Android was intended to be very customizable and we welcome innovations. Android was built to be vary secure.
There are seven billion people in the world. And I think phones are the first time most people will have access to a modern computing device. With Android, we want to enable that for people.
~~> Android 3.0 Honeycomb ( API 11 )
On February 22, 2011, the Android 3.0 (honeycomb) SDK - the first tablet only android update was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.36.
- Version : 3.0
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| Android 3.0 Home Screen |
- Version : 3.0
- Release Date : February 22, 2011
- Features : Minor API changes, bugfixes and framework behavior changes.
- Added System Bar, featuring quick access to notifications, status, and soft navigation buttons, available at the bottom of the screen.
- Simplified multitasking – tapping Recent Applications in the System Bar allows users to see snapshots of the tasks underway and quickly jump from one application to another.
- Redesigned keyboard, making typing fast, efficient and accurate on larger screen sizes and simplified, more intuitive copy/paste interface.
~~> Android 3.1 Honeycomb ( API 12 )
- Version : 3.1
- Release Date : May 10, 2011
- Features :
- UI refinements and Connectivity for USB accessories (USB On-The-Go).
- Expanded Recent Applications list and resizable home screen widgets.
- Support for external keyboards and pointing devices, joysticks, HTTP proxy for each connected Wi-Fi access point and game-pads and also for FLAC audio playback.
- High-performance Wi-Fi lock, maintaining high-performance Wi-Fi connections when device screen is off.
~~> Android 3.2 Honeycomb ( API 13 )
Most first- and second-generation Google TV-enabled devices used Honeycomb 3.2.
- Version : 3.2
- Version : 3.2
- Release Date : July 15, 2011
- Features :
- Improved hardware support, including optimizations for a wider range of tablets and increased ability of applications to access files on the SD card, e.g. for synchronization
- Compatibility display mode for applications that have not been optimized for tablet screen resolutions.
- New display support functions, giving developers more control over display appearance on different Android devices.
- Version : 3.2.1
- Release Date : September 20, 2011
- Features :
- Bugfixes and minor security, stability and Wi-Fi improvements
- Update to Android Market with automatic updates and easier-to-read Terms and Conditions text and update to Google Books
- Improved Adobe Flash support in browser and improved chinese handwriting prediction.
- Version : 3.2.2
- Release Date : August 30, 2011
- Features :
- Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom 4G.
- Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom 4G.
- Version : 3.2.3
- Release Date : August 30, 2011
- Features :
- Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G.
- Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G.
- Version : 3.2.4
- Release Date : December, 2011
- Features :
- Pay As You Go for 3G and 4G tablets.
- Pay As You Go for 3G and 4G tablets.
- Version : 3.2.5
- Release Date : January, 2012
- Features :
- Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G.
- Version : 3.2.6
- Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G.
- Version : 3.2.6
- Release Date : February, 2012
- Features :
- Fixed data connectivity issues when coming out of airplane mode on the US 4G Motorola Xoom.
- Major refinements to the "Holo" interface with new Roboto font family.
- Soft buttons from Android 3.x are now available for use on phones.
- Separation of widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar manner to applications.
- Easier-to-create folders, with a drag-and-drop style and pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar.
- Improved visual voicemail with the ability to speed up or slow down voicemail messages
- Integrated screenshot capture (accomplished by holding down the Power and Volume-Down buttons).
- Improved error correction on the keyboard and ability to access applications directly from lock screen and also copy and paste functionality.
- Version : 5.0
- Version : 6.0
- Version : 7.0
- Fixed data connectivity issues when coming out of airplane mode on the US 4G Motorola Xoom.
~~> Android 4.0 Ice-cream sandwich ( API 14 )
The SDK for Android 4.0.1 (Ice Cream Sandwich), based on Linux kernel 3.0.1,[95] was publicly released on October 18, 2011
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| Android 4.0 Home Screen |
- Version : 4.0
- Release Date : October 18, 2011
- Features :
- Soft buttons from Android 3.x are now available for use on phones.
- Separation of widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar manner to applications.
