Smartphones and tablets are becoming more sophisticated and powerful, and operating system developers are trying to keep up. An example of this is that the latest version of Android is significantly different from its predecessors. What is this difference and are the latest developments any good?
Description
This is a version of Android that is more informative than the previous ones. Notifications have been improved and are accessible from the lock screen and from any running app by swiping down from the top of the screen.
Messages can be viewed from the lock screen, and replies to them can also be accessed from there. Incoming calls do not close open programs, just a kind of widget will appear at the top of the screen, which you can ignore or answer the call. By setting up notifications, you can hide information about various events from others. You can also customize the ring tone type from different applications and simply from different users.
The changes also affected the battery:
- all devices based on Android 5.0 have increased battery life (an average of 1.5 hours);
- during charging, the screen displays the time until the end of the process;
- information about the cost of applications became available.
Regarding security, the owner of a smartphone can encrypt his data to avoid problems if the device is lost or stolen. This also includes the ability to use one device with multiple accounts - logging in under different accounts makes it possible for friends or loved ones not to share their information with each other. In addition, you can use guest mode or touch screen, in which the other user will only have access to the main set of applications, without personal files.
Media changes:
- Possibility of voice search in YouTube and Google Play.
- The device can be installed as a gamepad when connected to a TV.
- Videos and photos from the gadget can be broadcast to the TV.
Advantages and disadvantages
In addition to the already mentioned advantages of this version, you can also specify an improved mode for people with poor vision with increased contrast and display adjustment, as well as faster switching on of the device with the ability to fully work with it.
The disadvantages are the following:
- more powerful applications and increased demands on the gadget drain it faster;
- some users find the interface quite confusing;
- this version is still incompatible with quite a lot of software.
Android 6.0 "Marshmallow"
Screenshots
Description
There are no special differences from the previous version, but it is worth mentioning the existing features:
- the function of unlocking the screen using a fingerprint has appeared;
- direct support for 2 SIM cards;
- dosage of battery energy for background processes;
- access to applications and personal files is even better controlled;
- the ability to work with a “smart” home;
- multi-window mode;
- an additional application for payments has appeared;
- Using a USB cable you can charge another mobile device;
- Several new animations have appeared.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages are:
- the ability to customize the gadget for yourself;
- You can download any file to your smartphone, regardless of whether it can be opened;
- battery consumption reduction function;
- search by application;
- talking with the gadget has become much easier; now you don’t have to open Google to call the voice assistant.
There is one downside - the version cannot be installed on budget devices, and in general the list of smartphones and tablets based on Android 6.0 is quite limited.
Android 7.0/7.1 "Nougat"
Screenshots
Description
This is the latest version of Android 2016, which is an even more improved Marshmallow. Here are its features:
- incoming calls can be filtered by phone number;
- The system for working with previous running applications has been improved;
- night mode has also been improved;
- notifications from one program can be combined into one;
- Battery saving occurs not only in standby mode;
- a “picture-in-picture” mode appeared;
- 72 new animations with emotions have been added; virtual reality is now supported by hardware.
Advantages and disadvantages
In addition to those mentioned above, you can add:
- improving the quality of 3D images;
- adding special shortcuts to the desktop that contain information about a preset action, i.e. with one click you can send a message to a specific subscriber from your contact list;
- The icons of standard applications have been visually redesigned.
The downside is that this version cannot yet be installed on any device except the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge.
Results
The choice of the latest versions of Android is small, because... Marshmallow and Nougat are designed for specific brands and models of phones. Lollipop, despite all the complaints, is a very good development and the inability to support some applications does not at all prevent you from fully enjoying working with it.
The main versions of Android began to receive “sweet” names starting with v.1.5, which was released in mid-2009. In this case, the initial letter of each new version of Android must be the next one in the alphabet (currently Oreo). For each version, the developer reworked the design and user interface, and also introduced some technical innovations.
Android Version 1.0: Base
On September 23, 2008, the first Android operating system, called Base, was born.
At that time, applications for Google Maps, Gmail and Youtube had already been released.
Android version 1.1: Base_1.1
On February 10, 2009, the first Base update was released. It was called Base_1.1, and it made it possible to save MMS attachments.
Android Version 1.5: Cupcake
From now on, all future versions of Android will be named after sweets. In this case, the initial letter must be the next one in the alphabet.
