What Is Android OS? History, Features, Versions, and Benefits

• Android OS, short for Android Operating System, is an open-source operating system based on the Linux kernel, developed primarily for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other wearable devices. 
• From its humble beginnings, when it was competing with Nokia’s mobile OS Symbian, the Windows Phone OS, and Blackberry OS, to its dominant position in the mobile operating system market, Android has significantly influenced how we interact with technology.
• This article explains the history and features of Android. You will also learn about the OS’ architecture, versions, pros, and cons.

What Is Android OS?

Android OS (operating system) is a powerful and versatile platform developed primarily for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other wearable devices. It is an open-source operating system based on the Linux kernel, providing a robust and flexible foundation for a wide range of applications and functionalities.

At its core, Android OS serves as the software framework that enables users to interact with their devices, access various services, and run diverse applications seamlessly. Its architecture is designed to be modular and customizable, allowing device manufacturers and developers to tailor the user experience to specific hardware configurations and user preferences.

Android, being a versatile operating system, finds applications across various devices:

• Smart TVs: Android powers smart TVs, enabling users to stream content from various sources, access apps, browse the internet, and control their TV experience using voice commands or remote controls.
• Home appliances: Android is being integrated into various home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and ovens. This integration allows users to access smart features, control settings remotely, and receive notifications about the status of their appliances.
• Healthcare devices: Android is used in various healthcare devices, including wearable fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical monitoring devices. These devices can track users’ health metrics, provide real-time feedback, and sync data with mobile apps for analysis.
• IoT (Internet of Things) devices: Android serves as a platform for IoT devices such as smart thermostats, security cameras, and connected lighting systems. Android enables these devices to communicate with each other, as well as smartphones or tablets, providing users with remote control and monitoring capabilities.
• Automotive infotainment systems: Android Auto is an Android version designed for use in cars. It provides drivers access to navigation, music, messaging, and other apps through a car’s infotainment system while minimizing distractions and promoting safe driving practices.
• Digital signage and kiosks: Android is used in digital signage solutions and interactive kiosks deployed in retail stores, airports, restaurants, and other public spaces. It allows for easy content management, remote updates, and interactive user experiences.
• Industrial and enterprise applications: Android is increasingly being adopted in industrial and enterprise environments for tasks like inventory management, logistics tracking, and field service operations. Customized Android solutions are developed to meet specific business needs and requirements.

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History of Android

The history of Android is a fascinating journey that spans several decades, characterized by innovation, collaboration, and evolution. From its humble beginnings, when it was competing with Nokia’s mobile OS Symbian, the Windows Phone OS, and Blackberry OS, to its dominant position in the mobile operating system market, Android has significantly influenced how we interact with technology.

Here’s an in-depth look at the history of Android:

1. Early origins and development (2003-2007)

The story of Android began in 2003 when Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White founded Android Inc. in Palo Alto, California. Their initial goal was to develop an advanced operating system for digital cameras. However, recognizing the potential of their project, they shifted their focus to creating an operating system for mobile devices.

2. Acquisition by Google (2005)

In 2005, Google, led by then-CEO Eric Schmidt, acquired Android Inc., laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most significant developments in the mobile industry. Google’s acquisition of Android signaled its entry into the rapidly growing smartphone market and set the stage for developing a new mobile operating system.

3. Open Handset Alliance and the launch of Android (2007)

On November 5, 2007, the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) was unveiled. It comprised several prominent technology companies, including Google, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, and others. The OHA aimed to develop open standards for mobile devices and promote innovation in the mobile industry. Shortly after, on November 5, 2007, Google announced the first beta version of the Android operating system.

4. Android 1.0 and the first Android device (2008)

The first commercial version of Android, Android 1.0, was released on September 23, 2008. The HTC Dream, also known as T-Mobile G1, was the first smartphone to run on the Android operating system. The HTC Dream featured a touchscreen interface, a physical keyboard, and access to Google services such as Gmail, Maps, and YouTube.

Since its initial release, Android has undergone significant evolution with regular updates and new versions introduced to the market, as we will discuss later. The developer preview of Android 15 has been launched in 2024.

5. Growth and dominance in the mobile market

Over the years, Android has experienced tremendous growth, rapidly becoming the world’s most popular mobile operating system. According to Statcounter, as of January 2022, Android holds over 72% of the global mobile operating system market share, far surpassing its competitors.

