google’s “Digital Well-Being,” a feature that essentially tells you how often you use your phone. , the applications you use the most, and so on. The feature aims to help users better manage their digital lives to combat smartphone addiction.
Other features included an adaptive battery, which limits the amount of battery that can be used by background applications, as well as “Application Actions”.
Android 10 (2019)
Android 10 marked a change for Google. You may notice that there is no “sugary” name for this version. That’s not a mistake: Along with the release of the latest version of Android, Google also announced a rebranding of the operating system, removing the naming scheme and sticking with only version numbers. Google also announced a new logo for Android and a new color scheme.
When it comes to real features, Android 10 marked the end of Android’s navigation buttons. While Android 9 held the back button, Android 10 now uses gestures instead. Android 10 also brought a dark mode throughout the system, which makes things a little easier on the eyes and can also save battery life. Other notable changes include the fact that the Android theme is slightly more customizable.
Android 11 (2020)
The beta version of Android 11 launched in June 2020 and is available for the Google Pixel 2 ranges up to the Pixel 4 range, Xiaomi Mi 10 and 10 Pro and OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro smartphones. Some features that have called the Attention are the Device Control Hub, which seems to offer smart home controls, effortlessly managing compatible devices, and easily controlling audio and media output via your smartphone or tablet in passing.
Notifications have also been improved with the addition of a separate chat section, which allows users to filter app alerts and other messages as they wish. Users can also decide if applications need to request permission each time to access their device, making sure that you know that the program does not have continuous access to your data unless you decide. While there are likely to be monthly beta versions until Android 11 goes public – and the pandemic has changed development timelines – the media published by Google points to a possible full version of this operating system on September 8, 2020 .