On April 30, 2009, a new version of Android was released - 1.5, Cupcake. The most famous innovations of this version, among other things, were automatic switching between portrait and landscape display orientations and its own on-screen keyboard.
Android Version 1.6: Donut
Starting from September 15, 2009, Android version 1.6, also known as Donut, became available.
A significant change was, in particular, that from now on it became possible to configure VPN virtual networks.
Android Versions 2.0-2.1: Éclair
Since Android 2.0, not every system update automatically resulted in the release of a new major version. Instead, starting in October 2009, for each major version, several subversions began to appear, modified, but at the same time bearing the name of the main system.
On October 26, 2009, Android 2.0 version called Éclair was released as an update. Digital zoom was presented here, and support for LED flash was also introduced.
On December 3, 2009, Android version 2.0.1 was released, which fixed some bugs.
On 01/07/2010 an update to version 2.1 appeared. Among other innovations, it made it possible to use animated (“live”) wallpapers.
Android Version 2.2: Froyo
This version of Android 2.2 was released on 05/20/2010. She made some important improvements. For example, starting with it, the amount of RAM could exceed 256 MB. In addition, it is now possible to transfer applications to an SD card.
The latest version of Froyo was released in January 2011 under the designation Android 2.2.2 and contained a fix for the SMS bug.
Android Version 2.3: Gingerbread
On December 6, 2010, version Android 2.3, also known as Gingerbread, appeared. Starting in the OS, support for Near Field Communication (NFC) appeared, and its own operational download manager was added.
Then in December 2010, Android version 2.3.1 appeared, which fixed some bugs and contained an update to Google Maps 5.0.
In January 2011, Android version 2.3.2 appeared. It fixed a bug with the SMS service.
Android 2.3.3 was released on February 23, 2011, introducing the ability to equip Android devices with a dual-core processor.
On April 29, 2011, with an update to 2.3.4, the Google Talk application appeared, with the help of which video and voice chat became possible.
Finally, Android 2.3.5 was released on 07/08/2011 and some bugs were fixed. Also, the two subsequent additional versions 2.3.6 (09/02/2011) and 2.3.7 (09/20/2011) contained corrections of system defects.
Android version 3.x: Honeycomb
As of 02/23/2011, Gingerbread was replaced by Android 3.0, also known as Honeycomb. In the new version of the system, the interface has become more convenient, and the developers have also optimized it for working from a tablet. In addition, the Google Chrome browser has new features (for example, incognito mode).
On May 10, 2011, the first Honeycomb update to Android 3.1 was released. It added USB Host mode, and improved the interface and widgets.
Version Android 3.2 was released on July 16, 2011, where images were optimized for various screen diagonals.
Latest version of Honeycomb 3.2.1, some bugs were fixed, released 09/20/2011.
Android Version 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich
On 10/19/2011, a version of Android 4.0 called Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) became available. Here, among other things, unlocking using facial recognition has been added, and many improvements have been made in small things.
On November 17, 2011, version 4.0.1 appeared, where the volume control error was fixed.
Version 4.0.2, which became available starting December 15, 2011, introduced new improvements (for example, a new unlocking method), and also stopped supporting DivX.
The two latest updates to ICS version 4.0.3 (12/16/2011) and 4.0.4 (02/04/2012) brought further improvements. For example, in version 4.0.4 the overall volume level was increased.
Android Version 4.1: Jelly Bean
On June 27, 2012, Android 4.1 version called Jelly Bean was released. This update brings significant improvements to the user interface. In addition, the Google Now service was integrated into the system.
Starting with version 4.1.1 dated July 11, 2012, Google's payment service, Google Wallet, was integrated into the system.
4.1.2 (released October 10, 2012) introduced the ability to manage notifications using gestures.
11/13/2012 - with version 4.2 - system streaming (Miracast) became available. In addition, other security updates have been introduced. In 4.2.1, released on November 27, 2012, some bugs were fixed.
4.2.2 (released on February 12, 2013) made it possible to install widgets directly on the lock screen.
Version 4.3 (released July 24, 2013) introduced many other innovations. Thus, it introduced limited accounts for children, and the Camera application was improved.
The latest Jelly Bean update was released on 10/04/2013 under number 4.3.1. Some minor bugs have just been fixed here.
