Introduction

Android is an operating system based on the Linux kernel,[12] and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Initially developed by Android, Inc., which Google backed financially and later bought in 2005,[13] Android was unveiled in 2007 along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliancea consortium of hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices.[14] The first publicly available smartphone running Android, the HTC Dream, was released on October 22, 2008.[15]

The user interface of Android is based on direct manipulation, using touch inputs that loosely correspond to real-world actions, like swiping, tapping, pinching and reverse pinching to manipulate on-screen objects. Internal hardware such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and proximity sensors are used by some applications to respond to additional user actions, for example adjusting the screen from portrait to landscape depending on how the device is oriented. Android allows users to customize their home screens with shortcuts to applications and widgets, which allow users to display live content, such as emails and weather information, directly on the home screen. Applications can further send notifications to the user to inform them of relevant information, such as new emails and text messages.

Android's source code is released by Google under the Apache License;[12] this permissive licensing allows the software to be freely modified and distributed by device manufacturers, wireless carriers and enthusiast developers. Most Android devices ship with a combination of open source and proprietary software.[3] As of July 2013[update], Android has the largest number of applications ("apps"), available for download in Google Play store which has had over 1 million apps published, and over 50 billion downloads.[16] A developer survey conducted in AprilMay 2013 found that Android is the most used platform among developers: it is used by 71% of the mobile developers population.[17]

Android is popular with technology companies which require a ready-made, low-cost and customizable operating system for high-tech devices.[18] Despite being primarily designed for phones and tablets, it also has been used in televisions, games consoles, digital cameras and other electronics. Android's open nature has 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[19] or bring Android to devices which were officially released running other operating systems.

As of May 2012[update], Android became the most popular mobile OS, having the largest installed base, and is a market leader in most countries[20] including the United States; there it

has had the highest installed base of mobile phones for years.[21] In the third quarter of 2013, Android's share of the global smartphone shipment marketled by Samsung productswas 81.3%, the highest ever.[22][23][24] In most markets Android-powered phones are the most popular comprising more than half of the overall smartphone sales, including the United States market starting with the SeptemberNovember 2013 period.[25] The operating system's success has made it a target for patent litigation as part of the so-called "smartphone wars" between technology companies.[26][27] As of September 2013[update], one billion Android devices have been activated.[28]

History
The version history of the Android mobile 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 under ongoing development by Google and the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), and has seen a number of updates to its base operating system since its initial release.

Since April 2009, Android versions have been developed under a confectionary-themed code name and released according to alphabetical order: Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6), Eclair (2.02.1), Froyo (2.22.2.3), Gingerbread (2.32.3.7), Honeycomb (3.03.2.6), Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0 4.0.4), Jelly Bean (4.14.3), and KitKat (4.4). On 3 September 2013, Google announced that 1 billion activated devices now use the Android OS worldwide.[1] The most recent major Android update was KitKat 4.4, which was released to commercial devices on 22 November 2013, via an OTA update.[2][3]

Types of android
Pin It See all 12 photos The Mascots on Google Campus, from left to right: Donut, Android (and Nexus One), Cupcake, and Eclair Source: Android Developer Android and Dessert Names Revised 03SEP-2013

Google's Android division certainly has a sense of humor as it named all their version codenames after desserts (just as Intel name all its CPUs after rivers). To celebrate new

version release of Android, a giant mock-up of the dessert that matches the codename is usually delivered to the Google Campus and put on display.

So what are the different versions of Android OS, and the desserts associated with them? Let us go over a short history of when's what.

Noname 1.0 and 1.1 versions There appears to be no codename assigned to Versions 1.0 and 1.1 of Android OS.

Google bought a company called Android back in July 2005. Android was headed by several mobile bigshots, including former head of a big carrier, ex-owner of a phone maker, and more. After their buyout, Android went into stealth mode, and rumors spread that Google is working on a mobile phone.

The dam finally broke in November 2007, when Google suddenly announced that they are indeed working on a phone (Google Phone), but also a brand-new mobile operating system called Android, based on the Linux kernel, to be used by the Open Handset Alliance, a group of 65 different hardware maker, carriers, and other mobile-related companies.

HTC was the first phone maker to get a real consumer phone out, the T-Mobile G1 (also known as the HTC Dream outside of US), on October 2008.

An update of Android, version 1.1, was released in February 2009. However, the first significant version of Android OS that really showcased the power of the platform is V1.5, codename "Cupcake".

