Background Information
Android is a mobile operating system developed primarily by Google and the Open Handset Alliance and is based on a modified version of the Linux kernel. The operating system is open-source software and is designed primarily for touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets, but it is also utilized in other devices like smart TVs, smartwatches, and automotive infotainment systems.
While most versions of Android are proprietary, the core Android components are taken from the Android Open Source Project, a free and open-source software licensed under the Apache License.
History
Android was originally developed by Android, Inc., a company founded in 2003. In 2005, Google acquired Android, Inc., and started collaborating with various technology companies to develop an open-source mobile operating system. The first commercial version of Android, Android 1.0, was released in September 2008. Since then, Google has continued to release regular updates, introducing new features and improvements with each iteration of Android.
Core Features
- User Interface: Android offers a flexible and customizable user interface, allowing users to personalize their devices with different themes, wallpapers, and home screen layouts. It supports various input methods, including touch gestures, voice commands, and virtual keyboards.
- App Ecosystem: One of the key strengths of Android is its extensive app ecosystem. Users can access millions of applications through the Google Play Store, offering a wide range of categories such as productivity, entertainment, social media, gaming, and more.
- Google Integration: As a product of Google, Android seamlessly integrates with Google services such as Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. This integration allows users to sync data across devices and access a unified experience within the Google ecosystem.
- Multitasking and Notification Center: Android provides robust multitasking capabilities, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously and switch between them effortlessly. The notification center provides quick access to alerts, messages, and other notifications, ensuring users stay informed without interrupting their workflow.
- Customization Options: Android offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to personalize their devices to suit their preferences. This includes the ability to install custom launchers, widgets, and themes, enabling a unique and tailored user experience.
- Open-Source Nature: Android is based on the Linux kernel and is developed as an open-source project. This means that the source code is available to the public, encouraging collaboration and allowing device manufacturers and developers to modify and customize Android to suit their specific needs.
Versions
Google regularly releases major updates and security patches to improve the functionality, performance, and security of the Android Operating System. These updates are delivered over-the-air (OTA) to compatible devices.
Google famously named Android versions after sweets, such as "Cupcake" for v1.5, until the release of Android 10. However, starting with Android 11, Google moved away from this naming scheme and began using numbers instead. The company stated that this change was to make the version names clearer and more accessible to a global audience. These codenames are now used only internally within Google.
| Name | Internal codename | Version Number(s) | API level | Initial stable release date | Last security patch | Last Google Play Services version (release date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Android 1.0 | 1.0 | 1 | September 23, 2008 | |||
| Android 1.1 | Petit Four | 1.1 | 2 | February 9, 2009 | ||
| Android Cupcake | Cupcake | 1.5 | 3 | April 27, 2009 | ||
| Android Donut | Donut | 1.6 | 4 | September 15, 2009 | ||
| Android Éclair | Éclair | 2.0 | 5 | October 27, 2009 | ||
| 2.0.1 | 6 | December 3, 2009 | ||||
| 2.1 | 7 | January 11, 2010 | ||||
| Android Froyo | Froyo | 2.2 – 2.2.3 | 8 | May 20, 2010 | 3.2.25 (October 2014) | |
| Android Gingerbread | Gingerbread | 2.3 – 2.3.2 | 9 | December 6, 2010 | 10.0.84 (November 2016) | |
| 2.3.3 – 2.3.7 | 10 | February 9, 2011 | ||||
| Android Honeycomb | Honeycomb | 3.0 | 11 | February 22, 2011 | ||
| 3.1 | 12 | May 10, 2011 | ||||
| 3.2 – 3.2.6 | 13 | July 15, 2011 | ||||
| Android Ice Cream Sandwich | Ice Cream Sandwich | 4.0 – 4.0.2 | 14 | October 18, 2011 | 14.8.49 (February 2019) | |
| 4.0.3 – 4.0.4 | 15 | December 16, 2011 | ||||
| Android Jelly Bean | Jelly Bean | 4.1 – 4.1.2 | 16 | July 9, 2012 | 21.33.56 (September 2021) | |
| 4.2 – 4.2.2 | 17 | November 13, 2012 | ||||
| 4.3 – 4.3.1 | 18 | July 24, 2013 | ||||
| Android KitKat | Key Lime Pie | 4.4 – 4.4.4 | 19 | October 31, 2013 | October 2017 | 23.30.13 (August 2023) |
| 4.4W – 4.4W.2 | 20 | June 25, 2014 | ? | |||
| Android Lollipop | Lemon Meringue Pie | 5.0 – 5.0.2 | 21 | November 4, 2014 | November 2017 | current |
| 5.1 – 5.1.1 | 22 | March 2, 2015 | March 2018 | |||
| Android Marshmallow | Macadamia Nut Cookie | 6.0 – 6.0.1 | 23 | October 2, 2015 | August 2018 | |
| Android Nougat | New York Cheesecake | 7.0 | 24 | August 22, 2016 | August 2019 | |
| 7.1 – 7.1.2 | 25 | October 4, 2016 | October 2019 | |||
| Android Oreo | Oatmeal Cookie | 8.0 | 26 | August 21, 2017 | January 2021 | |
| 8.1 | 27 | December 5, 2017 | October 2021 | |||
| Android Pie | Pistachio Ice Cream | 9 | 28 | August 6, 2018 | January 2022 | |
| Android 10 | Quince Tart | 10 | 29 | September 3, 2019 | February 2023 | |
| Android 11 | Red Velvet Cake | 11 | 30 | September 8, 2020 | current | |
| Android 12 | Snow Cone | 12 | 31 | October 4, 2021 | ||
| Android 12L | Snow Cone v2 | 12.1 | 32 | March 7, 2022 | ||
| Android 13 | Tiramisu | 13 | 33 | August 15, 2022 | ||
| Android 14 | Upside Down Cake | 14 | 34 | October 4, 2023 | ||
| Android 15 | Vanilla Ice Cream | 15 | 35 | Q3 2024 |