Android Version 4.4: KitKat
On October 31, 2013, Android 4.4, called KitKat, was released as a successor to Jelly Bean. A significant innovation was the removal of the limit to five home screens. Additionally, the Google+ Hangouts app can now be selected as an alternative for SMS.
On December 6, 2013, the first update to version 4.4.1 followed. The Camera app has been slightly redesigned here, along with some minor bug fixes.
Android version 4.4.2 appeared on 12/09/2013. The changes also concerned mainly bug fixes.
06/02/2014 4.4.3 was released: a known bug that caused a loss of network connection was fixed.
The latest update for KitKat is version 4.4.4. - followed on 06/19/2014.
Android Versions 4.4.W: Wear
Version Android 4.4.W was developed specifically for Smartwatches and other so-called “wearable computers”. Android 4.4.W was released in June 2014 and is based on Android 4.4.
Android Version 5: Lollipop
On November 3, 2014, a new version of Android 5.0 appeared, called Lollipop. It has changed the notification panel, the so-called “curtain”. In addition, this version is now used for most smartwatches.
5.0.1 (released 12/02/2014) was mainly optimized for Android Wear use.
On December 19, 2014, the Android 5.0.2 update appeared, which corrected errors.
Android 5.1 has been available since 03/09/2014. Changes have been made here to make the system more stable.
The latest version of Android 5.1.1 to date was released on April 22, 2015 and is again aimed at correcting errors.
Android 6.0: Marshmallow
At a Google event held on September 29, 2015, the latest operating system was presented to the public. In August, Google already released a Developer Preview version of Marshmallow, which already gave a good idea of the new features of Android 6.0. The system was first presented on Nexus phones, and then on top-end devices from other manufacturers.
The system has implemented better rights management: only after specific functions of an application have been used, you will be prompted to allow access for it. This way, you won't have to grant access to a program that you may not need at all.
Extended battery life: background processes are automatically terminated and thus the battery lasts longer.
Thanks to fast charging. Also in the new system, you can separately adjust the volume for notifications, multimedia and alarms. It also brings a fingerprint sensor similar to Apple's Touch ID.
Android 7.0: Nougat
Starting on August 22, 2016, Android 7 became officially available. In addition to the usual performance and security improvements, it had other major innovations.
Update in the background. The user knows almost nothing about it.
Splitscreen (split screen). If you want to use two apps at the same time, with Android 7 this is no longer a problem. In Splitscreen mode, two applications run in parallel on halves of the screen, if the application itself supports this mode.
Notifications. Google developers did a pretty good job on them. Among other things, you can now reply to WhatsApp messages directly through the curtain without opening the application itself.
The traffic saving mode has also been seriously updated. In settings, you can deny access to data transfer for selected applications.
Android 8.0: Oreo
Since August 2017, Android 8 has become available for download. Generally speaking, in addition to a more user-friendly shell, it is worth noting a significant improvement in the Settings interface.
Speed-Boot. Some changes affected not only faster application launch, but also the boot process when the phone is turned on.
Smart Text Selection. Phone numbers, postal addresses or entire URLs are sometimes difficult to repeat, but thanks to Smart Text Selection, just double-click to copy the desired text.
Picture-in-Picture mode. What Apple already introduced for iPad is now available on Android. If an app like YouTube or Chrome supports this feature, you can continue playing videos on the small screen while using other apps.
Application icons, except for two - “Clock” and “Calendar” - were always static. Now developers of all other applications can animate them and create “live” icons.
The new Rescue Party feature is designed to help with system boot problems. If the phone goes into constant reboot due to a serious software error, this function should detect the problem and automatically put the smartphone into recovery mode.
Android 9.0: P...
The most current version of the operating system from Google is expected at the end of August 2018. What Android 9 will be called is still unknown. The most frequently discussed names at the moment are Poptart, Pancake and Popsicle (ice cream on a stick).
Every new major version of Android has had a fun Easter egg hidden in it. Where and how you can find this surprise in your version of Android, we already.
Updating Android can be a bit of a hassle for an inexperienced user. Indeed, today there are many different versions, and many of them work successfully on devices and are in demand. If updating to the latest version has become a problem for you, don't worry - in this article we will tell you what is the latest version of Android and how to update Android to the latest version.
Major versions of Android are typically released once a year (though this is not always the case), with monthly security updates released in between. Sometimes Google also releases updates, they are numbered with non-zero numbers after the period (.1, .2, etc.). For example, Android 8.0 is the full version, and Android 8.1 is its addition. Often updates are more significant than the versions themselves.
