What is Android?
Android is an open source operating system (OS) mainly used
for touchscreen mobiles, tablets, etc. Its a Linux based OS first developed by
Android Inc. Android Inc., was founded by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears
and Chris White. Google funded Android Inc., and later bought it in 2005.
Android Inc’s original idea was to develop an advanced operating system for
digital cameras. But digital camera’s market was not as big as that of mobile
phones. When they realised it, they started working on an advanced OS for
smartphones and devices.
The first Android
Phone:
T-Mobile G1 (also known as HTC Dream) was the first Android
phone that was commercially released. This smartphone was manufactured by HTC. T-Mobile
G1 was released in October, 2008. It was a slider phone. Its successors are HTC
Magic and HTC Desire Z.
T-Mobile G1:
Google Play
(Previously known as Android Market):
One of the main reasons for Android’s popularity is it huge Play
(Android Market). The Android Market was released on October 23, 2008 (It was
renamed as Google Play on March 6, 2012). It has more than 800,000 apps (as of
February 2013). Users can download music, electronic versions of
books/magazines (e-Books), movies, applications, games etc. The Play Store hit 50
billion downloads in July 2013.
Other Android
devices:
Android is also used on other devices like, laptops, smart
TVs, watches, cameras, headphones, music players, gaming consoles, wearable
technology (like Google Glass, Sony Smart Watch etc). Ouya a gaming console
that runs on Android became very popular.
Google Glass worn by Sergey Brin:
Samsung Smart Watch:
Android is the most
popular mobile OS:
Operating System
|
1Q13 Shipment Volume
|
1Q13 Market Share
|
1Q12 Shipment Volume
|
1Q12 Market Share
|
Year over Year Change
|
Android
|
162.1
|
75.0%
|
90.3
|
59.1%
|
79.5%
|
iOS
|
37.4
|
17.3%
|
35.1
|
23.0%
|
6.6%
|
Windows Phone
|
7.0
|
3.2%
|
3.0
|
2.0%
|
133.3%
|
BlackBerry OS
|
6.3
|
2.9%
|
9.7
|
6.4%
|
-35.1%
|
Linux
|
2.1
|
1.0%
|
3.6
|
2.4%
|
-41.7%
|
Symbian
|
1.2
|
0.6%
|
10.4
|
6.8%
|
-88.5%
|
Others
|
0.1
|
0.0%
|
0.6
|
0.4%
|
-83.3%
|
|
Total
|
216.2
|
100.0%
|
152.7
|
100.0%
|
|
(Source: IDC)
As you can see Android is the most popular OS as of 2013.
Android Releases till
March, 2013:
Android alpha
Android beta
Android 1.0
Android 1.1
Android 1.5 Cupcake
Android 1.6 Donut
Android 2.0 Éclair
Android 2.0.1 Éclair
Android 2.1 Éclair
Android 2.2-2.2.3 Froyo
Android 2.3-2.3.2 Gingerbread
Android 2.3.3-2.3.7 Gingerbread
Android 3.0 Honeycomb
Android 3.1 Honeycomb
Android 3.2 Honeycomb
Android 4.0-4.0.2 Ice Cream Sandwich
Android 4.0.3-4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
(Note: Android Alpha
and Android Beta were pre-commercial releases)