- Easier-to-create folders, with a drag-and-drop style and pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar.
- Improved visual voicemail with the ability to speed up or slow down voicemail messages
- Integrated screenshot capture (accomplished by holding down the Power and Volume-Down buttons).
- Improved error correction on the keyboard and ability to access applications directly from lock screen and also copy and paste functionality.
- Version : 4.0.1
- Release Date : October 21, 2011
- Features :
- Fixed minor bugs for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
- Version : 4.0.2
- Release Date : November 28, 2011
- Features :
- Fixed minor bugs on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, the US launch of which was later delayed until December 2011.
~~> Android 4.0.3 Ice-cream sandwich ( API 15 )
- Version : 4.0.3
- Release Date : December 16, 2011
- Features :
- Numerous bugfixes and optimizations.
- Improvements to graphics, databases, spell-checking and Bluetooth functionality.
- New APIs for developers, including a social stream API in the Contacts provider and calendar provider enhancements
- New camera applications enhancing video stabilization and QVGA resolution and accessibility refinements such as improved content access for screen readers
- Version : 4.0.4
- Release Date : March 29, 2012
- Features :
- Stability improvements and better camera performance.
- Smoother screen rotation and improved phone number recognition.
- Stability improvements and better camera performance.
- Smoother screen rotation and improved phone number recognition.
~~> Android 4.1 Jelly Bean ( API 16 )
Google announced Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) at the Google I/O conference on June 27, 2012.Based on Linux kernel 3.0.31, Jelly Bean was an incremental update with the primary aim of improving the functionality and performance of the user interface.
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| Android 4.1 Home Screen |
- Version : 4.1
- Release Date : July 9, 2012
- Features :
- Enhanced accessibility and bi-directional text and other language support.
- User-installable keyboard maps and Expandable notifications.
- Ability to turn off notifications on an application-specific basis.
- Shortcuts and widgets can automatically be re-arranged or re-sized to allow new items to fit on home screens and bluetooth data transfer for Android Beam.
- Tablets with smaller screens now use an expanded version of the interface layout and home screen used by phones.
- Improved camera application
- Version : 4.1.1
- Release Date : July 11, 2012
- Features :
- Fixed a bug on the Nexus 7 regarding the inability to change screen orientation in any application.
- Fixed a bug on the Nexus 7 regarding the inability to change screen orientation in any application.
- Version : 4.1.2
- Release Date : October 9, 2012
- Features :
- Lock/home screen rotation support for the Nexus 7.
- One-finger gestures to expand/collapse notifications.
- Lock/home screen rotation support for the Nexus 7.
- One-finger gestures to expand/collapse notifications.
~~> Android 4.2 Jelly Bean ( API 17 )
Google was expected to announce Jelly Bean 4.2 at an event in New York City on October 29, 2012, but the event was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.
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| Android 4.2 Home Screen |
- Version : 4.2
- Release Date : November 13, 2012
- Features :
- Lock screen improvements, including widget support and the ability to swipe directly to camera and notification power controls ("Quick Settings")
- "Daydream" screensavers, showing information when idle or docked and multiple user accounts (tablets only).
- Rewritten Bluetooth stack, switching from Bluez to Broadcom open source BlueDroid, allowing improved support for multiple displays and wireless display.
- Lock screen improvements, including widget support and the ability to swipe directly to camera and notification power controls ("Quick Settings")
- "Daydream" screensavers, showing information when idle or docked and multiple user accounts (tablets only).
- Rewritten Bluetooth stack, switching from Bluez to Broadcom open source BlueDroid, allowing improved support for multiple displays and wireless display.
~~> Android 4.3 Jelly Bean ( API 18 )
Google released Jelly Bean 4.3 under the slogan "An even sweeter Jelly Bean" on July 24, 2013.
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| Android 4.3 Home Screen |
- Version : 4.3
- Release Date : July 24, 2013
- Features :
- Bluetooth low energy support and also Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) 1.3 support.
- OpenGL ES 3.0 support, allowing for improved game graphics.
- Restricted access mode for new user profiles.
- Filesystem write performance improvement by running fstrim command while device is idle and dial pad auto-complete in the Phone application.
