Android operating system of Google was launched in 2008. This is now the most used platform for smartphones and tablets. There are several versions starting from Apple Pie, Banana Bread, Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, ICS, Jelly Bean and the rumored Key Lime Pie.
Android is used by leading manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, HTC, LG, Sony and many others. Even the low cost devices like Aakash tablets have this platform. Samsung Galaxy series of devices are getting Android ICS updates every now and then. This is a rival to the Apple’s iOS that is used in iPhone and iPad.
The table below explains the different versions, their key features and release date. It explains the history of the mobile operating system.
Version Name
Key Features
Release Date
Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
stability improvements
better camera performance
smoother screen rotation
2012 Mar 28
Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich
Social stream API in Contacts provider to show updates associated to your contacts
Video stabilization and QVGA video resolution API access
Accessibility API refinements for screen readers
Calendar provider updates
2011 Dec 16
Android 4.0.2 Ice Cream Sandwich
Minor fixes
2011 Nov 28
Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich
Facial recognition (Face Unlock)
UI use Hardware acceleration
Better voice recognition (dictating/Voice typing)
Web browser, allows up to 16 tabs
Updated launcher (customizable)
Android Beam app to exchange data through NFC
Resizeable widgets
2011 Oct 19
Android 3.2.6 Honeycomb
Minor fixes
2011 Dec 15
Android 3.2.4 Honeycomb
Added “Pay as you go” for tablets
2011 Dec 15
Android 3.2.2 Honeycomb
Minor fixes
2011 Sep 30
Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb
Android Market updates including easier automatic updates
Google Books updates
Wi-Fi improvements
Chinese handwriting prediction improved
2011 Sep 20
Android 3.2 Honeycomb
Optimizations for a wider range of tablets
Compatibility display mode
Media sync from SD card
2011 Jul 15
Android 3.1 Honeycomb
UI improvements
Open Accessory API
USB host API
Mice, joysticks, gamepads… support
Resizable Home screen widgets
MTP notifications
RTP API for audio
2011 May 10
Android 3.0 Honeycomb
Multi core support
Better tablet support
Updated 3D UI
Google Talk video chat
Google eBooks
Private browsing
2011 Feb 22
Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread
Google Wallet support for the Nexus S 4G
-
Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread
Voice search issue fixed
-
Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread
Improved network performance for the Nexus S 4G
Fixed Bluetooth issues on the Samsung Galaxy S
Gmail app. improvements
2011 Jul 25
Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread
Open Accessory API
Voice or video chat using Google Talk
2011 May 10
Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread
NFC API improvements
2011 Feb 9
Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Updated UI
WebM video playback capability
Improved copy/paste
Social networking features
Near Field Communication support
Native VoIP/SIP support
Video call support
2010 Dec 6
Android 2.2 Froyo
Speed improvements
JIT implementation
USB Tethering
Applications installation to the expandable memory
Upload file support in the browser
Animated GIFs
2010 May 20
Android 2.1 Eclair
Updated UI
2010 Jan 12
Android 2.0.1 Eclair
-
2009 Dec 3
Android 2.0 Eclair
HTML
Digital zoom
Microsoft Exchange support
Bluetooth 2.1
Live Wallpapers
Updated UI
2009 Oct 26
Android 1.6 Donut
Gesture framework
Turn-by-turn navigation
2009 Sep 15
Android 1.5 Cupcake
Bluetooth A2DP, AVRCP support
Soft-keyboard with text-prediction
Record/watch videos
2009 Apr 30
Android 1.1 Banana Bread
-
2009 Feb 9
Android 1.0 Apple pie
-
2008 Sep 23
Posted by NEWS Andhra
on 11:40. Filed under
Mobile Phones,
Tablets,
Technology News
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