To date latest version Android has serial number 5 and codename Lollipop. The system has received significant updates in design, functionality, in general, it is practically a newly created product. Now there are smartphones Google Nexus 5 have started to be updated to this OS version, and soon that's it modern smartphones will receive current update. However, we will tell you about the new 5.0 separately, but I still want to start from those times when the Android project did not even belong to Google...
Android: Beginning
Many people believe that Android history began in 2008 when the first version of Android 1.0 was released. But in fact, everything started 5 years earlier, in 2003, when Andy Rubin and his friends (Nick Sears, Chris White and Rich Miner) decided to create a mobile operating system and registered the company Android Inc. The developers first focused on devices that could be constantly with users, determine location using GPS and automatically adapt to a person’s needs.
Andy Rubin, creator of Android Source: technobuffalo.com
For investors of that time, it was unlikely that anything was clear at all. Well, who wants to invest money in an incomprehensible startup that doesn’t bring in any money yet... And so it happened that by 2005 Andy and friends spent all their funds, but by a lucky coincidence Google took a closer look at them and on August 17, 2005 the corporation became a full-fledged corporation owner of small Android Inc. It is worth noting that Google at that time did not have any special plans for gadgets, but was more focused on improving its own software and search algorithms. It’s scary to say, but at that time Google did not have any Adsense or even YouTube (it was acquired only in 2007).
Google logo in 2005
In the same year, against the backdrop of legal proceedings between Oracle and Google, it was decided that Android would be a free operating system and, of course, primarily focus on the implementation of Google services. Since Andy Rubin was initially involved in a project related to GPS, and the corporation already had Maps, it was planned to introduce maps into phones. Moreover, there were no smartphones at that time, so the cards could appear on a regular folding phone with buttons. The first images also indicate that Google was looking to RIM's experience with their Blackberry, so if not for a coincidence, touch phones might not have appeared. But, unfortunately or fortunately, the iPhone came out in 2007 and Google sharply revised its strategy. However, the first build of Android 1.0 is being prepared for release in 2008. However, at the beginning of 2007, Google does not have a partner that would release a phone on the new OS. Nokia is too large a company with which there will be a conflict of interest; Motorola has not yet recovered from the rise in sales of Razr models. Google is choosing between LG and HTC. Korean LG is interested in the US market, but it is afraid of cooperation with an unknown partner and uses agreements with Google only to conclude contracts with Microsoft to create smartphones with Windows Mobile. But HTC was ready to work together, and besides, the Taiwanese company could quickly create working samples. The first known prototype was Google Sooner. Here, however, we had to abandon the touch screen; this model was created according to the original specifications, when Google relied on the experience of Blackberry.
Possibly the first Android phone prototype - Google Sooner
Sources report that the first working version dates back to May 15, 2007 and was then called M3. The operating system is very reminiscent of the Blackberry interface, with the Google search bar occupying the main position. In general, if it weren’t for the advent of the iPhone and the trend towards touch screens, perhaps we would now see Android like this.
Screenshot of Android M3, possibly the first working version OS Source: 9to5google.com
Android: official start
Google clearly understood that with the release Apple iPhone Having a touch screen is simply a necessity, and therefore early developments had to be postponed. This was facilitated by communication with operators; in the summer of 2007, their opinion about the future of Android was pessimistic. In August 2007, an article appears in the WSJ talking about Google's efforts with its phone and platform. This material mentions that the company has two prototypes - one is similar to the Palm Treo with a QWERTY keyboard under the screen, and the second is somewhat reminiscent of the Nokia version. Within the Android team there is a race against time, since all previous plans are no good and they decided to abandon them. The team changes the timing, and the M3 is released in the second half of 2007. In version M5, it appears at the beginning of 2008, a status bar appears in it, although experiments with the UI are noticeable to the naked eye. Watch the video to understand the differences between these versions.
It wasn't until August 2008 that Google developed version 0.9 to introduce OS version 1.0 in September 2008. On October 22, 2008, the T-Mobile operator in the USA begins sales of the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1), the first Android smartphone to feature touch screen and the OS is fully integrated for its use. But Google was able to rework the OS only to version 1.6, getting rid of the old ideas that were originally laid down when it was created. Perhaps it is from this moment that the rise of Android begins. Interest in the HTC Dream in the United States was enormous; the operator had sold 1 million devices by April 23, 2009. Such a demand for such an ordinary and simple device once again proved that ideas win, in this aspect it was an idea touch phones, which captured the minds of consumers.
Naturally, the very first tests on real users revealed many flaws in the platform, and already in the first year of Android’s existence, Google released the following updates: 1.1. Banana Bread, 1.5 Cupcake (video and photo uploading to YouTube and Picasa, automatic display orientation, predictive input, etc.), and 1.6 Donut (speech-to-text conversion with multilingual pronunciation, WVGA support, optimized work with gestures, etc.) .d.)
Android: second try
Android 2.0
After the improvement of the 1st version, Android has already received expanded functionality and good appearance to version 2.0, and then to 2.1 with the same code name Eclair. It became possible to use several Google accounts, and the standard web browser now supports HTML5. At the same time, new models of Android smartphones went on sale: NTS Magic and Hero, Motorola Droid and Samsung Galaxy.
At the same time, in 2010, the production of mobile processors with a clock frequency of 1 GHz began. And the first branded one appears Google smartphone Nexus One with 1 GHz processor. Of course, HTC becomes Google's partner. And processors with a similar frequency were received by HTC Desire, Motorola Droid 2 and Samsung Galaxy S. By the way, HTC will no longer make Google devices until 2014, when Nexus 9 is released. In the same 2010, Google released another version of Android, the new 2.2 Froyo, which increased the performance of applications using JIT compilation and added support for Adobe Flash. Well, all the above-mentioned smartphones with a 1 GHz processor received an update to Froyo. In addition, the assembly received updates such as the Chrome V8 JS engine for the web browser, contact transfer and support for docking stations via BlueTooth, cloud synchronization etc.
