Android: Difference between revisions

|title=Android Biography – History, Features & Growth

|description=Explore Android OS – the world’s most popular mobile operating system developed by Google. Learn its versions, features, and open-source foundation.

|keywords=Android Biography, Android OS, Google Android, Android versions, mobile operating system, open source Android, Android smartphones

|og:title=Android Operating System – Google’s Mobile Powerhouse

|og:description=Android OS powers billions of smartphones. Learn its journey from Android Inc. to Google’s open-source giant.

|og:image=https://knowlepedia.org/images/android-os.jpg

|twitter:card=summary_large_image

| name            = Android {{Verified}}

| developer      = [[Google]]

| initial_release = September 23, 2008

| operating_system= Android OS

| website         = https://www.android.com/

}}'''Android''' is a '''mobile operating system''' developed by [[Google]], initially developed by '''Android Inc.''' and based on the '''Linux kernel'''. It is designed primarily for touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets, although it also powers wearables, televisions, in-car systems, and laptops. Android has evolved into the most widely used mobile OS in the world, with billions of active devices globally.<ref>https://www.android.com/</ref>

Android Inc. was founded in October 2003 by '''Andy Rubin''', '''Rich Miner''', '''Nick Sears''', and '''Chris White'''. Originally, it aimed to create an advanced operating system for digital cameras. However, the focus later shifted to smartphones to rival systems like Symbian and Windows Mobile. Google acquired Android Inc. in 2005 for an estimated $50 million, marking a strategic entry into the mobile ecosystem.

 

• Android 1.5 Cupcake – Introduced the on-screen keyboard

 

• Android 2.2 Froyo – USB tethering, Wi-Fi hotspot

 

• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – Holo UI, facial unlock

 

• Android 5.0 Lollipop – Material Design

 

• Android 6.0 Marshmallow – App permissions, Doze mode

 

• Android 10 – System-wide dark theme, no more dessert names

 

• Android 14 – Enhanced privacy and security features (latest)<ref>https://developer.android.com/about/versions</ref>

 

• Smartphones (e.g., Pixel, Galaxy)

 

• Tablets (e.g., Galaxy Tab)

 

• Smartwatches (Wear OS)

 

• Smart TVs (Android TV, Google TV)

 

• Cars (Android Auto)

 

• IoT Devices (Android Things)

• '''Linux Kernel''': Provides hardware abstraction, memory management, power management, and security.

 

• '''Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)''': Acts as an interface between hardware and the higher layers.

 

• '''Android Runtime (ART)''': Executes apps using ahead-of-time compilation.

 

• '''Native C/C++ Libraries''': Include WebKit, SQLite, SSL, etc.

 

• '''Application Framework''': Offers APIs for app development (location, notifications, activity lifecycle).

 

• '''Apps''': User-facing applications written in Java/Kotlin using the Android SDK.

 

• '''Android Studio''': The official IDE

 

• '''Languages''': Java, Kotlin (official), C++ (via NDK)

 

• '''Build System''': Gradle

 

• '''Emulator''': For testing across different devices and versions

 

• '''Jetpack Libraries''': Architecture components, navigation, lifecycle-aware programming

• Samsung

• Xiaomi

 

• Oppo

 

• Vivo

 

• Realme

 

• Motorola

 

• Sony

 

• HMD Global (Nokia)

 

• Asus

As of 2025, Android holds over '''70%''' of the global smartphone OS market share. It dominates emerging markets and is used by a wide demographic across price points, from budget to flagship devices.

 

• Fragmentation – Different versions across devices

 

• Privacy Concerns – Data sharing with Google

 

• Malware – Due to open APK installs

 

• Slow Updates – OEMs delay security/OS patches

 

• '''Foldables and large screen devices'''

 

• '''AI and on-device ML'''

 

• '''Seamless updates and virtualization'''

• [[iOS]]

 

• [[Google Play]]

 

• Wear OS

 

• Fuchsia (operating system)