Along with each version of Android there is a codename that many people use instead of a version number. Each one is named after a dessert or some other form of confectionery, which is more for fun than anything else.
A Brief History of Android Versions
Let's briefly recall the release history of Android versions, their names and release dates:
- Android 1.5, Cupcake: April 27, 2009
- Android 1.6, Donut: September 15, 2009
- Android 2.0-2.1, Eclair: October 26, 2009 (initial release)
- Android 2.2-2.2.3, Froyo: May 20, 2010 (initial release)
- Android 2.3-2.3.7, Gingerbread: December 6, 2010 (initial release)
- Android 3.0-3.2.6, Honeycomb: February 22, 2011 (initial release)
- Android 4.0-4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich: October 18, 2011 (initial release)
- Android 4.1-4.3.1, Jelly Bean: July 9, 2012 (initial release)
- Android 4.4-4.4.4, KitKat: October 31, 2013 (initial release)
- Android 5.0-5.1.1, Lollipop: November 12, 2014 (initial release)
- Android 6.0-6.0.1, Marshmallow: October 5, 2015 (initial release)
- Android 7.0-7.1.2, Nougat: August 22, 2016 (initial version)
- Android 8.0-8.1, Oreo: August 21, 2017 (initial release)
- Android 9.0, Pie: August 6, 2018
As you can see, the update system didn't have any regularity early on, but since the Ice Cream Sandwich era, OS updates have started coming out annually.
It's also interesting that:
- Honeycomb was the only version of Android for Android, and it worked alongside the Gingerbread build for phones only. The separate phone and desktop OSes were combined, starting with Ice Cream Sandwich.
- Ice Cream Sandwich was perhaps the biggest update to Android to date. He not only combined the tablet and phone versions of the OS, but completely redesigned the appearance of the system.
- Google initially released Nexus devices aimed at developers to differentiate each version of Android. This eventually evolved into the consumer-focused Pixel line of devices we have today.
- Android KitKat marks the first time that Google has teamed up with a commercial manufacturer to release Android. They did it again for Android Oreo.
Penultimate version of Android 8.1, Oreo
The initial version of Android Oreo (8.0) was released on August 21, 2017, followed by Android 8.1 update on December 5, 2017.
Compared to its predecessors, Oreo offers a number of updates and new features, including a new download policy, limited background app data, notifications for apps running in the background or battery usage, picture-in-picture, autofill passwords in apps, improved battery life and loading times, Project Treble and more.
Latest version of Android 9.0, Pie
Android 9.0, Pie brings a number of updates and new features over its predecessor, including better battery life, improved app security, gesture navigation, and more.
The next version will be Android 10 Q
The next version of the operating system will be Google Android Q - which is currently under development. Distribution of the first beta versions of the new OS is expected at the end of March 2019.
The official presentation of the latest version of the Android operating system will take place at the end of May 2019 at the Google I/O developer conference.
How to find out the Android version
To find out what version of Android is installed on your mobile device:
- Go to the "Settings" menu.
- Scroll down to the bottom.
- Go to About Phone or About Device. If your phone doesn't have this option, it probably already runs Oreo. In this case, look for the "System" option.
- Scroll to "Android Version". If your device already has the Oreo version installed, you can find information about the version in the “System Update” section.
How to update to the latest version
It all depends on the manufacturer of your device. Mobile device manufacturers are responsible for processing and delivering Android updates, i.e. Samsung handles updates for Samsung devices, LG handles updates for its phone, and so on. The only updates that Google itself handles are those for Pixel and Nexus devices.
Those. You may not be able to update your device today if your device manufacturer has not yet processed the update.
To find out if an update is available for your device, go to Settings -> About Device -> System Updates (or similar). Again, this may be in a different location depending on your phone. For example, Samsung installs the System Updates option at the root of the Settings menu.
Clicking this option will check for an update on your device. If an update is available for your phone, it will usually notify you of this fact and prompt you to download and install it right away.
In May of this year, Google stopped publishing statistics on Android versions. However, PornHub corrected this defect by publishing its own statistics.
Things to keep in mind when examining this data:
- Google statistics cover all devices that connected to Google Play in one way or another. Among these devices are many “dialers,” old smartphones that people continue to use many years after their release. After all, you can call, write and view the weather report comfortably even on a ten-year-old device.
