Android

The history of versions of Android began with the launch of version 1.0 in September 2008. Android is developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance's mobile operating system. Android is a software layer that includes an operating system, middleware and applications. Android has undergone several updates since its first release. These updates are generally used to fix bugs and add new features. In general, each version developed under a name code based on desserts. These code names follow an alphabetical logic.

Alpha

Android 1.0 is the first commercial version released in September 2008 on the HTC Dream with the following characteristics:

Download and updates applications through Android Market 

Browser that supports web sites using HTML and XHTML 

Support Camera 

Support for application folders 

Access to e-mail POP3, IMAP4 etSMTP 

Synchronization of Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts with their dedicated Google Maps with Latitude and Street View to use the mapping service of Google, addresses research and applications to use the phone as a GPS 

Synchronization of contacts, calendar and mail 

Internet search with the search engine 

Instant Messaging with Google Talk 

Sending SMS and MMS 

Media player to play audio and video files 

Notifications in the status bar, the ability to customize ringtones, vibrate and LED Speech to search for a number 

Ability to customize the wallpaper 

YouTube app 

Other applications included: alarm, calculator, call menu, home screen, gallery and menu settings Support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Banana split

Launched in February 2009 for the HTC Dream, fixes some bugs and adds minor changes such as:

API Changes

Reviews and details added to Maps

Stop the screen longer period when using the loudspeaker

"Show" and "Hide" the keypad included in the call menu

Support to save MMS attachments

Cupcake 

April 30, 2009, the update to Android 1.5 (Cupcake), based on the Linux 2.6.27 kernel is published. There have been several new features and updates to the GUI in 1.5. 

Video recording in MPEG-4 and 3GP 

Support Bluetooth A2DP and AVRCP 

Adding copy / paste in browser 

Adding pictures to contacts saved as favorites 

Add the date and time in the call menu, and adding quick access to contacts from the same menu 

 Animations during a screen change 

Adding an auto-rotation 

Adding the current boot animation 

Uploading videos to YouTube and Picasa

Donut 

On 15 September 2009, the SDK for Android 1.6 (Donut), based on the Linux 2.6.29 kernel is published. The update includes: 

Updated research, allowing research to favorites, history, contacts, and Internet from the home screen 

Updated Voice Search, faster and better integration with native applications, including the ability to call contacts and support additional languages 

Native interface for the camera, camera and gallery 

Gallery: allows users to select multiple photos for deletion 

Google Navigation (GPS Free)

Eclair

On 26 October 2009, the SDK for Android 2.0 (Eclair), based on the same core that Donut is published. The update includes: 

Optimized hardware speed 

Support for more screen sizes and resolutions 

New browser interface and support for HTML5 

Improved Google Maps 3.1.2 

Support new features to the camera: flash, digital zoom, white balance, color effects and macro focus 

Bluetooth 2.1

FroYo

May 20, 2010, the SDK for Android 2.2 (Froyo), based on the 2.6.32 kernel is published. The update includes: 

General speed optimizations, memory and performance of Android OS 

Additional improvement in the speed of applications by implementing JIT31 

Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine in the browser 

Wi-Fi Hotspot and USB Tethering 

Ability to disable data access on mobile network 

Bug fixes, security updates and performance improvements

Gingerbread 

On 6 December 2010, the SDK for Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), based on the 2.6.35 kernel is published. The update includes: 

Support large screens to extra-large resolutions (WXGA and higher) 

Support for VoIP and SIP 

Support video format WebM / VP8, and AAC audio encoding 

NFC support 

Improved copy / paste function 

Support for new sensors (gyroscope and as the barometer) 

Adding a download manager 

Native support for multiple cameras (including frontal)

Honeycomb

February 22, 2011, the SDK for Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), based on the 2.6.36 kernel is published. Reserved for touch pads, this update includes numerous changes in the interface: 

Completely redesigned interface, optimized for touch pads 

Adding the system tray at the bottom of the screen that includes the time, notifications and navigation buttons 

Adding the action bar at the top of the screen that includes the search bar, access to the parameter menu and the application menu 

Hardware Acceleration Support for multi-processor heart 

Improved camera 

Improving the ability to view gallery with an album in full screen 

Ability to encrypt user data

Ice Cream Sandwich

On 19 October 2011, the SDK for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), based on the 3.0.1 kernel is published. This new unified version for smartphones and tablets brings many changes:

Native screen capture

Adding Android Beam, an application that allows the exchange of information (favorites contacts, YouTube, videos ...) NFC (if device equipped with NFC chip)

WiFi Direct

Video recording in 1080p

Improving the fluidity of the system

Fixed a bug in the battery statistics

New Power menu

Optimizing the start time

Improving the Automatic brightness, with a smoother transition

Jelly Bean

More fluid user interface

Search by voice offline

Bluetooth data transfer to Android Beam

Google Search app replaced by Google Now, an intelligent personal assistant Siri comparable to

The basic browser is replaced by Google Chrome on devices that Jelly Bean is the original pre-installed.

KitKat

September 3, 2013, Google announced that version 4.4 will be named KitKat, while many rumors announced the name of Key Lime Pie. This version was released November 4, 2013, at the same time as the Nexus 5. The 4.4.2 version was released December 9, 2013, version 4.4.3 June 2, 2014, and version 4.4.4 June 20, 2014.

Here are the new features:

Appearance of an immersive mode, which hides the notification bar during games or watching a movie, and which, unlike the other versions of them reappear by swiping from the edge of the screen.

Updating the phone application, that sets up a new design, and seeks the person calling on Google+ if it is not in contact.

Hangouts replaces the Messages app and centralizes SMS, MMS and video calls.

Appearance of Google Cloud Print, which allows you to print photos, documents or web pages remotely from a smartphone or tablet via a connected printer.

Update the E-mail application with nested folders, photos, contacts and improved navigation.

And the latest version............

Lollipop

Presented June 25, 2014 at the Google I / O 2014, there is a "preview" version of Android 5.0 intended primarily for developers.The SDK f this preview was posted by Google on the day following the announcement in order to allow developers to explore the graphical overhaul and adapt their applications to the new design and the new runtime ART (Android Runtime). The Developer Preview is available for Nexus Nexus 5 and 7 (2013), although many members of the XDA-Developers forum have managed to bring this same version to the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012) and the HTC One M8 using frameworks KitKat or the generic version of the SDK emulator (build LPV81B) in their portage. They noted that the original preview of Nexus devices (build LPV78) uses the Linux 3.4 and Android API 20 cores, just like KitKat, although it is possible to use older kernels (2.6.x).

The final version should be offered to the general public in autumn 2014 the Nexus devices and those certified Google Experience Edition initially.

Here are the new features:Complete overhaul of the user interface with a new design named Design Material

New runtime that compiles applications upon installation rather than Dalvik JIT compilation

Volta project which would reach 90 minutes of extra runtime on the Nexus 5 by reducing the refresh rate of the screen and the processor frequency when needed.