- Volume for incoming calls (ringtone) and notification alerts is no longer adjustable separately.
~~> Android 4.4 KitKat ( API 19 )
Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat on September 3, 2013. Although initially under the "Key Lime Pie" ("KLP") codename, the name was changed because "very few people actually know the taste of a key lime pie".
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| Android 4.4 Home Screen |
- Version : 4.4
- Release Date : Octomber 31, 2013
- Features :
- Refreshed interface with white elements instead of blue.
- Clock no longer shows bold hours; all digits are thin. The H, M, and S markings for the stopwatch and timer have been removed, leaving just the numbers.
- Ability for applications to trigger translucency in the navigation and status bars and also ability for applications to use "immersive mode" to keep the navigation and status bars hidden while maintaining user interaction.
- Action overflow menu buttons are always visible, even on devices with a "Menu" key, which was officially deprecated by Android 4.0.
- Restriction for applications when accessing external storage, except for their own directories
Optimizations for performance on devices with lower specifications, including zRAM support and "low RAM" device API and wireless printing capability.
- NFC host card emulation, enabling a device to replace smart cards.
- Refreshed interface with white elements instead of blue.
- Clock no longer shows bold hours; all digits are thin. The H, M, and S markings for the stopwatch and timer have been removed, leaving just the numbers.
- Ability for applications to trigger translucency in the navigation and status bars and also ability for applications to use "immersive mode" to keep the navigation and status bars hidden while maintaining user interaction.
- Action overflow menu buttons are always visible, even on devices with a "Menu" key, which was officially deprecated by Android 4.0.
- Restriction for applications when accessing external storage, except for their own directories
Optimizations for performance on devices with lower specifications, including zRAM support and "low RAM" device API and wireless printing capability.
- NFC host card emulation, enabling a device to replace smart cards.
~~> Android 4.4W KitKat with wearable extensions ( API 20 )
On June 24, 2014, a version of Android KitKat exclusive to Android Wear devices was released.
- Version : 4.4W
- Release Date : June 25, 2014
- Features :
Initial release of Android Wear platform for smartwatches: the same as Android 4.4 "KitKat", but with wearable extensions added.
Initial release of Android Wear platform for smartwatches: the same as Android 4.4 "KitKat", but with wearable extensions added.
- Version : 4.4W.1
- Release Date : September 6, 2014
- Features :
UI updates for Google Maps navigation and alarms.
UI updates for Google Maps navigation and alarms.
~~> Android 5.0 Lollipop ( API 21 )
Android 5.0 "Lollipop" was unveiled under the codename "Android L" on June 25, 2014, during Google I/O.
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| Android 5.0 Home Screen |
- Release Date : June 25, 2014
- Features :
- Android Runtime (ART) with ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation and improved garbage collection (GC), replacing Dalvik that combines bytecode interpretation with trace-based just-in-time (JIT) compilation and support for 64-bit CPUs.
- OpenGL ES 3.1 and Android Extension Pack (AEP) on supported GPU configurations and recent activities screen with tasks instead of applications, up to a configured maximum of tasks per application.
- Vector drawables, which scale without losing definition and support for print previews.
- Material design, bringing a restyled user interface and redesigned Roboto typeface
- Refreshed lock screen, no longer supporting widgets and notification tray and quick settings pull-down.
- Android Runtime (ART) with ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation and improved garbage collection (GC), replacing Dalvik that combines bytecode interpretation with trace-based just-in-time (JIT) compilation and support for 64-bit CPUs.
- OpenGL ES 3.1 and Android Extension Pack (AEP) on supported GPU configurations and recent activities screen with tasks instead of applications, up to a configured maximum of tasks per application.
- Vector drawables, which scale without losing definition and support for print previews.
- Material design, bringing a restyled user interface and redesigned Roboto typeface
- Refreshed lock screen, no longer supporting widgets and notification tray and quick settings pull-down.