- PornHub statistics, in addition to devices with Google services, also cover uncertified devices and devices with custom firmware, but without Google services.
- The bulk of PornHub users are people aged 18 to 34 years (data from the same statistics). In other words, these are the same “active” smartphone users who regularly buy new devices.
The only sure way to ensure you get the latest version of Android is to buy Pixel smartphones. Google updates these phones directly, and they are usually updated with the latest major release and security patches.
Not only tablets, smartphones, watches and netbooks operate under the Android operating system. Often this OS is the software basis for cameras, televisions and household appliances. Today you can turn on your TV or air conditioner with one tap on the screen of your Android smartphone, and in the not-too-distant future there will be cars controlled by this system... But once upon a time, this operating system was only the brainchild of forward-thinking enthusiasts who understood that mobile systems were the future . And not far away. It all started earlier than most millennials think. Android is not some kind of accident that just happened - and happened - to your smartphones. This is the realization of the thoughts of those same enthusiasts from the first paragraph. At the beginning of the 2000s, when the whole world was pressing buttons on their phones, Android developers were tirelessly experimenting with the very first version of their operating system.
Robots or sweets?
When Google acquired Android Inc., they planned to name the versions of the operating system being developed after popular robots (we think JavaRush students will remember a couple of them offhand, not counting Diego and Amigo), but due to copyright problems they decided to abandon this idea. and they began to name the versions after the names of the sweets. Great move: who wouldn’t want fluffy marshmallows, sweet caramel or gingerbread? The history of Android began back in 2003, when Andy Rubin, head of Android inc. and his company began to think about introducing GPS modules into phones.When Google acquired Andy's company, the era of touchscreen smartphones had not yet arrived. So Google planned to integrate the maps it was then working on into Rubin's project. Moreover, they focused on Nokia and Blackberry push-button phones, since they did not yet have regular smartphone manufacturing partners. Before the official release, the version was called “Astronaut” (Astroboy), a kind of pioneer in the world of touchscreen smartphones. But in 2007, a significant event occurred that changed the entire smartphone industry: the release of the first Apple iPhone. Rubin understands that in order to create something like this, you need to completely change your strategy. And, as Steve Jobs assured then, the further strategy of Android devices was brazenly copied from Apple by late competitors. Perhaps this is true. But this only makes us better: healthy competition improves products.
Versions that (almost) no one has heard of
Android 1.0 Apple Pie or “Apple Pie”
The first company that decided to adopt the new software was HTC. And they were right: devices called HTC Dream based on Android sold about a million in less than six months. This was due not only to the lower price than the iPhone, but also to the interest of “geeks” in the new product.The first version of Android was released in September 2008. It turned out to be quite simple to understand; an unskilled user could easily figure out what was what. However, the smartphone was awkward and bulky, the software interface was poor, and the features were clearly lacking. Although the Android Market application store appeared in this version.
Android 1.1 Banana Bread or “Banana Bread”
Update 1.1 Banana Bread was released four months later, in February 2009. This version turned out to be more mature, like the same bananas that are needed to bake the bread of the same name.This update fixed the main problems with the alarm clock, sleep mode and account, added reviews and comments to the maps, and changed the interface. Only now is it possible to save attachments from MMS, as well as set the time and date in different formats. An important feature for people with vision problems also appeared: the smartphone could read out all the information on the screen.
Android 1.5 Cupcake or “Cupcake”
Banana Bread version is not widely used. In April 2009, the developers relaunched the first version, thereby giving life to Android 1.5 Cupcake.“Cupcake” turned out to be very advanced, having received serious innovations:
- support for touch keyboard (finally the developers got rid of these annoying numerous buttons) and third-party keyboards (you could choose the interface yourself);
- added Bluetooth support (allows stereo headsets without wires);
- the exact date and time were displayed in the call history (there was no need to double-check when to call mom);
- it became possible to record and play audio and video files (and later upload them to Youtube);
- placement of widgets and folders on the desktop (now everyone could monitor weather changes and exchange rates without letting go of the phone).