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Key Features of Android

Android offers a wide array of functionalities catering to both users and developers. Some of the key features of Android include:

• Open-source platform: Android is built on an open-source Linux kernel, allowing developers to access the source code, modify it, and contribute to its development. This openness fosters innovation and collaboration within the Android ecosystem.
• Customizable user interface: Android provides users with the ability to customize their device’s user interface, including wallpapers, themes, widgets, and launchers. Users can personalize their devices to suit their preferences and style. This feature sets it apart from its closest competitor, iOS.
• Multitasking: Android supports multitasking, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously, switch between them seamlessly, and perform various tasks simultaneously. Users can also use split-screen mode to view two apps side by side.
• Google Play Store: Android users can access the Google Play Store, which offers a vast catalog of apps, games, movies, music, books, and more. The Play Store provides users a centralized platform to discover, download, and install content for their devices.
• Google Assistant: Android devices come with Google Assistant, a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence. Google Assistant can perform various tasks, answer questions, provide recommendations, and control smart home devices using voice commands.
• Security features: Android incorporates various security features to protect users’ data and privacy. These features include app sandboxing, secure boot, encrypted file systems, Google Play Protect, and regular security updates from device manufacturers.
• Accessibility: Android includes a wide range of accessibility features to accommodate users with disabilities or special needs. These features include screen readers, magnification gestures, color inversion, text-to-speech, and more.
• Google Services integration: Android devices seamlessly integrate with Google services such as Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Photos, and others. This integration provides users access to a suite of productivity tools, communication services, and cloud storage options.
• Development tools and support: Android provides developers with comprehensive development tools, including Android Studio, the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. Developers can also access extensive documentation, APIs, libraries, and resources to build high-quality apps for Android devices.

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Android Architecture

The Android architecture is a layered structure that defines the components and interactions within the Android operating system. These layers are:

1. Linux kernel layer

At the core of the Android architecture lies the Linux kernel, which provides essential hardware abstraction, memory management, process management, security, and device drivers. The Linux kernel serves as the foundation upon which the Android operating system is built, offering low-level functionalities that interact directly with the underlying hardware components of the device.

Key features of the Linux kernel layer in the Android architecture include:

• Hardware abstraction: The Linux kernel abstracts hardware functionalities, allowing the upper layers of the Android stack to interact with hardware components through standardized interfaces.
• Process management: The Linux kernel manages processes and threads, allocating system resources such as CPU time, memory, and input/output operations.
• Memory management: The Linux kernel handles memory allocation, virtual memory management, and memory protection to ensure efficient utilization of system resources.
• Security mechanisms: The Linux kernel enforces security policies through access control mechanisms, permissions, and secure execution environments.
• Device drivers: The Linux kernel provides device drivers to facilitate communication between the operating system and hardware peripherals, such as display drivers, camera drivers, input/output drivers, and network drivers.

2. Hardware abstraction layer (HAL)

Above the Linux kernel layer resides the HAL, which abstracts hardware-specific functionalities and provides standardized interfaces for device drivers and hardware components. The HAL enables device manufacturers to develop drivers for specific hardware configurations while ensuring compatibility with the Android framework.

Key components of the hardware abstraction layer include:

• HAL modules: HAL modules encapsulate hardware-specific functionalities, such as camera, audio, display, sensors, and input devices, into standardized interfaces accessible to higher-level software layers.
• Interface definitions: The HAL defines standardized interfaces, known as Hardware Abstraction Interfaces (HAIs), which specify the methods and parameters for interacting with hardware components.
• Vendor-specific implementations: Device manufacturers like Samsung or Huawei provide vendor-specific implementations of HAL modules tailored to their hardware configurations, ensuring seamless integration with the Android framework.

3. Native libraries layer

The native libraries layer consists of libraries written in C and C++ programming languages that provide core system functionalities and support for native code execution within Android applications. These libraries augment the capabilities of the Java-based Android framework and enable developers to access low-level system resources and hardware features.

Key native libraries in the Android architecture include:

• libc: The C standard library provides fundamental programming utilities and functions for memory management, string manipulation, input/output operations, and system calls.
• libm: The Math library contains mathematical functions and operations, including arithmetic, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
• libz: The Zlib library implements data compression and decompression algorithms, facilitating file compression and decompression operations within Android applications.
• libjpeg/libpng: These libraries provide support for image processing and manipulation, including JPEG and PNG image format decoding and encoding.
• OpenGL/OpenGL ES: The OpenGL (for desktop) and OpenGL ES (for embedded systems) libraries enable hardware-accelerated graphics rendering and 3D rendering within Android applications.