Google Nexus One and Android 2.2 Froyo
By the way, in Russia many people saw Android for the first time in this edition, since this year the demand for touch smartphones, Android is gradually becoming fashionable. Until 2010, the “green robot” was seen only by geeks, and even then, more likely on the Internet or magazines than in their own hands.
Android Gingerbread and Honeycomb
It was the third year of Android's existence on the market. It was already a popular OS, but there were still many problems. And now, update 2.3 Gingerbread appears, which until 2013 was installed on a huge number of devices. Indeed, in this version of the OS, many functions were implemented that outlined the prospects for the development of the platform as such - support for SIP telephony, Near Field Communication and Google Talk, work with screens more high resolution, a new download manager and much more.
Together with Gingerbread, Google releases its second branded smartphone - Nexus S. This time the manufacturer is Samsung, and Nexus S was, in fact, a slightly modified Galaxy S. However, Google Nexus S was released clearly too late: on the day its sales began, the company LG announced the first dual-core Smartphone Optimus 2X. Now manufacturers are measured not by gigahertz, but by multi-core. As a result, not only LG Optimus 2X, but also Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Sensation and Motorola Droid X2 received dual-core chips.
And Samsung, meanwhile, releases after Galaxy smartphone S another device - Galaxy tablet Tab. The compact and lightweight seven-inch “tablet” became a good alternative for those who did not like the bulky Apple iPad. But the problem is that Android currently only exists for smartphones. Not a problem, Google thought, and at the beginning of 2011, the first version of Android designed specifically for tablet PCs appeared - 3.0 Honeycomb. It really looked better on Honeycomb tablets than the stretched out Gingerbread smartphone interface. Thus, both smartphones and tablets are already operational based on the Android OS. The business began to expand, and rapidly. Almost all Android tablets are becoming Honeycomb carriers - Motorola Xoom, Acer Iconia Tab, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, etc.
In the same 2011, at the IFA 2011 technology exhibition in Berlin, Samsung presented its first 5-inch Glaxy Note phablet, which became a very popular device, despite the opinions of skeptics. Then it was, in fact, the first device of this class, and even on Android. It took Apple another 3 years before this; in 2014, the company released the iPhone 6 Plus phablet.
Android 4: from Ice Cream Sandwich to KitKat
Google understands that having two separate systems for smartphones and tablets is not very profitable. More time is spent on development and support. And in the fall of 2011, Google releases Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which becomes the first cross-platform version for smartphones and tablets. The build also includes access to applications directly from the lockscreen, and AndroidMarket is renamed Google Play. According to many experts, it was from version 4.0 Android started acquire familiar shapes and normal functionality. Now the devices on the “green robot” could also be simply used; they ceased to be gadgets for geeks.
Following the new operating system, Google presented new smartphone- Galaxy Nexus, which was apparently also developed in collaboration with Samsung. And again, after the release of a smartphone, component manufacturers begin to fight for hardware. Qualcomm presents powerful processors Krait, and Nvidia announces 4-core Tegra 3 chips. Well, the undisputed leader of Android smartphones in 2012 is the Samsung Galaxy S III, which joins the budget bestseller ASUS Nexus 7 based on the new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.
In 2012-2013, nothing special happened with Android after global changes with the unification of the tablet and smartphone versions. However, in 2012, Google makes 2 more branded devices - the LG Nexus 4 smartphone and the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet. In parallel with the new products, an updated build of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean was presented, which complemented previous version. Now users can fully experience the benefits of using GoogleNow, Cloud Messaging, Android Beam, triple buffering, multi-channel USB audio, etc. Then the Google Moto X smartphone and the Google Nexus 7 2nd generation tablet are presented, which were not particularly popular in our country due to the fact that Motorola left Russian market back in 2010.
In 2013, Nexus 5 appeared on the market, again as a result of cooperation with LG. And for him and other devices it comes out a new version Android 4.4 KitKat. Yes, this is the first time that the version indicator is the name of a commercial product, but let’s not talk about that. The changes affected not only the interface of individual system applications and elements. The promised transparency of the top notification bar has appeared in KitKat, along with a new sophisticated font and support for a full-screen interface from individual applications. With the release of KitKat, access to the service has become easier Google Now. Now its call is unified - you just need to swipe your finger across the screen from left to right. Previously, methods to access Google Now varied depending on the smartphone model (pressing the Home button, shaking, etc.). Additionally, the service is activated by the phrase “OK Google” when the start screen. The developers also paid attention to the Hangouts program. Now it allows you to send not only chat messages, but also SMS/MMS. Finally, we note the pedometer built into KitKat, which works even in background, as well as enhanced printer compatibility through cloud-based Google Print technology. The latter allows you to send documents for printing without any wires, first changing the paper size and specifying the required number of pages.
Android operating system from Google
History of Android development, Android updates, Android Market
Section 1. Characteristics of the operating room Android systems.
Android is portable (network) operating system for communicators, tablet computers, e-books, digital players, wristwatch, netbooks and smartbooks, based on the Linux kernel.
Android is a relatively young operating system used on a wide range of mobile devices.
Characteristics operating system Android
It was originally developed by Android Inc., which was later bought by Google. Subsequently, Google initiated the creation of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), which now supports and further development platforms. Android allows you to create Java applications that control the device through Google-developed libraries. Android Native Development Kit creates applications written in C and other languages.
75% of smartphones sold in the third quarter of 2012 were equipped with the Android operating system.
od Android control You can find both communicators (the most common class) and tablet PCs (tablets), netbooks or smartbooks. Also, manufacturers do not stop experimenting, integrating the OS into various equipment. An Android watch or TV set-top box won’t surprise anyone anymore.
The operating system was developed by Android Inc., which was then acquired by Google and transferred to OHA - Open Handset Alliance, an association dedicated to the development and implementation of open mobile standards. In addition to Google, OHA includes such giants as HTC, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Samsung, LG, T-Mobile and Nvidia.