Android 1.6 Donut or “Donut”
Version Android 1.6 or “Donut” looks much more attractive than “Cupcake”. The update supports several new display resolutions: QVGA (240x320 pixels) and WVGA (854x480 pixels). Not impressive? Perhaps. But we're talking about 2009, so don't judge too harshly. The updated API supports CDMA, text-to-speech engine and OpenCore 2 multimedia engine with support for new codecs. In addition, Donut will allow you to search bookmarks, browser history, contacts, song titles and the web directly from the home screen through the search form.The new version of Android Market has become more convenient. Now on the home screen, users could choose between “just” programs, games, and a download manager. Categories have appeared: “Top paid”, “Top free” and “New”. Screenshots of installed programs also appeared in Donut, and the camera began to shoot faster.
Android 2.0 / 2.1 "Eclair" or "Eclair"
On October 27, 2009, the world saw version Android 2.0, and in January of the following year, it was updated to 2.1, codenamed Eclair. In “Eclair” the camera has undergone significant changes:- digital zoom and flash with night shooting capabilities;
- white balance and color effects (it was now possible to process photographs in a noir style);
- scene modes and macro photography.
You can also highlight:
- full navigation in Google Maps with 3D display (you could travel to different countries without leaving your home);
- unlock your phone with one gesture;
- text-to-speech translation;
- setting your favorite tracks for a call;
- HTML5 support in the browser.
First popularity
Android 2.2 Froyo or “Frozen Yogurt”
On June 28, 2010, the Nexus One received an update to Android 2.2. Despite the name of this update, the capabilities of Android were not frozen, but only expanded. The performance of the same Nexus One has increased several times due to the ability to move third-party applications to an external microSD memory card. An important point is also that it was with “yogurt” that support for Adobe Flash 10.2 began, which the iPhone did not have. This was a huge advantage and gave Android ten points ahead.Many smartphones from HTC, Samsung, Sony and LG worked on this, as well as the next version. It is with this version that Android begins to penetrate the pockets of the mass buyer.
Android 2.3 Gingerbread or “Gingerbread”
This version of Android launched on December 6, 2010, and turned out to be very tenacious: according to statistics, devices with “Gingerbread” on board were popular until 2013. The success of the version is quite natural, since it was in Gingerbread that important and promising functions were implemented: SIP telephony, Near Field Communication and Google Talk. “Gingerbread” supported working with higher resolution screens, dictionaries, a new download manager and much more. In addition, Gingerbread, even in its “naked form” (without manufacturers’ add-ons), looked good visually. Devices running this OS received improved icon design and smooth animation, as well as an updated Android Market interface.It was “Gingerbread” that was the first to support multiple cameras. Yes, yes, you correctly thought about the beginning of the “selfie” era, although the first such cameras appeared five years earlier, for example, in the Nokia n70 phone. Finally, users were able to manage battery consumption and power, as well as highlight text character by character. Together with Gingerbread, Google is releasing the next branded smartphone - Google Nexus S. Its “real parent” was not HTC, but Samsung, which was quite obvious: enthusiasts of that time saw a family resemblance between the Google Nexus S and one of Samsung’s first smartphone hits - the Galaxy S .
Android 3.0 Honeycomb or “Honeycomb”
You've probably already forgotten, but there was a time when all the trees and iPads were big, and there were no Android tablets at all. It was September 2010, Steve Jobs was still alive, and the iPad Mini was two years away. It was then that the Samsung Galaxy Tab appeared, one of the first tablets with a seven-inch screen and one of the first Android tablets. The OS version that the device was given is Android 2.2. Frankly speaking, the “phone android” didn’t look the best on the tablet. However, the developers decided that Android on tablets was a good idea, and began to write a special version of the operating system for devices with larger screens. The presentation of “tablet” Android 3.0 took place on February 22, 2011. Perhaps the “troika” can be called one of the first large-scale transformations of Android. Honeycomb received an updated interface, support for multi-core processors, hardware acceleration support and improved multitasking. A convenient menu was created with support for listing applications, several desktops with a set of separate widgets and shortcuts for each. All the tabs were arranged as closely as in a honeycomb.Along with the new OS, so-called “phablets” also appeared, which also ran on Android. They were a cross between a tablet and a smartphone. The specialized press subtly made fun of them for a year or two, until... Until almost all smartphones imperceptibly turned into these same “phablets.” Troika was updated several times, adding minor improvements. But as smartphones and tablets moved closer together, developers decided that the next version of Android would be the same for all of these devices.