4. Android runtime layer

The Android runtime (ART) layer is responsible for executing and managing Android applications bytecode compiled from Java or Kotlin source code. ART employs ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation to convert bytecode into native machine code, enhancing runtime performance and reducing memory overheads.

Key components of the Android Runtime layer include:

• ART compiler: The ART compiler translates bytecode into native machine code during the installation or upgrade of Android applications, improving runtime performance and efficiency.
• Dalvik virtual machine (legacy): In earlier versions of Android, the Dalvik virtual machine executed bytecode in the form of Dalvik Executable (DEX) files. Dalvik employed just-in-time (JIT) compilation to convert bytecode into native code at runtime.

5. Java API framework layer

The Java application programming interface (API) framework layer comprises a comprehensive set of libraries, APIs, and runtime environments that facilitate the development of Android applications using Java or Kotlin programming languages.

The Java API Framework exposes high-level functionalities and system services to developers, enabling them to create rich, interactive, and feature-rich applications. Key components of the Java API Framework layer include:

• Android software development kit (SDK): The Android SDK provides a collection of development tools, libraries, sample code, and documentation for building Android applications. It includes the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), Android Studio IDE, Android Emulator, and various command-line utilities.
• Core libraries: The core libraries contain essential classes and packages for application development, including data structures, utilities, I/O operations, networking, graphics, and user interface components.
• Android framework APIs: The Android framework APIs expose system-level functionalities and services, such as activity management, resource handling, content providers, intents, services, and user interface components (views, layouts, widgets).

6. Application layer

At the topmost layer of the Android architecture is the application layer, which consists of user-installed applications, system applications, and system services running on the Android platform. This layer encompasses a diverse range of applications, including productivity tools, multimedia players, games, social networking apps, communication apps, and more.

The key components of the application layer include:

• User applications: User-installed applications downloaded from the Google Play Store or third-party sources provide various functionalities and services tailored to users’ preferences and needs.
• System applications: Pre-installed system applications provided by device manufacturers or the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) offer core functionalities such as phone dialer, contacts, messaging, browser, camera, calendar, and settings.
• System services: Background services and daemons running on the Android platform provide essential system-level functionalities, including telephony services, network connectivity, location services, media playback, notification handling, and power management.

Each of these layers plays a distinct role in the operation and functionality of the Android operating system, providing developers with a robust framework for building diverse and innovative applications.

Understanding the intricacies of the Android architecture is essential for developers, system designers, and system administrators to leverage the full potential of the Android platform and deliver compelling user experiences across a wide range of devices and form factors.

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Android Versions

Android has evolved through various versions since its inception. Each version brings new features, enhancements, and optimizations to the platform. Here is a list of the major Android versions released to date:

• Android 1.0 (Astro): The initial version of Android was released on September 23, 2008. It introduced basic functionalities such as web browsing, camera support, and access to Google services like Gmail and Google Maps.
• Android 1.1 (Bender): Released on February 9, 2009, Android 1.1 included minor updates and bug fixes to improve system stability and performance.
• Android 1.5 (Cupcake): Introduced on April 27, 2009, Android 1.5 brought significant improvements, such as an on-screen keyboard, support for third-party widgets, and video recording capabilities.
• Android 1.6 (Donut): Released on September 15, 2009, Android 1.6 featured updates to the user interface, improved search functionality, and support for CDMA networks.
• Android 2.0/2.1 (Eclair): Android 2.0 and 2.1, known collectively as Eclair, were released on October 26, 2009. Eclair introduced features such as multiple account support, Bluetooth 2.1, and an updated web browser.
• Android 2.2 (Froyo): Released on May 20, 2010, Android 2.2 (Froyo) introduced significant performance improvements, support for Adobe Flash Player, and the ability to install apps on external storage.
• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread): Introduced on December 6, 2010, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) focused on refining the user interface, improving gaming performance, and adding support for near field communication (NFC).
• Android 3.0/3.1/3.2 (Honeycomb): Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) was released on February 22, 2011, and was specifically designed for tablets. It featured a redesigned user interface, support for multicore processors, and improved multitasking capabilities.
• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich): Released on October 18, 2011, Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) merged the tablet and smartphone versions of Android. It introduced features such as a new user interface, enhanced multitasking, and support for facial recognition.
• Android 4.1/4.2/4.3 (Jelly Bean): Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) was released on July 9, 2012, followed by subsequent updates 4.2 and 4.3. Jelly Bean introduced features such as improved performance, enhanced notifications, and support for multiple user accounts on tablets.
• Android 4.4 (KitKat): Released on October 31, 2013, Android 4.4 (KitKat) focused on optimizing the operating system for low-end devices. It introduced features such as improved memory management, a new dialer app, and support for cloud printing.
• Android 5.0/5.1 (Lollipop): Android 5.0 (Lollipop) was released on November 12, 2014, followed by updates to 5.1. Lollipop introduced the Material Design language, improved performance, enhanced security features, and support for 64-bit processors.
• Android 6.0 (Marshmallow): Released on October 5, 2015, Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) introduced features such as app permissions, Google Now on Tap, and a new battery-saving feature called Doze.
• Android 7.0/7.1 (Nougat): Android 7.0 (Nougat) was released on August 22, 2016, followed by updates to 7.1. Nougat introduced features such as split-screen multitasking, enhanced notifications, and support for Daydream VR.
• Android 8.0/8.1 (Oreo): Android 8.0 (Oreo) was released on August 21, 2017, followed by updates to 8.1. Oreo introduced features, such as picture-in-picture mode, notification dots, and improved battery life, through background app limitations.
• Android 9 (Pie): Released on August 6, 2018, Android 9 (Pie) introduced features such as gesture-based navigation, adaptive battery, and digital wellbeing tools to help users monitor their smartphone usage.
• Android 10: Released on September 3, 2019, Android 10 introduced features such as a system-wide dark mode, improved privacy controls, and support for foldable smartphones.
• Android 11: Released on September 8, 2020, Android 11 focused on enhancing communication, privacy, and control with features like chat bubbles, one-time permissions, and improved media controls.
• Android 12: Released on October 4, 2021, Android 12 introduced a major visual overhaul with Material You design language, enhanced privacy features, and performance improvements.
• Android 13: Android 13 focused on user privacy with features like a photo picker and notification permission settings. Building on Android 12’s tablet optimizations, Android 13 enhances system UI, multitasking, and compatibility modes.
• Android 14: Released on October 4, 2023, Android 14 enhances accessibility with features like 200% font scaling and customizable lock screens. Additionally, it introduces support for lossless audio formats and an improved magnifier for low-vision users.
• Android 15: It is the upcoming iteration of the Android operating system, slated for release in early 2025. It introduces advanced encryption features for secure data storage and transmission, among other features.

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Pros and Cons of Android

Android offers a range of advantages and disadvantages that users and developers should consider. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of Android:

Pros of Android

The key advantages of Android are as follows:

• Open source: Android is built on an open-source platform, allowing developers to customize and modify the operating system according to their needs. This fosters innovation and flexibility within the Android ecosystem.
• Customization: Android offers extensive customization options for users, including personalized home screens, themes, widgets, and third-party launchers. Users can tailor their Android devices to match their preferences and style.
• Diverse hardware options: Android is available on a wide range of devices manufactured by various companies, offering users a diverse selection of smartphones, tablets, and other devices with different specifications, features, and price points.
• App ecosystem: The Google Play Store, Android’s official app marketplace, offers a vast catalog of apps, games, utilities, and entertainment content. With millions of apps available for download, users can find applications for almost any purpose or interest.
• Affordability: Android devices are available at a wide range of price points, including budget-friendly options, making them accessible to users with different budgets and preferences.

Cons of Android

The disadvantages of Android include:

• Fragmentation: Android fragmentation refers to the diversity of devices running different Android operating system versions and customized user interfaces (UIs) by manufacturers. This can lead to compatibility issues, inconsistent user experiences, and delays in software updates.
• Bloatware and pre-installed apps: Some Android devices come pre-installed with bloatware, unnecessary apps, and manufacturer-specific software that cannot be easily removed. This can consume storage space, affect performance, and clutter the user interface.
• Lack of timely updates: Android devices may not receive timely software updates, especially for older or lower-end devices. This can leave devices vulnerable to security threats and limit access to new features and improvements introduced in newer Android versions.

See More: Microsoft and Google Scale Up Interoperability Between Windows 11 and Android 13

Takeaway

Android OS is poised to continue its dominance in the mobile market, expanding beyond smartphones to power diverse devices like tablets, wearables, and IoT gadgets. For enterprises, Android offers unparalleled versatility and integration capabilities, enabling seamless workflow management, secure data handling, and robust app development.

Its open-source nature fosters innovation, while its widespread adoption ensures compatibility and support across a spectrum of devices. With security and enterprise feature advancements, Android remains indispensable, empowering businesses to adapt, collaborate, and thrive in an increasingly mobile-centric world.

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