Android Histrory

     What is this Android actually? Android is a software cluster for mobile devices that includes an operating system OS, key applications and middleware. The Android SDK provides the tools and APIs required to begin developing applications on the Android platform using the Java programming language. About the design, Kernal of Android is based on Linux kernal and further furnished by Google. Android doesn’t have a essential X Window System nor does it support the full set of standard GNU libraries, which makes it difficult to port existing Linux applications or libraries to Android.

Android Incorporation was founded in Palo Alto, California, United States in October, 2003 by Andy Rubin : co-founder of Danger (Danger Incorporation was a company exclusively in platforms, software, design, and services for mobile computing devices), Rich Miner : co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Incorporation, Nick Sears : once VP at T-Mobile, and Chris White : headed design and interface development at Web TV. From starting Android Incorporation operated secretly, expose only that it was working on mobile software’s. On that same year, Rubin had some sort of financial problems and Steve Perlman gave him $10,000 cash in an envelope and refused a stake in Android Incorporation.

Google took over Android Incorporation in August 2005, making Android Incorporation a entire owned property of Google Incorporation main employees of Android Incorporation, including Andy Rubin, Rich Miner and Chris White, stayed at the company after the possession of Google. Not much was known about Android Incorporation at the time of the acquisition, but people conclude that Google was planning to penetrate the mobile phone market with their weapon i.e Android.

After that on 12, November 2007 Android beta SDK was released. Many of you thinking what is SDK? its a Software Development Kit which gives you platform to make new applications, games and other softwares. With proper knowledge you can make any application according to your will.
On 23 September, 2008 the first Android device is launched, that is HTC Dream G1 which operates Android 1.0,and after that android shows 1.1 update which was released for T-Mobile G1 only.
On November 5, 2007, the Open Handset Alliance, a bunch of several companies which include Broadcom Corporation, Google, HTC, Intel, LG, Marvell Technology Group, Motorola, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Texas Instruments expose themselves in front of media itself. The aim of the Open Handset Alliance is to develop open standards for mobile devices. On the same day, the Open Handset Alliance also unveiled their first product, Android, a mobile device platform which is built on the Linux kernel (version 2.6).
On 9 December, 2008 14 new members accompany, including ARM Holdings, Asustek Computer Inc, Garmin Ltd, Huawei Technologies, PacketVideo, Atheros Communications, Vodafone, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba Corp.

Version history

Android has been updated frequently since the original release of "Astro", with each fixing bugs and adding new features. Each version is named in alphabetical order, with 1.5 "Cupcake" being the first named after a dessert and every update since following this naming convention.

Recent releases

• 2.3 Gingerbread refined the user interface, improved the soft keyboard and copy/paste features, better native code support (which improves gaming performance), added SIP support (VoIP calls), and added support for Near Field Communication.
  

• 3.0 Honeycomb was a tablet-oriented release which supports larger screen devices and introduces many new user interface features, support for multi-core processors, hardware acceleration for graphics and full system encryption. The first device featuring this version, the Motorola Xoom tablet, went on sale in February 2011.
  

. 3.1 Honeycomb, released in May 2011, added support for extra input devices, USB host mode for transferring information directly from cameras and other devices, and the Google Movies and Books apps.

• 3.2 Honeycomb, released in July 2011, added optimization for a broader range of screen sizes, new "zoom-to-fill" screen compatibility mode, loading media files directly from SD card, and an extended screen support API. Huawei MediaPad is the first 7 inch tablet to use this version

• 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, announced on October 19, 2011, brought Honeycomb features to smartphones and added new features including facial recognition unlock, network data usage monitoring and control, unified social networking contacts, photography enhancements, offline email searching, app folders, and information sharing using NFC. Android 4.0.4 is the latest Android version that is available to phones. The source code of Android 4.0.1 was released on November 14, 2011.