An association
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or “Ice Cream Sandwich”
The fourth Android was introduced on October 19, 2011 along with the Galaxy Nexus smartphone. If you know what an “ice cream sandwich” is, you will understand why the cross-platform version for smartphones and tablets was named that way.Perhaps this is the second serious breakthrough in the Android world, and it was the “four” that became the Android that, in terms of convenience, came close to its notorious arch-competitor. Ice Cream Sandwich now has access to applications directly from the lock screen and gesture unlocking. Functions for recognizing the user's face and full encryption of the phone have appeared. And the camera gained the ability to shoot panoramic images and edit video in real time. We also completely changed the user interface taking into account all wishes. Although... What can we say about this, the Android interface changed constantly, from one version to another, right up to its current state. Following the “four”, another “Google phone” appeared - Galaxy Nexus, another brainchild of Samsung. It was this company that developed the most popular smartphones at that time after you-know-who.
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or “Jelly Candy”
Along with the Asus Nexus 10 tablet, a “jelly candy” was introduced in October 2012 with a smoother interface and soft transitions between application shortcuts. One of the biggest changes in the new version was the renaming of Android Market to Google Play. Now it looks quite ordinary. But then it made a good impression, because now users could download and use not only applications, but music, games and even books. At that time, Android and iOS looked like the absolute market leaders. The Google Now service allowed you to listen to music, write messages and at the same time use navigation to view the route and calculate the amount of time so as not to be late for the meeting. The service frighteningly began to predict the behavior and habits of users, providing them with useful information using search history, calendar and route. In addition, several profiles and accounts with different sets of programs and settings were supported on one device.It’s no longer surprising to you that when you search for a movie, Google immediately displays a list of nearby cinemas and showtimes. If you're looking for a restaurant, Google immediately searches reviews and offers a list of different cuisines to choose from. But in 2012 it looked fantastic, but at the same time a little alarming.
Android 4.4 KitKat
Having fully enjoyed the taste of the jelly candy, the developers decide to make another change. Android worked great on devices with a large amount of memory, but still froze on smartphones with a small amount of RAM, so the developers, together with the Nexus 5, updated it to version 4.4 in 2013. What innovations awaited us here?- completely updated interface and brightness adjustment;
- the ability to turn on subtitles when watching a movie (even movies in Korean have become clearer);
- support for pedometers and the myth of the ideal 10,000 steps a day;
- Google detection of unknown numbers;
- support for applications with an infrared port (hence the ability to control household appliances from a distance).
Digression: Android Wear
Beginning of 2014. Healthy lifestyle and its faithful companions - wearable devices - are conquering the world. Google is showing off Android Wear, a special version of its operating system for wearable devices, and several manufacturers are immediately developing corresponding devices. This is how the Moto 360, LG Watch R and Sony SmartWatch 3 are born.Android 5.0 Lollipop "Lollipop"
But Android Wear is far from being the Android of the Year. Android of the Year 5.0 is named Lollipop, released in October 2014. The developers continued to “play with the interface”, which is why Material Design appeared. This marketing term can be deciphered as “the functionality has become clearer and simpler, and the colors have become richer.” Android is colorful like a bright lollipop.In addition to external changes, this version of Android has changed significantly from the inside. They consist of switching to the Android Runtime virtual machine (ART), which officially replaced the outdated version of Dalvik. This contributed to increased system performance and energy efficiency. Another addition is smart locking. Let's assume you encrypted your smartphone as best you could: with passwords, pattern keys and pin codes, and facial recognition. Constantly entering a password is inconvenient, the facial recognition function does not work as quickly as we would like, and there are not so many options for pattern keys. With the smart lock function, all this can be avoided. All you need to do is set it up and when you are in a safe place, your smartphone can unlock itself. You can also highlight:
- support for working with two SIM cards;
- the flashlight appears in the quick settings menu;
- built-in VPN service to make connections to open WI-FI networks safer, but only for Nexus smartphones;
- Android TV - since the advent of this version it was possible to do without a remote control and a TV at all;
- the ability to manually adjust brightness and improve color correction.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow or “Marshmallow”
The sixth version of Android, presented at the Google I/O conference on May 28, 2015. It marked the beginning of the third era of Android, which was dubbed the “golden era” for photos and videos. Now you could intensively photograph animals and children, take portrait, landscape and panoramic photographs, turn on night mode, macro photography and the application of various effects, and photograph objects in motion. And many cloud rappers began to use Samsung on Android to produce videos. The quality was no worse than when filming with a professional camera.You can also notice other differences that we received:
- night mode, which allows you to make the brightness pleasant and comfortable for the eyes, and also save battery power;
- new virtual reality mode with Daydream support;
- sleep mode when moving, which allows you to save battery power while you are not using your smartphone;
- a traffic saving feature that allows you to disable applications running in the background;
- encryption of individual files, folders and applications.