~~> Android 5.1 Lollipop ( API 22 )
- Version : 5.1
- Release Date : March 9, 2015
- Features :
- Improvements and bug-fixes to the Overview screen
- Ability to join Wi-Fi networks and control paired Bluetooth devices from quick settings and official support for multiple SIM cards
- Device protection: if a device is lost or stolen it will remain locked until the owner signs into their Google account, even if the device is reset to factory settings.
- High-definition voice calls, available between compatible 4G LTE devices running Android 5.1.
- Improvements to the notification priority system, to more closely replicate the silent mode that was removed in Android 5.0.
~~> Android 6.0 Marshmallow ( API 23 )
Android 6.0 "Marshmallow" was unveiled under the codename "Android M" during Google I/O on May 28, 2015, for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 phones, Nexus 9 tablet, and Nexus Player set-top box, under the build number MPZ44Q.
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| Android 6.0 Home Screen |
- Release Date : Octomber 5, 2015
- Features :
- Contextual search from keywords within apps.
- Introduction of Doze mode, which reduces CPU speed while the screen is off in order to save battery life.
- App Standby feature and alphabetically accessible vertical application drawer.
- Application search bar and favorites and native fingerprint reader support.
- Direct Share feature for target-specific sharing between apps and renamed "Priority" mode to "Do Not Disturb" mode.
- App Linking for faster instinctive opening of links with corresponding applications.
- Larger Application folders with multiple pages and post-install/run-time permission requests and USB Type-C support.
- Contextual search from keywords within apps.
- Introduction of Doze mode, which reduces CPU speed while the screen is off in order to save battery life.
- App Standby feature and alphabetically accessible vertical application drawer.
- Application search bar and favorites and native fingerprint reader support.
- Direct Share feature for target-specific sharing between apps and renamed "Priority" mode to "Do Not Disturb" mode.
- App Linking for faster instinctive opening of links with corresponding applications.
- Larger Application folders with multiple pages and post-install/run-time permission requests and USB Type-C support.
~~> Android 7.0 Nougat ( API 24 )
Android "Nougat" (codenamed N in-development) is the major 7.0 release of the Android operating system. It was first released as a developer preview on March 9, 2016.
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| Android 7.0 Home Screen |
- Release Date : March 9, 2016
- Features :
- Ability to display color calibration, screen zoom and switch apps by double tapping in overview button.
- Added Emergency information part and the "Clear All" button in Overview screen.
- Another system partition, which gets updated when not in use, allowing for seamless system updates.
- Daydream virtual reality platform (VR interface).
- Improved Doze functionality, which aims to prolong battery life and to file browser.
- More Quick Settings options.
- Multi-window support, which supports floating apps on a desktop layout.
- New Data Saver mode, which can force apps to reduce bandwidth usage.
- Version : 7.1
- Ability to display color calibration, screen zoom and switch apps by double tapping in overview button.
- Added Emergency information part and the "Clear All" button in Overview screen.
- Another system partition, which gets updated when not in use, allowing for seamless system updates.
- Daydream virtual reality platform (VR interface).
- Improved Doze functionality, which aims to prolong battery life and to file browser.
- More Quick Settings options.
- Multi-window support, which supports floating apps on a desktop layout.
- New Data Saver mode, which can force apps to reduce bandwidth usage.
~~> Android 7.1 Nougat ( API 25 )
On October 19, 2016, Google released Android 7.1.1 as a developer preview for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and the Pixel C. A second preview became available on November 22, 2016.
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| Android 7.1 Home Screen |
- Release Date : Octomber 4, 2016
- Features :
- Rearranged notification shade and night Light.
- Touch/display performance improvements.
- Moves (Fingerprint swipe down gesture – opt-in).
- Seamless A/B system updates and daydream VR mode.
- Rearranged notification shade and night Light.
- Touch/display performance improvements.
- Moves (Fingerprint swipe down gesture – opt-in).
- Seamless A/B system updates and daydream VR mode.
~~> Android 8.0 "O" ( API 26 )
Android "O" is the working title of an upcoming release of the Android mobile operating system. It was first released as an alpha quality developer preview on March 21, 2017.
- Version : 8.0
- Release Date : TBA
- Features : upcoming...