What an extended, unusual journey it has been.From its inaugural launch to right this moment, Android has reworked visually, conceptually and functionally — time and time once more. Google’s cellular working system could have began out scrappy, however holy moly, has it ever advanced.Here’s a fast-paced tour of Android model highlights from the platform’s start to current. (Feel free to skip forward in the event you simply need to see what’s new in Android 11.)Android variations 1.0 to 1.1: The early daysAndroid made its official public debut in 2008 with Android 1.0 — a launch so historical it did not actually have a cute codename.Things have been fairly fundamental again then, however the software program did embrace a set of early Google apps like Gmail, Maps, Calendar, and YouTube, all of which have been built-in into the working system — a stark distinction to the extra simply updatable standalone-app mannequin employed right this moment.T-Mobile
The Android 1.0 house display screen and its rudimentary internet browser (not but known as Chrome).
Android model 1.5: CupcakeWith early 2009’s Android 1.5 Cupcake launch, the custom of Android model names was born. Cupcake launched quite a few refinements to the Android interface, together with the primary on-screen keyboard — one thing that’d be mandatory as telephones moved away from the once-ubiquitous bodily keyboard mannequin.Cupcake additionally introduced in regards to the framework for third-party app widgets, which might shortly flip into considered one of Android’s most distinguishing parts, and it supplied the platform’s first-ever choice for video recording.Android Police (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cupcake was all in regards to the widgets.
Android model 1.6: DonutAndroid 1.6, Donut, rolled into the world within the fall of 2009. Donut stuffed in some essential holes in Android’s middle, together with the flexibility for the OS to function on quite a lot of completely different display screen sizes and resolutions — an element that’d be important within the years to return. It additionally added assist for CDMA networks like Verizon, which might play a key function in Android’s imminent explosion.Google
Android’s common search field made its first look in Android 1.6.
Android variations 2.0 to 2.1: EclairMaintaining the breakneck launch tempo of Android’s early years, Android 2.0 Eclair, emerged simply six weeks after Donut; its “point-one” replace, additionally known as Eclair, got here out a pair months later. Eclair was the primary Android launch to enter mainstream consciousness due to the unique Motorola Droid cellphone and the huge Verizon-led advertising and marketing marketing campaign surrounding it.
Verizon’s “iDon’t” advert for the Droid.
The launch’s most transformative aspect was the addition of voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation and real-time visitors information — one thing beforehand unprecedented (and nonetheless basically unmatched) within the smartphone world. Navigation apart, Eclair introduced stay wallpapers to Android in addition to the platform’s first speech-to-text operate. And it made waves for injecting the once-iOS-exclusive pinch-to-zoom functionality into Android — a transfer typically seen because the spark that ignited Apple’s long-lasting “thermonuclear war” towards Google.Google
The first variations of turn-by-turn navigation and speech-to-text, in Eclair.
Android model 2.2: FroyoSimply 4 months after Android 2.1 arrived, Google served up Android 2.2, Froyo, which revolved largely round under-the-hood efficiency enhancements.Froyo did ship some essential front-facing options, although, together with the addition of the now-standard dock on the backside of the house display screen in addition to the primary incarnation of Voice Actions, which allowed you to carry out fundamental features like getting instructions and making notes by tapping an icon after which talking a command.Google
Google’s first actual try at voice management, in Froyo.
Notably, Froyo additionally introduced assist for Flash to Android’s internet browser — an choice that was vital each due to the widespread use of Flash on the time and due to Apple’s adamant stance towards supporting it by itself cellular gadgets. Apple would finally win, in fact, and Flash would grow to be far much less frequent. But again when it was nonetheless in all places, with the ability to entry the total internet with none black holes was a real benefit solely Android may supply.Android model 2.3: GingerbreadAndroid’s first true visible identification began coming into focus with 2010’s Gingerbread launch. Bright inexperienced had lengthy been the colour of Android’s robotic mascot, and with Gingerbread, it grew to become an integral a part of the working system’s look. Black and inexperienced seeped everywhere in the UI as Android began its sluggish march towards distinctive design.JR Raphael / IDG
It was simple being inexperienced again within the Gingerbread days.