Video:
Although the OS is based on the Linux kernel, it does not use all the capabilities of this operating system. The reason for this is the use virtual machine Dalvik, in which everything works software. But with the release of the Native Development Kit, developers have the opportunity to create native applications in C and other programming languages.
Update historyAndroid
The first version of Android was presented back in September 2008 and only for the T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) communicator. It also received an update to version 1.1, announced six months later.
The rapid development of the operating system began with the versions of Cupcake (1.5) and Donut (1.6). Version 2.0 Eclair became an intermediate version, and version 2.1 bore exactly the same name. It was under the control of the latter that some of the most popular devices were presented - Nexus One and its “brother” HTC Desire.
Then Android 2.2 Froyo was released, giving users support for HTML5 and Flash 10.1 web technologies, which allowed them to gain a significant advantage over their competitors.
Next, the company introduced Android 2.3 Gingerbread with an updated user interface, support for the NFC standard, multiple cameras and high-resolution displays.
But we see the most global changes in Android 3.0 Honeycomb, a special version for tablets. It features a completely different user interface, 3D effects, a user-friendly browser and many other improvements.
Unfortunately, Android 3.0 Honeycomb will only be available for tablets. On communicators we will only be able to see ported versions or...
At the moment, version Android 2.4 is known only from rumors. But perhaps it will become an analogue of the tablet version adapted for smartphones and communicators.
Video:
Since the release of the first version in September 2008, several system updates have occurred. These updates usually concern fixing detected errors and adding new functionality to the system. Each version of the system gets its own dessert-themed codename. Code names are assigned in alphabetical order.
By November 2012, 14 versions of the system had been released. The latest version is 4.2 Jelly Bean.
There is a community of enthusiasts developing completely open options android firmware (such as CyanogenMod, MIUI, Virtuous Quattro, VillainROM, Open Kang Project, Replicant).
Modified versions of Android (also called "firmware" or "custom firmware") are created for:
removing Google services from the Android device (for example, such as data synchronization) - to ensure localization of user data only on the Android device - eliminating the possibility of transferring identification information (IMEI, phone number, GPS coordinates, etc.) to Google servers;
more prompt and frequent (compared to the manufacturers of the devices themselves) provision of new versions of Android OS. It is not uncommon for a manufacturer to stop supporting a model that they consider outdated or unprofitable, and users who want to see new features have to turn to the work of enthusiasts, although many systemically outdated phones have the opportunity to be updated further (Nexus One is a prime example).
Video:
additions to Android firmware with new settings and functions. Such as support for FLAC Lossless Audio, the ability to store downloaded applications on a MicroSD card (for Android up to version 2.2), etc.
To flash an Android device, root access is required (this is called rooting), which gives greater control over the system and applications installed by default. For root access, unlocking the bootloader is not required (an unlocked bootloader allows you to boot two or more OSes on the device). Modified firmware allows users of older phones to use applications available only for newer releases, increases stability, speed, and often gets rid of manufacturer bugs.
All manufacturers of Android devices initially block root access (and the possibility of flashing) with hardware, motivated by the desire to protect the user from installing malware and protect the device from damage. However, due to the massive use of complex hacker techniques to bypass this protection, manufacturers were forced to meet halfway and create the ability official unlocking phones ( Sony Ericsson- Unlocking the boot loader service, HTC - Unlocking Your Bootloader service). The risk associated with possible breakdown of the phone during the unlocking process is transferred to the user, who, in the event of unlocking the bootloader, agrees to the conditions indicating the early loss of the phone's warranty. And some manufacturers went even further and did everything so that an advanced user could not only install other firmware, but also create their own (provided detailed instructions firmware replacement, software, architecture documentation software platform, code original firmware etc.) and support the development of alternative firmware (Sony Ericsson sponsors CyanogenMod). Additionally, this (a Sony Ericsson initiative) eliminates the need to use untested hacking tools for the flashing process (for example, for HTC).
In the conflict of interests of the two parties (manufacturers of the phones themselves together with Google and users) the following motivation can be traced:
manufacturers want to install “advertising” applications on phones that cannot be removed without rooting;
Video:
Google wants to collect as much information as possible about the user: not only personal data such as email addresses or website visiting history, but also information about the user’s movements (GPS coordinates or, when the GPS receiver is turned off, the location of the device based on signals cell towers) in real time, which led to legal proceedings.
Manufacturers do not strive to quickly update the operating system and after about six months they stop supporting the product, thereby forcing buyers to switch to new phone models.
On September 24, 2009, Google addressed the CyanogenMod developers with a letter demanding the removal of closed system parts and applications from the alternative firmware. source code(such as “Market”, GPS navigation, “Maps”, etc.). As a result, “closed” applications were removed from the Android version of CyanogenMod, and during the installation process of CyanogenMod, the user has the opportunity to additionally install a software package from Google or additionally install alternative versions of “closed” programs ( Alternative option"Maps", etc.), which resolved the dispute and provided the opportunity for users to be or not to be free from Google applications.
History of Android development
July - Google bought Android Inc.
September 5 - The creation of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) group of companies was officially announced, the purpose of which is to develop open standards for mobile devices. Currently, OHA unites 34 companies, including the largest mobile operators T-Mobile, mobile device manufacturers HTC, Intel, Sprint Nextel, KDDI, NTT DoCoMo, China Mobile, chip developers Broadcom, Marvell, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, SiRF, Texas Instruments, LG, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, as well as the global giant of the IT industry and one of the main ideological inspirers of the alliance, Google. Along with the introduction of OHA, an open mobile Android platform, based on the Linux kernel.
November 12 - the first version of the Android developer package “Early Look” SDK was presented and offered for download.
September 23 - Google company together with mobile operator T-Mobile and Taiwanese manufacturer HTC announced the first device based on the Android 1.0 platform - T-Mobile smartphone G1 (HTC Dream).
The first full-fledged SDK 1.0, Release 1 has been released.
January 12 - Android 2.1 released. Some sources call this version "Flan", however it is part of the "Eclair" release.
