The version history of the Android operating system began with the release of the Android beta in November 2007. The first commercial version, Android 1.0, was released in September 2008. Android is a mobile operating system developed 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. Since April 2009, each Android version has been developed under a codename based on a dessert or sweet treat. These versions have been released in alphabetical order: Cupcake, Donut, Éclair, Froyo (frozen yogurt), Gingerbread, Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich. The pre-release versions of Android were dubbed Astro and Bender, but these names could not ultimately be used for trademark reasons. The most recent update to the Android OS was Ice Cream Sandwich v4.0.4, which was released in March 2012.
Cupcake Review
Whilst we aren’t any closer to knowing an exact update time frame,
IntoMobile.com have managed to uncover some information on the kind of new functionality we can expect to see from future ‘over the air’ Android updates.
Here’s a rundown of what is currently being worked on:
- New Local Setting Page – Gives you option to pick different locales and pick different text inputs.
- New Option to view running and third party applications – An option to view running and third party applications from the normal application list. Does not provide a way to terminate them.
- New windows opening/closing animation effect – a new popping effect when windows are opened/closed.
- New default notepad – a very simple and ugly default notepad.
- New Global Time application – not sure if it will be provided by T-Mobile but it’s just a rotating Earth and I couldn’t get it to do anything else.
- New Spare Parts Application – Once again not sure if the official version will have this, but it provides a number of extra settings such as setting windows animation and transition animation speed, font size, end button behavior and etc. It also has a “display rotation” option which supposedly should allow auto-rotate base on orientation across the entire os, but it is not currently working.
- New Virtual Keyboard (as seen on video -ed.)- The virtual keyboard will pop up on every edit box. I didn’t feel any haptic feedback but I am thinking that it’s just not there on the example keyboard. Because the phone does not auto-rotate (an option exists but it doesn’t work), it’s very hard to type on it. The sample keyboard also does not provide auto-corrections.
- Slightly better looking buttons with more shadow.
Donut Review
In addition to a raft of minor fixes, Donut offers a new speech synthesis tool, new GPS-enabled features, an enhanced search routine, a rebuilt Android Market and many other adjustments. The 57MB update that arrived on a myTouch 3G took just a few minutes to download with a fast data connection and just a few minutes to install, including a restart of the phone.
Android's location-based features have been enhanced and the GPS settings now include a "Share with Google" option which lets you enable location-based enhancements with Google searches, maps and other applications. Touching and holding your finger on a location in Google Maps, for example, enables Street View, which provides an interactive ground level image of the location.
As you enter a search phrase into the Google search window on the home screen, location-based suggestions appear even before you hit the search button. For example, while entering the word "staples" a listing for a nearby Staples office supply store across the street appeared. From there I could have mapped the location, asked for more details or added it to my contacts.
The home screen search function has also been expanded to look into more places. Within the settings menus, you can control whether Google searches your browser's bookmarks and search history, your contacts, the installed apps and your music collection.
Google Maps on Android 1.6 also offers mass transit directions for many major cities. For example, if you're standing at Madison Square Garden at 8
th Avenue and West 33
rd Street in Manhattan, and need to get to the Empire State Building on West 34
th Street and 5
th Avenue, Google Maps will not only tell you that you can use the M34 bus for the trip, but will also list the scheduled times of the next few buses. It also worked when tested with a late night bus trip from downtown Milwaukee to Miller Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, even going as far to note that there was a detour in effect at the time.
If you've enabled GPS, the Android web browser shows you your location at the main page and can use this data to return local results when performing a Google search. For example, searching for "library" resulted in a listing of the closest libraries to my location in addition to the other results that would normally be generated in a search for that word.
Android apps can now talk back thanks to a new Pico speech synthesis engine. You'll need to install the Speech Synthesis Data Installer, a free download from Android Market which includes support for English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Once installed, speech-enabled apps will be able to talk back in choice of accents.
Android Market itself has been revamped with a brighter look and now lacks the sometimes hard to maneuver scrolling icons on the top. Instead using the icons, featured Android applications now appear in a list as you start Android Market. From there you can browse or search for what you need. While most Android applications will work with the Donut revision, some software publishers have already pushed out Donut compatible updates for their applications.
The camera and video camera applications have been merged into a single screen with a toggle switch at the bottom even though separate icons for each utility remain on the home screen. The camera's shutter button has been relocated from the upper right corner of the screen (landscape mode) to a more comfortable position at the lower right.
New to Android is CDMA support, as well as support for four types of VPN connections. Also, a new battery screen lists which apps and hardware components are using what percentage of your phone's power.