Android 3.0 to 3.2: Honeycomb2011’s Honeycomb interval was a bizarre time for Android. Android 3.0 got here into the world as a tablet-only launch to accompany the launch of the Motorola Xoom, and thru the next 3.1 and 3.2 updates, it remained a tablet-exclusive (and closed-source) entity.Under the steering of newly arrived design chief Matias Duarte, Honeycomb launched a dramatically reimagined UI for Android. It had a space-like “holographic” design that traded the platform’s trademark inexperienced for blue and positioned an emphasis on benefiting from a pill’s display screen house.JR Raphael / IDG
Honeycomb: When Android received a case of the holographic blues.
While the idea of a tablet-specific interface did not final lengthy, a lot of Honeycomb’s concepts laid the groundwork for the Android we all know right this moment. The software program was the primary to make use of on-screen buttons for Android’s important navigational instructions; it marked the start of the tip for the everlasting overflow-menu button; and it launched the idea of a card-like UI with its tackle the Recent Apps record.Android model 4.0: Ice Cream SandwichWith Honeycomb performing because the bridge from outdated to new, Ice Cream Sandwich — additionally launched in 2011 — served because the platform’s official entry into the period of contemporary design. The launch refined the visible ideas launched with Honeycomb and reunited tablets and telephones with a single, unified UI imaginative and prescient.ICS dropped a lot of Honeycomb’s “holographic” look however stored its use of blue as a system-wide spotlight. And it carried over core system parts like on-screen buttons and a card-like look for app-switching.JR Raphael / IDG
The ICS house display screen and app-switching interface.
Android 4.0 additionally made swiping a extra integral technique of getting across the working system, with the then-revolutionary-feeling potential to swipe away issues like notifications and up to date apps. And it began the sluggish technique of bringing a standardized design framework — referred to as “Holo” — all all through the OS and into Android’s app ecosystem.Android variations 4.1 to 4.3: Jelly BeanUnfold throughout three impactful Android variations, 2012 and 2013’s Jelly Bean releases took ICS’s contemporary basis and made significant strides in fine-tuning and constructing upon it. The releases added loads of poise and polish into the working system and went a good distance in making Android extra inviting for the common consumer.Visuals apart, Jelly Bean caused our first style of Google Now — the spectacular predictive-intelligence utility that is sadly since devolved right into a glorified information feed. It gave us expandable and interactive notifications, an expanded voice search system, and a extra superior system for displaying search outcomes typically, with a give attention to card-based outcomes that tried to reply questions straight.Multiuser assist additionally got here into play, albeit on tablets solely at this level, and an early model of Android’s Quick Settings panel made its first look. Jelly Bean ushered in a closely hyped system for putting widgets in your lock display screen, too — one which, like so many Android options through the years, quietly disappeared a pair years later.JR Raphael / IDG
Jelly Bean’s Quick Settings panel and short-lived lock display screen widget characteristic.
Android model 4.4: KitKatLate-2013’s KitKat launch marked the tip of Android’s darkish period, because the blacks of Gingerbread and the blues of Honeycomb lastly made their means out of the working system. Lighter backgrounds and extra impartial highlights took their locations, with a clear standing bar and white icons giving the OS a extra up to date look.Android 4.4 additionally noticed the primary model of “OK, Google” assist — however in KitKat, the hands-free activation immediate labored solely when your display screen was already on and also you have been both at your house display screen or contained in the Google app.The launch was Google’s first foray into claiming a full panel of the house display screen for its providers, too — a minimum of, for customers of its personal Nexus telephones and people who selected to obtain its first-ever standalone launcher.JR Raphael / IDG
The lightened KitKat house display screen and its devoted Google Now panel.