May - Android 2.2 (FroYo) released
December - Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) released
August 15 - Google reached an agreement with the board of directors of Motorola Mobility to purchase the telecommunications corporation for $12.5 billion.
The Droid and Roboto font families were created specifically for the Android platform.
The name of each version, starting from 1.5, of the Android OS is the name of a dessert. The first letters of the names in version order correspond to the letters of the Latin alphabet: 1.5 Cupcake, 1.6 Donut, 2.0/2.1 Eclair, 2.2 Froyo (short for frozen yogurt) ), 2.3 Gingerbread, 3.0 Honeycomb, 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.1/4.2 Jelly Bean, 5.0 Key Lime Pie ( "key lime pie"), Lollipop ("lollipop"), Molasses ("molasses") and Nougat ("nougat") (italics indicate future and/or unconfirmed versions).
The first two were the names of famous robots: 1.0 Astro (“Astro Boy”) and 1.1 Bender (“Futurama”), but they were changed to desserts due to copyrights.
As of February 2011, devices with Android OS confidently led the list of the most popular smartphones Great Britain, leaving behind the iPhone 4 with iOS. According to experts, this is the first step of Android OS towards global leadership in the mobile operating systems market.
Android is still not listed on official websites minimum requirements to the hardware to run the operating system (there are only hardware requirements for the Android development kit).
On the official Android website at the bottom left, if you hover over the robot, it performs different movements, and when clicked, it waves its hand.
In version Android 1.6, the developers added the Native Development Kit, which allows you to write your own low-level modules for the system in C/C++, relying on standard Linux libraries. Although, for example, the standard C library on the Android platform, known as Bionic, is not standard and is completely compatible with libc.
Video:
To access Google Play and other services from Google, you must use proprietary applications that the phone manufacturer has the right to install on the phone only after concluding a contract with Google.
Android's competitors have criticized the platform, accusing it of being overly fragmented and hampering developers. Google denied all allegations, saying that there were no such problems, but, nevertheless, released a tool to overcome the fragmentation problems.
Criticized Google solution Do not make Android 3.0 Honeycomb code publicly available, only available to members of the Open Handset Alliance or upon individual request after signing the agreement. Google motivates this by the unavailability of the platform and a measure to prevent careless implementation.
Richard Stallman stated that "it's clear and simple: with the exception of the Linux kernel, Android 3 is proprietary software" and "while Android phones today are not as bad as Apple or Windows smartphones, they cannot be said to be respect your freedom." According to Google, the closed code of Android 3.0 is a temporary measure, but even after the release of version 4, the sources of 3.0 were not open.
According to Lookout Security Mobile, in 2011 alone, about a million US dollars were stolen from Android smartphone users.
On October 21, 2008, the OHA Alliance published the source code of the Android platform. The release included the entire Android stack: the operating system, middleware, and the main end applications written in Java. The total size of the Android source code was 2.1 GB. The "preferred license" for Android source code is the Apache License 2.0. After the release of Android 3.0 Honeycomb, the president of Google's mobile division, Andy Rubin, announced that the open source code of the new version of the system would be delayed due to the fact that the system was poorly prepared to run on communicators and required significant optimizations. This decision drew criticism from analysts: for example, ZDNet columnist Christopher Dawson called Google's move disappointing. But, according to the promises made by the company, Google opened the source codes of the next version of the system - Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich - in the fall of 2011.
Android devices
The first device running Android was developed by HTC HTC smartphone Dream (officially released mobile operator T-Mobile called T-Mobile G1), the presentation of which took place on September 23, 2008. Soon followed by numerous statements from other smartphone manufacturers about their intention to release devices on Android based. With the release of the third version of Android (Honeycomb), aimed at tablets, more and more manufacturers began to announce the release of tablets on this platform. Google also, in collaboration with various giants of the mobile industry, produces its own devices in the “Google Nexus” series. These devices are the first to receive updates to new versions.
In addition to smartphones and tablets, the Android operating system is also installed on other devices. Thus, at the end of 2009, the first photo frame running on Android went on sale. In June 2011, the Italian company Blue Sky announced the release of the i’mWatch smart wristwatch running Android OS. In August 2012, Nikon introduced the world's first camera that also runs on Google's platform. The already mentioned “Google Nexus” series includes not only smartphones and tablets, but also the Nexus Q media player running on Android.
In addition, enthusiasts have ported Android to a number of well-known devices, including, for example, smartphones on Windows platform Mobile HTC Touch Dual and HTC TyTN II, on which Android was launched in emulation mode. A full porting was also carried out to devices such as Internet tablets running Maemo - Nokia N810 and Nokia N900 (a port called Nitdroid) - and to Nokia smartphones N9 running on MeeGo platform and HTC HD2 running on OS Windows system Mobile, on which Android OS can be run both from a microSD card and from internal NAND memory. Wherein installed system has full, unrestricted functionality. In addition, there is a successful experience Android installations on some Apple devices - iPhone, iPod touch and iPad using a special program called Openiboot, which is designed to run various operating systems on these devices, including Android. Pre-release firmware with limited functionality appears on devices running the Bada operating system. Koolu not only began porting Android to the Neo FreeRunner, but also built its business on selling these smartphones with Google's mobile platform pre-installed. The first official and public beta release of an Android port of Koolu's Neo FreeRunner took place in December 2008. Android has also been ported to x86 architecture.
Sources
Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia, WikiPedia
android.com – Android website
proandroid.net – Android Applications
youhtc.ru – Everything for NTS phones
Today we will begin a series of articles devoted to the history of Android development. The first part will begin with the background, with how the system originated and what it was like mobile market that time. In truth, many users were not even interested in this issue, were not interested in the development of what millions of users around the world use today. So let's finally understand what real Android is.
I would like to start from the moment when Android was not even planned yet. It was 2005. At that time, smartphones based on Symbian, Windows Mobile, and the company’s devices became widely popular on the market. Even at that time, phones were not so stupid, and they could well be called smartphones. Now, of course, for us these times seem very distant and long forgotten, but this is not so.