The update doesn't seem to have an effect on the phone's response time. Android's developers claim that the camera application launches 39% faster and responds 28% faster in completing consecutive shots.
Eclair Review
Android phone at a more rapid development, and which version you have also further developed. :)
Until in the end on the date December 3, 2009, launched the Android phones with version 2.0 / 2.1. Who then called the version of Eclair.
The definition of Android Eclair is a version of Android, which is version 2.0 / 2.1, which experienced a change from previous versions feature, among other hardware optimizations, improved Google Maps 3.1.2, change the UI with a new browser and support for HTML5, a list of new contacts, flash support for 3.2 MP camera, digital zoom, and Bluetooth 2.1.
To move quickly in the competition next generation devices, Google held a competition to invest with the best mobile applications (killer apps-winning application.)
With the growing and increasingly growing number of Android handsets, the more interested third parties to distribute their applications to the Android OS.
Well-known applications have been transformed into the Android operating system is Shazam, Backgrounds, and WeatherBug.
Android operating system in the Internet site was also considered important to create native Android applications, for example by Facebook and MySpace.
Froyo Review
Android 2.2 is the first version of Android that feels totally complete—it performs like it should and it has most of the features it should. It's not quite at the point my mother could use it without a precarious learning curve, but you can see how it's going to get better. It's safe to say that with Froyo, Android has become something that most people really can use—and love.
Considering again where Android was 6, 12 and 18 months ago, I can believe the promises Google has made: that Android will blow your mind in another 6 months. The future of Android really has never looked brighter.
Android 2.2 'Froyo' Review: It's SweetFastest version of Android yet, in an actually noticeable way
Interface improved in small ways all around
Flash!
Built-in portable hotspot powers (though subject to your carrier's evil whims)
Android 2.2 'Froyo' Review: It's SweetAndroid Market is better in key ways, but needs more work
Android 2.2 'Froyo' Review: It's SweetFlash!
The keyboard still blows
The music and videos situation is pretty sad
The overall complexity of Android remains
Gingerbread Review
Android has evolved more aggressively, more rapidly than any other mobile platform. But now it's reached a point of maturity, and you can see that in Gingerbread: The newness in Android 2.3 is all about refinement. Not new features or functions or just
stuff. It's Android where Google's slowed down and taken the time to think about how it looks and feels and responds.
The irony, of course, is that most of the careful design work that's gone into Android 2.3 won't ever be seen by a large portion of Android users. The definitive Android design won't be experienced by people who own phones covered in custom software. There's only a handful of Android phones in the US where you'll be able to get the real Android experience—Nexus One, T-Mobile G2 and the Nexus S—even though it's unquestionably better than anything phone makers are conjuring up themselves these days.
Honeycomb Review
Android 3.0 Honeycomb — the latest release — is special, being used only for tablets and is therefore optimized with even more features and benefits than you would normally find on a regular smartphone running on Froyo or Gingerbread. The Honeycomb project has seen a larger number of changes and revamps to the whole OS than any of its predecessors, with a whole new User Interface never seen before.
But does that mean it’s better? We’re going to take you through a guided tour and review of Android 3.0, more popularly known as Honeycomb.
I spent a considerable amount of time playing with Honeycomb while using the Motorola Xoom (review forthcoming), and I wanted to write separate reviews for each because Honeycomb is so different from 1.x or 2.x that it would be very difficult to cram all of this information into one convenient review. So let’s get started by going over the new layout of Honeycomb. This is, after all, the most visible part of the OS, and the most important as well.
Ice Cream Sandwich Review
"People need Android ... but people didn't love Android," said Matias Duarte, director of the Android OS user experience, explaining why the world's most popular smartphone OS needed a full redesign. Ice Cream Sandwich, now officially labeled Android 4.0, is that overhaul. And people, it's awesome.
Android developers put their heads together to figure out how to improve the operating system, and came up with three directives. "Enchant me. Simplify my life. Make me awesome."
To put it another way, by observing what really works on the iPhone and Windows Phone operating systems, and what
wasn't working on Android, Google's mobile development team made massive improvements across the board, and focused on making the experience consistent no matter where you might be in the environment. It's no longer a hodgepodge of unclear commands and clumsy screens.
Source :
Android's Version
Cupcake |
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Donut |
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Éclair |
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Froyo (frozen yogurt) |
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Gingerbread |
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Honeycomb |
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Ice Cream Sandwich |
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NEXT : Coming Soon "Android Jellybean" on quarter of 2012
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