What's next?
Today Android is a powerful operating system. It dominates among all operating systems and can only compete with another giant - iOS. Android and iOS practically “killed” Nokia and Blackberry, once the leaders of the mass and business markets of mobile phones, which 10 years ago were predicted to have many years of life and prosperity.Some smartphones have already started updating to the Android “Oreo” version. But there is a separate article about it, which will appear in this group in the near future.
Recently Android turned 10 years old. Ten years ago, HTC Dream went on sale, the first communicator with a “green robot” on board. Back then, Android was ugly, it couldn’t do much, and only completely insane optimists could imagine that it would become an iOS killer. But since then everything has changed.
Let's take a brief excursion into history and see what this mobile OS was once like.
Release year: 2008.
Functions: Android Market app store, widgets and notifications.
The first Android was nothing like the operating system we know and love today. It was so raw that it looked more like a beta version, and did not have the “sweet” name we are used to. But they already existed in Android 1.0 - they appeared here even earlier than in iOS.
Another innovative idea is the app store. Back then it was called Android Market. The choice of programs in it was small, but the very fact of its presence was already worth a lot. The App Store appeared only a year later, because Cupertino developers could not even imagine that users would need any applications other than those already installed on their ideal smartphone.
In addition, Android 1.0 boasted widgets on the home screen, which iOS also did not have then. Finally, the first version of Android was already integrated with Gmail.
But what Android 1.0 didn’t have was a sane, beautiful interface and multi-touch. It was impossible to enlarge and reduce pictures by pinch, as it is now. And Android didn’t have an on-screen keyboard back then either - text could only be entered through the slide-out keyboards that communicators were equipped with.
Release year: 2009.
Functions: third-party widgets, on-screen keyboard, touch controls, auto-rotate screen, video shooting.
The first major update, from which versions of the system began to receive code names based on the names of different desserts.
Cupcake is the first version of Android to have an on-screen keyboard, and also supports not only portrait, but also landscape desktop mode.
The next feature is third-party widgets. Although they were present in earlier versions of Android, users could not install their own. With Cupcake, Google allowed third-party developers to create widgets for their apps.
And finally, Android Cupcake learned how to shoot video. Before this, users could only take photos.
Release year: 2009.
Functions: quick search field, new gallery, voice search, gesture control and support for different screen sizes.
With Android Donut, Google developers finally tackled the interface and usability of the OS. The gallery has become more convenient, the system began to support gesture control (pinch, swipe, and so on). And it was in this version that such a recognizable Android feature appeared, such as a quick search field, which allows you to find information by keywords not only on the Internet using Google, but also in local files, contacts and notes without the need to open any applications.
Donut has also significantly redesigned the Android Market interface. The number of applications - both free and paid - has also grown significantly.
Release year: 2009.
Functions: Google Maps, HTML5 support in the browser, lock screen, live wallpaper.
Eclair received a built-in application, which is why the popularity of GPS navigation devices has decreased. Why buy an expensive device that tells you which way to turn, if an Android smartphone can do the same thing?
The browser in Android Eclair has been updated, gaining support for HTML5 and the ability to play videos on Internet pages. Another feature of Android 2.0 is the lock screen with the swipe to unlock function and music volume control. This was borrowed from the iPhone.
Release year: 2010.
Functions: Adobe Flash, Internet distribution via Wi-Fi.
Android Froyo was released in 2010, and the first smartphone to receive this update was the Nexus One. Froyo now supports Adobe Flash, the number of screens in the launcher has been increased, and the “Gallery” has been updated once again, making it more beautiful and convenient.
It is now possible to distribute mobile Internet via Wi-Fi. And the Android lock screen now supports PIN codes. Previously, a smartphone could only be locked with a pattern key.
Release year: 2010.
Functions: improved performance and interface, new keyboard, download manager, copy and paste text.