By the way, at the same time there was not even Twitter yet, and YouTube was considered a dubious startup, however, Vista was then among the ranks of innovative operating systems, and Apple actively denied the fact of developing the iPhone.
The most popular and innovative devices of that time were considered to be laptops, which today, unfortunately, and perhaps fortunately, are becoming victims of the development of other, more convenient means of communication.
Andy Rubin and Danger
Several years ago, before Android existed, there was a company called Danger, which was founded by former Apple engineer Andy Rubin. Andy was born in 1962 and grew up in New York (Chappaqua). He was the son of a psychologist who soon founded his own company. As a child, Rubin was interested in BBS (a way for computer users to communicate via dial-up telephone networks).
Zarko Draganic, Rubin's former colleague at Apple: "The classic Rubin approach is: You do something just for the sake of doing it, because it's cool..."
The company's main achievement was the development of the Hiptop smartphone. The device had a landscape keyboard, as well as software with which you could instantly share messages, surf the Internet and send email. In partnership with T-Mobile, Danger rebranded Hiptop as Sidekick.
The device became popular due to its unique business model, which was significantly different from other business models of the time. However, Larry Page and Sergey Brin soon noticed the company; their interest lay in the wider distribution of Google's search engine. Then, for unknown reasons, Andy Rubin was removed from his post as head of Danger, and he soon created new company. His goal was to develop a completely open platform.
Founding of Android Inc.
The Android company has not produced or released any products for two years. At this time, Rubin and a small team of software engineers were trying to create a new generation of software for smartphones, and the main parameter was open source. In general, Android became more of a logical continuation of everything that Rubin managed to achieve in Danger.
Investors quickly picked up the company's idea and began to support it, at the same time Google saw in Android what it needed. It needed a smartphone company to beat Microsoft and BlackBerry. Page and Brin wanted to see more devices on the market with Google's search engine, because even then services were of great importance, and Android, as an open source platform, was ideally suited to the requirements of Google's founders. And in July 2005, Google bought Android Inc. for 50 million dollars.
First prototypes
However, it should be understood that without hardware the software is useless. How many of you remember which Android smartphone was the very first? Your answer is probably incorrect. The very first prototype of the first Android smartphone was Sooner. The device was very similar in appearance to BlackBerry devices, as it had a full QWERTY keyboard.
The device was equipped with a display with a resolution of 320 x 240, a 1.3 megapixel camera, 64 megabytes of RAM, as well as GPRS support, a removable battery and even a slot for an SD card.
The reason for having a full keyboard and abandoning the touch display was the reluctance of consumers to switch to touchscreen smartphones. Even the iPhone was appreciated by few at first.
Graham Wheeler, director of service and products for HTC in Europe, believes that cooperation with Google was quite risky for HTC, because at that time Microsoft played a significant role in the market with its Windows Mobile, and Google at that time was not on the best terms with the latter . However, HTC decided to take a risk; the personal acquaintance of Peter Chow (CEO of HTC, who was recently removed from his position) and Andy Rubin from the days of Danger was of great importance in this. HTC saw promise in Android, because when developing the system, the emphasis was on access to the Internet, Andy wanted to give people the chance to “put” the Internet in their pockets.
“I remember my emotions then. We knew something big was at stake. Google was behind it all. I think we knew there was some potential in this - to give users an internet experience, to give people a platform and admin rights, and the freedom that we had as a manufacturer to push innovation. Google's strategy was very different from Microsoft's: Okay, we give you the platform and you can make your own changes. We want you - HTC - to make changes." - Graham
iPhone influence
There is no denying the influence of the iPhone on the development of Android, in particular, we are talking about the Sooner prototype. Yes, the iPhone was not the first fully touchscreen smartphone on the market, but Apple managed to rethink the way we use smartphones, focusing on responsiveness and touchscreen. However, then - in January 2007, when the iPhone 2G was shown - the heads of many leading companies of that time spoke unflatteringly about the new Apple product and even grinned.
Steve Ballmer, then the head of Microsoft, ridiculed the iPhone for its high price, carrier restrictions, and low data transfer speeds. BlackBerry manufacturer RIM also disdained the release of the iPhone.
However, only Google understood the seriousness of what was happening. And while everyone was ridiculing Apple’s brainchild, Google was busy working on a new smartphone. What happened to Sooner? It had to be abandoned.
“As a consumer, I was simply amazed. I wanted an iPhone immediately. However, as a Google engineer, I thought we needed to start over... We had a smartphone that looked like a phone from the 90s... And this was the case where everything seemed obvious,” - Chris De Salvo.
Andy's reaction was no less interesting:
“Yadryona Matryona! I don't think we should start shipping this phone (Sooner)."
Then it was decided to launch the touchscreen HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) on the market. However, we would like to see the Sooner as well, because the device looks very attractive to this day. Of course, the iPhone played a crucial role in the development of Android, and this is a case where healthy competition allows innovative products to come out ahead of schedule, even given the reluctance of consumers to use the product.
HTC Dream became one of the most innovative smartphones of its time. Externally, the device resembled a Sidekick. Technically, it probably won’t seem so advanced to you, but for that time it was quite enough to maintain relatively fast work systems. Dream was equipped with a single-core processor with a clock frequency of 528 MHz, 192 megabytes of RAM, and a 3.2-inch display with a resolution of 320 x 480.
The HTC Dream was sold worldwide, unlike the original G1, which was locked to T-Mobile. Google gave HTC the opportunity to sell the G1 under its own brand. HTC Dream has become an excellent Android smartphone. Why? Because Google decided to take a chance.
Based on materials from androidcentral
The legal date of birth of the platform can rightfully be considered September 23, 2008. The first version of the operating system, index 1.0, was released under the name Apple Pie. Android OS had a Linux kernel and positioned itself as an open mobile platform.
Many gadget developers could freely use the "Green Robot" - the new Android operating system. To quickly spread the system to the masses, Google founded the Open Handset Alliance. The world's major manufacturers of smartphones and their components, as well as mobile operators, are quickly joining this organization.