As Cupcake starts with letter "C", it's is widely suspected that 1.0 would start with "A", and 1.1 would start with "B", but no actual codenames were ever assigned.

Pin It See all 12 photos A cupcake with pink frostings Source: http://www.pantrydiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/20...Android 1.5, i.e. Cupcake Technically Android 1.5 wasn't the first version, but versions before that doesn't seem to have received any codenames. Stories were told that it was supposed to be version 1.2, but Google decided to make it a major revision and made it 1.5 instead, and gave it the dessert name "cupcake" as a codename, and that's when the "dessert series" got started.

A cupcake is a small cake, the size of an individual portion, baked in a cup-shaped mold, usually served with frosting on top.

Pin It See all 12 photos Donuts, fluffy and sweet Source: http://wwff.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/donut.jpgAndroid 1.6, i.e. Donut Android V1.6, codename Donut, was released in September 2009. It fixed reboot errors in the OS as well as revamped photo and video features (i.e. camera interface) and better search integration. It also added support for larger screen size, and is the first version to offer Google turn-by-turn navigation feature.

Donut is usually defined as a small ring-shaped friedcake, is actually spelled doughnut, made out of rich, light dough and deep fried, then various sweet coating can be added. Please don't mistake this with bagel, which is baked, much denser, and usually salty.

Pin It See all 12 photos The actual "giant eclair" on Google campus Source: mygreatphoneAndroid 2.0 / 2.1, i.e. Eclair Android 2.0 was released in October 2009, with a bugfix version 2.0.1 in December 2009. Android 2.1 was released January of 2010. Most people consider them a single release. Added features include Bluetooth 2.1 support, flash and digital zoom for the camera, multi-touch support, live wallpapers, and more.

Eclair the dessert is usually describe as an oblong "cream puff", a baked pastry with cream filling and chocolate coating on top.

Pin It See all 12 photos Source: blogs.riverfronttimes.com/gutcheckAndroid 2.2, i.e. Froyo Android 2.2 mainly improved speed by adopting the Javascript "just-in-time" compiler engine from the Google browser "Chrome", as well as improved browser support by adding animated GIF support, Flash 10.1 plug-in support, along with USB tethering and Wi-Fi Hotspot capability (for those with supporting hardware).

Froyo is actually concatenated from "frozen yogurt", but is also a brand name. It is a frozen dessert made from yogurt, so it is slightly more sour, but also lower in fat.

Pin It See all 12 photos

Actual Gingerbread Man on Google Campus Source: http://www.newlaunches.com/entry_images/1010/25/Go...Android 2.3, i.e. Gingerbread Gingerbread man on Google campus has been reported in early November 2010, and Gingerbread is officially released in December 2010.

On December 7th, 2010, Google officially announced the Nexus S (made by Samsung) to be released on T-Mobile, the first phone with Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread. SDK has been released. Nexus S has since also appeared on Sprint and AT&T.

Gingerbread features support for SIP internet calling, NFC wireless transaction capability (if hardware is present), support for more than one camera, support for gyroscope and other sensors (barometer, gravimeter, and others are possible), download manager, some tweaks to allow usage on Tablets, and other system level tweaks for programmers.

In desserts, gingerbread is basically ginger-flavored "cake" or "cookie". It is often made to celebrate end-of-year holidays in the US, and often in the shape of a man.

Android 2.4: Still Gingerbread TechCrunch just revealed that there will be "Ice Cream Sandwich" after Honeycomb.

A version of Android 2.4 was found on Sony Ericssen Xperia Arc at CES 2011. The phone maker claims wrong version, but later Google source confirmed that "Ice Cream" will be announced at Google I/O event in May 2011 and released June or July 2011.

But wait, Pocket Lint quotes Viewsonic (an Android tablet maker, among other things) that 2.4 will retain the "Gingerbread" moniker, and "Ice Cream" (or "Ice Cream Sandwich") will be 3.1!

Well, 2.4 being Ice Cream doesn't make sense, as it violates the existing order, as the dessert names are in alphabetical order, and I is after H, not before. It does make sense to make it after Honeycomb (3.0)

Pin It See all 12 photos Statue of Honeycomb on Google Campus Source: Geekword.netAndroid 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2 i.e. Honeycomb Honeycomb was released in February 2011, and was rapidly followed by 3.1 and 3.2 which only came out in July / August 2011. Google posted a lot of previews and highlights on Honeycomb.

