If you’ve currently got a smartphone in your pocket, chances are the device is running Google’s Android mobile operating system. If that isn’t the case, it’s safe to assume it will be eventually. Android users are more than aware of how incredibly capable their devices are, but few know the project’s evolution that turned a once lifeless software in to the mobile phone giant it is today.
Android OS
Join GizmoDigit in a crash course history lesson on Google’s beloved mobile phone OS:
July 2005 – Google purchases 22 month-old Android, Inc., a small Palo Alto, California-based startup development company.
November 2007 – The Open Handset Alliance (OHA) was founded to introduce open standards for mobile devices, introducing “Android” as their first project, an OS built off of the 2.6 Linux kernel.
September 2008 – Android 1.0 is released as the world’s first open-source mobile operating system.
October 2008 – HTC releases the HTC Dream/G1 for T-Mobile, the first Android device
April 2009 – Android 1.5 (Cupcake) is made available, being the first major handset release…includes many UI improvements, adds video recording and YouTube uploading functionality.
July 2009 – T-Mobile releases the MyTouch 3G, the first device shipped with 1.5
September 2009 - Android 1.6 (Donut) is released, introducing Google Maps’ turn-by-turn navigation.
October 2009 – The HTC Hero is released on Sprint, being the first Android phone capable of operating on CDMA networks.
October 2009 – Motorola releases their hyped-up Droid, the first Android device for Verizon and the first device to offer Android 2.0
January 2010 - Google’s HTC Nexus One becomes available, the first to see Android 2.1
March 2010 – Motorola releases their first AT&T Android phone, the Backflip.
June 2010 - The HTC Evo is made available on the Sprint network, becoming the first 4G phone available in the United States.
July 2010 - The Motorola i1 is released on the Boost network, making it the first prepaid Android device.
August 2010 – Motorola releases the Droid 2, the first device with Android 2.2.
October 2010 – HTC releases an upgrade to their flagship G1 phone, the G2.
October 2010 - Android 2.0 (Eclair) is released, offering a revamped user interface and the live wallpaper feature.
May 20th, 2010 – Google releases Android 2.2 (Froyo) which adds support for high resolution displays, USB tethering/WIFI hotspot and Adobe Flash 10.1.
February 2011 - Google’s tablet-only Android 3.0 HoneyComb is released.
February 2011 - Motorola release it’s Xoom tablet, the first device to feature Android 3.0.
January 2011 - LG releases it’s Optimus 2X, becoming the first smartphone to feature a dual-core processor.
April 2011 - Kyocera releases the first dual-screen Android phone, the Echo,
April 2011 - Samsung releases the Sidekick 4G, an Android-based recreation of the popular Sidekick.
Android has grown from a feature-deprived startup software to the much-desired operating system we know today. With the huge leaps of improvement the project has seen in the past few years it’s anybody’s guess what we’ll be seeing from the company in 5-10 years.
Related posts:
- Google Faces Lawsuit Over Android OS Location Tracking
- Review: HTC Droid Incredible 2 For Verizon Wireless
- Google Blocking Tethering Apps On Android Market For AT&T, Verizon And T-Mobile Customers
- Verizon Samsung DROID Charge Android Smartphone Review, Features, Spec And Price
- 5 Cheap Android Phones That Won’t Break Your Budget In 2011
Article by Nicholas McMillen
Nicholas has written 95 articles .
If you like This post, you can follow Gizmo Digit on Twitter.
Subscribe to Gizmo Digit feed via RSS or EMAIL to receive instant updates.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You should re-check a few of your dates, a few are out of order.
Thanks Alex for point out mistakes, we corrected some information if we still missing something do inform us!