Three months after the presentation of Android 1.0, the world market saw the first smartphone with this OS on board. Name of this device- HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1). At the time, the device had solid specifications: 3.2-inch display, 525 MHz processor, RAM volume of 192 megabytes and a camera with a matrix resolution of 3.2 MP.
Regarding the logo, the story of its creation is quite funny. Its creator back in 2007 could not find a suitable image for a long time, having reviewed many possible options in movies, toy stores and on the Internet. As a result, the prototype was a little man from a toilet stall: simple in shape, naked and with two antennas on the headboard. This symbolizes the mobile platform itself, it should be simple and open.
During the first year of existence of the newly created platform, it was updated three times. The first update is Android 1.1, codename Banana Bread, the second is Android 1.5, codename Cupcake, and the third is Android 1.6, codename Donut. These updates brought a lot of innovations to the devices: support for higher screen resolutions, interface animation, multilingual voice search, video playback and recording, etc.
In October 2008, an online store was opened where you can purchase current applications for the Android operating system. It was called Android Market. Based on the permit for this store, 70 percent of the profits go to the developers, and the operators mobile communications get 30 percent. Sony Ericsson launched its first application channel in the online store. The number of downloaded applications already reached 1 billion in 2011. Later, all services (Android Market, Books and Music) were combined into a single Google Play. It is distributed in 190 countries around the world, with about 700 thousand different applications.
The next update to version 2.0 made the operating system attractive, giving it the appearance of candy in a store window. The next version 2.1 had its own “sweet” code name - Eclair. The update was marked by support for HTML5 and the ability to use multiple Google accounts at once. The first signs of this version: NTS Magic and NTS Hero, Motorola Droid and Samsung Galaxy.
2010 was a year of great race for gigahertz of mobile processors. At the same time, the first smartphone from Google appears, about which everyone has been whispering for so long. Google Nexus One is a smart phone with a 1 GHz processor. The supplier for the first and last time was NTS. Later, similar processors began to be used by devices from Motorola and Samsung.
In the same 2010, the “Green Robot” received the index 2.2, and the code name was Froyo. The main innovations were: support for Adobe Flash, the use of JIT compilation (it was this that contributed to increased performance), and system performance increased significantly. This update was installed on devices with a 1 GHz processor.
Next step
At the end of 2010, version Android 2.3 arrived, with the already familiar sweet code name - Gingerbread. This version occupied the first place in the market in terms of mass sales for almost three years. The main differences from the previous version: support for HD resolution, use of a new file system Ext4, the interface has become more attractive and has received a lot of new functions. Following the new platform came the flagship from Google - Nexus S.
Google developed its second branded smartphone together with Gingerbread. The partner this time was Samsung, and he Nexus smartphone The S was similar to the Galaxy S, being a modified version. Google Nexus S appeared a little late, because when it entered the market, LG had already announced its first dual-core smartphone called Optimus 2X. Later, Samsung Galaxy S II, Motorola Droid X2, and NTS Sensation acquired dual-core chips. This event did not particularly darken the fate of Samsung. After the Galaxy S smartphone, the company released a cult device. This was the now popular Galaxy Tab. The “tablet” became an alternative to the bulky “Apple” iPad, because the seven-inch tablet was lightweight and compact.
Android version 3.0
The beginning of 2011 for Android was notable in that Google developed Android 3.0 Honeycomb for tablet PCs - the first version that was designed specifically for tablets. The Gingerbread smartphone interface, slightly stretched, was clearly inferior to the new Honeycomb. The new version looked much better, although the built-in card reader only started working after it was released Android update 3.1.The most popular tablets of that time (Acer Iconia Tab, ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet , Motorola Xoom Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Sony Tablet) received the latest version of Android 3.2. It was designed to be strictly a tablet device.
Year four
Samsung made a real splash in its industry during the IFA 2011 exhibition. It designed a phablet Galaxy Note. Although the device did not become the first 5-inch smartphone, it was this manufacturer from South Korea who managed to present a form factor quite large smartphones in a favorable light. An important event at the end of 2011 is undoubtedly the merger of two versions of Android: tablet and smartphone. Both classes of devices worked perfectly on the updated version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This system won an award from PC Magazine, which noted that this platform brought a large number of improvements. Also, the OS version received first place in the 2012 User Experience Awards as the best platform.
Another significant innovation of this year's ICS was support for two processor architectures. Intel x86 and MIPS joined ARM.
During the development of Android 4.0, Google was also working on the third model of the branded smartphone. It was the Galaxy Nexus. The name speaks for itself: the manufacturer of the device was Samsung. Following this, mobile gadgets mid-price segment, flagship, began to work on Android ICS.
At the beginning of 2012, it was announced in wide circles important events. First of all, NVIDIA introduced the Tegra 3 quad-core ARM processor - the first of its kind. Secondly, Qualcomm a little later released Krait chips that are no less powerful. Two smartphones were also being prepared for release: HTS One X and Optimus 4X HD. But, nevertheless, Samsung received all the laurels of championship for the Galaxy S III smartphone.
ASUS Nexus 7 tablet
As for the tablet PC market, the leader here is ASUS Nexus 7. This $20 tablet model came out with an updated version of the operating system - Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Project Butter technology has finally allowed Google's mobile platform to get rid of slowdowns (of course, only with a powerful processor).
Year five
At the end of 2012, Google, in parallel with the release of Android 4.2, announced the release of two more branded devices: the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet and the LG Nexus 4 smartphone. The ability for users to switch between profiles became available thanks to the updated operating system. This is an important addition for tablet PCs, because they are often used by several family members in turn.
We can say that the first half of 2013 was marked by smartphones with large diagonals and ultra-high screen resolutions. Just a year ago, FullHD was the standard for 10-inch tablets. Now it is mandatory for 5-inch flagship smartphones. Well, tablets changed their usual resolution to 2560x1600 pixel matrices.