Android-based tablets should be running 3.X as that will be optimized for tablets, (implying current Android OS 2.X are not really designed for tablets) That did not stop a slew of smaller manufacturers as well as Samsung from putting out an army of Android tablets of various sizes before the end of 2010 with Android 2.X hoping to catch the Christmas shopping season and success of Apple's iPad.

Motorola Xoom is the first Android 3.X tablet to be released, It has since been followed by a ton of Tablets.

Dessert-wise... Honeycomb is a sweetened breakfast cereal that has been made since 1965 by Post Cereals. It consists of honey-flavored corn cereal bits in a honeycomb shape.

Pin It See all 12 photos There's the Ice Cream Sandwich display on Google Campus

Source: Napco.comPin It See all 12 photos Ice Cream Sandwich Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69...Android 4.0 and later: The REAL "Ice Cream Sandwich" It appears now that Honeycomb (3.X) will remain a tablet-only OS, while the phones will keep getting Gingerbread (2.x) updates until the unified codebase, i.e. Android OS 4.0, which will be "Ice Cream Sandwich" launch some time in the future.

And it turns out, the future is... October 2011. Wow, that's fast. I actually said 12-18 months just a few months ago. I guess I'll have to eat my words.

Will your device run it? I have no idea. And I STILL don't. I'm guessing the dual-core machines will have no problem. But older devices? Don't bet on it. Even now, January 2012, only ONE phone (Samsung Galaxy Nexus) has been released to run it, and a few more are expected to get updates (Motorola Droid RAZR and Droid Bionic, Samsung Galaxy S2 series, HTC ReZound?) later.

In real life, ice cream sandwich is a layer of ice cream, usually vanilla, sandwiched between two chocolate cookies, and usually rectangular in shape. (see illustration)

Pin It See all 12 photos TheVerge.com reports on the JellyBean mascot Android 4.1: Jelly Bean It is now certain that next version of Android OS will be named Jelly Bean.

On June 26th, the Jelly Bean mascot (see right) appeared on Google campus, as reported by the Verge (also visible are Ice Cream Sandwich, Honeycomb, and Gingerbread).

UPDATE: CNET just reported from Google I/O 2012 that Jelly Bean will have "Google Now", AI assistant that anticipates your needs, better notification than (more interactive), and more.

Pin It See all 12 photos KitKat bar Pin It See all 12 photos Android 4.4 Kitkat mascot, on Google Campus Source: Sundar PichaiAndroid 4.4: Kit-kat Google has JUST announced on 03-SEP-2013 that Android 4.4 will be named Kitkat. And apparently the mascot has been delivered and installed on Google campus! That means this version should be released very soon for the Nexus devices. Ports to other Android devices will take several months.

Apparently Nestle is fully onboard, as they have launched an advertising campaign with Google... Specially marked packages of Kitkat (look for Andy the Green Android on the package) will contain a sweepstakes code that can win you a new Nexus 7 Android tablet, or Google Play store credit. Clearly, this would be US only.

Advantages and Disadvantages Android

Advantages Android: 1.Android is open, because it is linux based open source so it can be developed by anyone. 2.Easy access to the Android App Market: Android owners are people who love to learn the phone, with Google's Android App Market you can download applications for free.

3.Populist Operating System: Android Phones, different from the iOS is limited to the iphone from Apple, then Android has many manufacturers, with their respective flagship gadget from HTC to Samsung. 4.USB full facilities. You can replace the battery, mass storage, DiskDrive, and USB tethering. 5.Easy in terms of notification: the operating system is able to inform you of a new SMS, Email, or even the latest articles from an RSS Reader. 6.Supports all Google services: Android operating system supports all of google services ranging from Gmail to Google reader. all google services can you have with one operating system, namely Android. 7.Install ROM modification: There are many custom ROM that you can use on Android phones, and the guarantee will not harm your device. Disadvantages / Weaknesses Android: 1.Connected to the Internet: Android can be said is in need of an active internet connection. At least there should be a GPRS internet connection in your area, so that the device is ready to go online to suit our needs. 2.Sometimes slow device company issued an official version of Android your own. 3.Android Market is less control of the manager, sometimes there are malware. 4.As direct service providers, users sometimes very difficult to connect with the Google. 5.Sometimes there are ads: because it is easy and free, sometimes often a lot of advertising. In appearance it does not interfere with the performance of the application itself, as it sometimes is in the top or bottom of the application. 6.Wasteful Batteries, This is because the OS is a lot of "process" in the background causing the battery quickly drains.