The Android mobile platform celebrated its fifth birthday. Now its fans are using the latest version 4.3 and already know the name of the next one - 4.4 Kit Kat. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that this is the first commercial name for the OS version, because all the time before, Android developers used only free names.
The previous names of the sweets were not registered trademarks. Therefore, it was not without the fact that Google had to agree with Nestle to use well-known candy bars in the OS code name.
As they say in the industry, Lemon Pie is expected to be released soon. The world will see Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Large-scale changes are planned there, first of all, optimization will be improved.
The black menu color will remain classic, but the interface itself will be updated.
Android has progressed significantly over the past five years. Today, when comparing the platform to what it was before Gingerbread, the improvements are remarkable. The beginning of the platform's development history was not so successful; convenience and stability remained in question. However, since its launch in 2008, the world of gadgets has seen more than 40 updates. Each new version acquires an increasing number of advantages and useful characteristics. And users appreciate it. In addition, it is no longer Android that borrows ideas from Apple, but rather the opposite.
Google should be proud of the fact that its OS is installed on more than 1 billion mobile devices around the world. Over the course of five years, more than 11 thousand different models of devices that run on Android have been developed. The figure is quite eloquent. "Green robots" are popular for their various form factors, price and technical characteristics.
As of today, the latest version of Android has the serial number 5 and the code name Lollipop. The system has received significant updates in design, functionality, in general, it is practically a newly created product. Google Nexus 5 smartphones have now begun to be updated to this version of the OS, and soon all modern smartphones will receive the latest update. However, we will tell you about the new 5.0 separately, but I still want to start from those times when the Android project did not even belong to Google...
Android: Beginning
Many people believe that the history of Android began in 2008 when the first version of Android 1.0 was released. But in fact, everything started 5 years earlier, in 2003, when Andy Rubin and his friends (Nick Sears, Chris White and Rich Miner) decided to create a mobile operating system and registered the company Android Inc. The developers first focused on devices that could be constantly with users, determine location using GPS and automatically adapt to a person’s needs.
Andy Rubin, creator of Android Source: technobuffalo.com
For investors of that time, it was unlikely that anything was clear at all. Well, who wants to invest money in an incomprehensible startup that doesn’t bring in any money yet... And so it happened that by 2005 Andy and friends spent all their funds, but by a lucky coincidence Google took a closer look at them and on August 17, 2005 the corporation became a full-fledged corporation owner of small Android Inc. It is worth noting that Google at that time did not have any special plans for gadgets, but was more focused on improving its own software and search algorithms. It’s scary to say, but at that time Google did not have any Adsense or even YouTube (it was acquired only in 2007).
Google logo in 2005
In the same year, against the backdrop of legal proceedings between Oracle and Google, it was decided that Android would be a free operating system and, of course, primarily focus on the implementation of Google services. Since Andy Rubin was initially involved in a project related to GPS, and the corporation already had Maps, it was planned to introduce maps into phones. Moreover, there were no smartphones at that time, so the cards could appear on a regular folding phone with buttons. The first images also indicate that Google was looking to RIM's experience with their Blackberry, so if not for a coincidence, touch phones might not have appeared. But, unfortunately or fortunately, the iPhone came out in 2007 and Google sharply revised its strategy. However, the first build of Android 1.0 is being prepared for release in 2008. However, at the beginning of 2007, Google does not have a partner that would release a phone on the new OS. Nokia is too large a company with which there will be a conflict of interest; Motorola has not yet recovered from the rise in sales of Razr models. Google is choosing between LG and HTC. Korean LG is interested in the US market, but it is afraid of cooperation with an unknown partner and uses agreements with Google only to conclude contracts with Microsoft to create smartphones with Windows Mobile. But HTC was ready to work together, and besides, the Taiwanese company could quickly create working samples. The first known prototype was Google Sooner. Here, however, we had to abandon the touch screen; this model was created according to the original specifications, when Google relied on the experience of Blackberry.
Possibly the first Android phone prototype - Google Sooner
Sources report that the first working version dates back to May 15, 2007 and was then called M3. The operating system is very reminiscent of the Blackberry interface, with the Google search bar occupying the main position. In general, if it weren’t for the advent of the iPhone and the trend towards touch screens, perhaps we would now see Android like this.
Screenshot of Android M3, possibly the first working version of the OS Source: 9to5google.com
Android: official start
Google clearly understood that with the release of the Apple iPhone, a touch screen was simply a necessity, and therefore early development had to be postponed. This was facilitated by communication with operators; in the summer of 2007, their opinion about the future of Android was pessimistic. In August 2007, an article appears in the WSJ talking about Google's efforts with its phone and platform. This material mentions that the company has two prototypes - one is similar to the Palm Treo with a QWERTY keyboard under the screen, and the second is somewhat reminiscent of the Nokia version. Within the Android team there is a race against time, since all previous plans are no good and they decided to abandon them. The team changes the timing, and the M3 is released in the second half of 2007. In version M5, it appears at the beginning of 2008, a status bar appears in it, although experiments with the UI are noticeable to the naked eye. Watch the video to understand the differences between these versions.
It wasn't until August 2008 that Google developed version 0.9 to introduce OS version 1.0 in September 2008. On October 22, 2008, the US operator T-Mobile begins selling the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1), the first Android smartphone to feature a touch screen and an OS fully integrated for its use. But Google was able to rework the OS only to version 1.6, getting rid of the old ideas that were originally laid down when it was created. Perhaps it is from this moment that the rise of Android begins. Interest in the HTC Dream in the United States was enormous; the operator had sold 1 million devices by April 23, 2009. Such a demand for such an ordinary and simple device once again proved that ideas win, in this aspect it was the idea of touch phones that captured the minds of consumers.
Naturally, the very first tests on real users revealed many flaws in the platform, and already in the first year of Android’s existence, Google released the following updates: 1.1. Banana Bread, 1.5 Cupcake (video and photo uploading to YouTube and Picasa, automatic display orientation, predictive input, etc.), and 1.6 Donut (speech-to-text conversion with multilingual pronunciation, WVGA support, optimized work with gestures, etc.) .d.)
Android: second try
Android 2.0
After improving the 1st version, Android received expanded functionality and a good appearance in version 2.0, and then in 2.1 with the same code name Eclair. It became possible to use multiple Google accounts, and the standard web browser received HTML5 support. At the same time, new models of Android smartphones went on sale: NTS Magic and Hero, Motorola Droid and Samsung Galaxy.
At the same time, in 2010, the production of mobile processors with a clock frequency of 1 GHz began. And the first branded smartphone Google Nexus One with a 1 GHz processor appears. Of course, HTC becomes Google's partner. And HTC Desire, Motorola Droid 2 and Samsung Galaxy S received processors with a similar frequency. By the way, HTC will no longer make Google devices until 2014, when the Nexus 9 comes out. In the same 2010, Google released another version of Android, the new 2.2 Froyo , in which the performance of applications using JIT compilation has increased, and support for Adobe Flash has appeared. Well, all the above-mentioned smartphones with a 1 GHz processor received an update to Froyo. In addition, the assembly received updates such as the Chrome V8 JS engine for the web browser, contact transfer and support for BlueTooth docking stations, cloud synchronization, etc.
Google Nexus One and Android 2.2 Froyo
By the way, in Russia many saw Android for the first time in this edition, since this year in our country the demand for touchscreen smartphones begins, Android is gradually becoming fashionable. Until 2010, the “green robot” was seen only by geeks, and even then, more likely on the Internet or magazines than in their own hands.
Android Gingerbread and Honeycomb
It was the third year of Android's existence on the market. It was already a popular OS, but there were still many problems. And now, update 2.3 Gingerbread appears, which until 2013 was installed on a huge number of devices. Indeed, this version of the OS implemented many functions that outlined the prospects for the development of the platform as such - support for SIP telephony, Near Field Communication and Google Talk, work with higher resolution screens, a new download manager and much more.
Together with Gingerbread, Google releases its second branded smartphone - Nexus S. This time the manufacturer is Samsung, and Nexus S was, in fact, a slightly modified Galaxy S. However, Google Nexus S was released clearly too late: on the day its sales began, the company LG announced the first dual-core smartphone Optimus 2X. Now manufacturers are measured not by gigahertz, but by multi-core. As a result, not only LG Optimus 2X, but also Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Sensation and Motorola Droid X2 received dual-core chips.
Meanwhile, Samsung is releasing another device after the Galaxy S smartphone - the Galaxy Tab tablet. The compact and lightweight seven-inch “tablet” became a good alternative for those who did not like the bulky Apple iPad. But the problem is that Android currently only exists for smartphones. Not a problem, Google thought, and at the beginning of 2011, the first version of Android designed specifically for tablet PCs appeared - 3.0 Honeycomb. It really looked better on Honeycomb tablets than the stretched out Gingerbread smartphone interface. Thus, both smartphones and tablets are already operational based on the Android OS. The business began to expand, and rapidly. Almost all Android tablets are becoming Honeycomb carriers - Motorola Xoom, Acer Iconia Tab, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, etc.
In the same 2011, at the IFA 2011 technology exhibition in Berlin, Samsung presented its first 5-inch Glaxy Note phablet, which became a very popular device, despite the opinions of skeptics. Then it was, in fact, the first device of this class, and even on Android. It took Apple another 3 years before this; in 2014, the company released the iPhone 6 Plus phablet.
Android 4: from Ice Cream Sandwich to KitKat
Google understands that having two separate systems for smartphones and tablets is not very profitable. More time is spent on development and support. And in the fall of 2011, Google releases Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which becomes the first cross-platform version for smartphones and tablets. The build also includes access to applications directly from the lockscreen, and AndroidMarket is renamed Google Play. According to many experts, it was with version 4.0 that Android began to acquire its usual shape and normal functionality. Now the devices on the “green robot” could also be simply used; they ceased to be gadgets for geeks.
Following the new operating system, Google presented a new smartphone - the Galaxy Nexus, which, apparently, was also developed in collaboration with Samsung. And again, after the release of a smartphone, component manufacturers begin to fight for hardware. Qualcomm introduces powerful Krait processors, and Nvidia announces 4-core Tegra 3 chips. Well, the undisputed leader of Android smartphones in 2012 is the Samsung Galaxy S III, which joins the budget bestseller ASUS Nexus 7 based on the new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.
In 2012-2013, nothing special happened with Android after global changes with the unification of the tablet and smartphone versions. However, in 2012, Google makes 2 more branded devices - the LG Nexus 4 smartphone and the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet. In parallel with the new products, an updated build of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean was presented, which complemented the previous version. Now users can fully experience the benefits of using GoogleNow, Cloud Messaging, Android Beam, triple buffering, multi-channel USB audio, etc. Then the Google Moto X smartphone and the 2nd generation Google Nexus 7 tablet are presented, which were not particularly popular in our country due to the fact that Motorola left the Russian market back in 2010.
In 2013, Nexus 5 appeared on the market, again as a result of cooperation with LG. And a new version of Android 4.4 KitKat is coming out for it and other devices. Yes, this is the first time that the version indicator is the name of a commercial product, but let’s not talk about that. The changes affected not only the interface of individual system applications and elements. The promised transparency of the top notification bar has appeared in KitKat, along with a new sophisticated font and support for a full-screen interface from individual applications. With the release of KitKat, access to Google service Now. Now its call is unified - you just need to swipe your finger across the screen from left to right. Previously, methods to access Google Now varied depending on the smartphone model (pressing the Home button, shaking, etc.). Additionally, the service is activated by the phrase “OK Google” when the start screen is open. The developers also paid attention to the Hangouts program. Now it allows you to send not only chat messages, but also SMS/MMS. Finally, we note the built-in pedometer in KitKat, which works even in the background, as well as expanded compatibility with printers through Google Print cloud technology. The latter allows you to send documents for printing without any wires, first changing the paper size and specifying the required number of pages.
Loading...
