Table of Contents

Introduction

The most popular mobile OS in the world is Android developed by Google. Android launched in 2008 and has since expanded to billions of devices worldwide across phones, tablets, watches, TV (assuming you don't include forked versions such as the Amazon Fire). In this article, we will go through an overview of Android OS along with brief history, features and architecture as well their evolution in the day-to-day mobile technology landscape.

History and Evolution

Who owned Android before Google

2003 is when the journey for Android was initiated with Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White founding a company called Android Inc. Google bought Android Inc. in 2005, which paved the way for the rapid development of the Android OS.

Android 1.0-2.0 (2008-09)

In late 2008, the first Android device debuted as the HTC Dream and one year later in the US only: The T-Mobile G1. First few versions like Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6) and Éclair 2.0 brought features such as on-screen keyboards, voice search, turn-by-turn navigation, etc.

Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3)

Both Froyo & Gingerbread had better performance improvements with the native support for front-facing cameras. New features like NFC were introduced at this time period only, although they were not usable until years later. Agencies knew they could actually operate on non-special devices supported by every "smartphone" that everybody would use today - things we did not see happening because most companies never allowed it before shipping.

Version History: Android 3.0 to 4.0 (2011-2012)

Fragmentation was countered by laying out Honeycomb for tablets and unifying smartphone and tablet UI with Ice Cream Sandwich.

Android 4.1 to Android 4.3 (2012-2013)

Jelly Bean introduced Project Butter for smoother UI and Google Now, a solid entry from the company into another field of Artificial Intelligence. A new version of KitKat (4.4) also emerged.

Lollipop (5.0) (2014-15)

Android 5.0 Lollipop (mobiles) introduced Material Design and support for trailers notifications in the system bar.

Android 6.0-7.0 (2015-16)

Marshmallow brought in Doze Mode to save battery, and Nougat added Multi-Window support.

Android 8.0-9.0 (2017-18)

Oreo (8.0) improved boot speed and security, while Pie (9.0) introduced new features.

Android 10 to Android 11 (2019-2020)

Android introduced a system-wide dark mode, improved privacy features, and dropped dessert names. Seamless updates and chat bubbles were added with Android 11.

Android 12 (2021-2022) - 13

Material You was added in Android 12, with support for dynamic theming. Builds of Android 13 improved upon user customization and security features.

Features of Android OS

User Interface

Material Design

This was launched with Android Lollipop, creating a GUI that is clean and attractive. We decorated the adjacent walls with shadows, bold colors, and interactive transitions to make this UI easy to use.

Widgets

Android sees the home screen as an interactive ecosystem; thus, you have speedy quick access to information and functionality through these widgets.

Multi-Window

Introduced with Nougat, it permits users to operate two apps at a time, thereby simplifying multitasking flow.

Customization

Home Screens

Users can personalize their home screens with widgets, app shortcuts, and wallpapers.

Launchers

Launchers give you more control over how your home screens and app drawer look.

Personalized Themes

Material You makes it possible to create your own personal theme from the wallpaper you are using on your phone (coming with Android 12).

Notifications

Notification Shade

Notification shade can be pulled down for notifications & settings access.

Interactive Notifications

Users can now reply to messages directly from notifications.

Notification Channels

First introduced in Oreo, it enables users to manage notification settings for various app sections.

Connectivity

5G Support

Android supports 5G connectivity for faster internet speed and better performance on mobile networks.

Bluetooth and WiFi

Android has great support for Bluetooth and WiFi, including the ability to use features such as BTLE or WiFi Direct.

NFC (Near Field Communication)

NFC allows for data exchange with other devices and contactless payments through your phone.

Security

Google Play Protect

This is a service that scans all applications for malware to ensure your device is secure.

Biometric Authentication

Android offers built-in fingerprint and facial recognition support for secure device access.

Encryption

Android offers device and file-level encryption to secure user data.

Voice and Assistant

Google Assistant

Google Assistant is an integral part of Android, providing voice-controlled assistance.

Automatic Voice Typing

Push the mic to automatically activate voice typing for any text field.

Android Architecture

Architecture Overview

Android has a modular architecture that provides different layers for developing an application.

Linux Kernel

At the core of Android is the Linux kernel, unlike Windows and Mac OS X, which are built around UNIX kernels.

Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)

HAL is a standard interface for hardware vendors that allows higher-level system components to communicate with underlying device drivers.

ART (Android Runtime)

ART interprets applications and manages memory, providing better performance due to JIT and AOT compilation.

Native C/C++ Libraries

These libraries include System C library (libc) and other components for graphics handling through OpenGL or Media Codec.

Java API Framework

The framework delivers tools to developers for creating apps, including Views, Resource Manager, Notification Manager, and Content Providers.

System Apps

These are default apps that come pre-installed with the Android system and offer basic services like the phone dialer, email client, and web browser.

The Android Ecosystem

Devices

Smartphones and Tablets

The basic hardware that runs Android includes devices from manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, or Google.

Wearables

Running Android Wear (now Wear OS), these devices provide fitness tracking, notifications, and app integration.

Android TV

Android TV is an OS for TVs and Set-Top Boxes, enabling media streaming services and a version of the Google Play store managed by Google.

Automotive

Android Auto and Android Automotive offer in-car navigation, entertainment, and communication features.

Applications

Google Play Store

The official app store for Android provides over a million apps and games, millions of books, and thousands of movies.

Alternative App Stores

Amazon and Huawei offer different options for apps.

Custom ROMs

Custom ROMs, such as LineageOS, allow users to change the software available on their device.

Android Development

Tools and Languages

Android Studio

The one-stop-shop for editing and building Android apps, all controlled from inside the IDE.

Kotlin vs Java

Kotlin and Java are the two main programming languages for Android development. Kotlin's short syntax and modern improvements make it the language of choice.

XML

Used for UI design and defining resources.

Development Process

UI Design

The Layout Editor in Android Studio allows developers to make intuitive and responsive user interfaces using XML or a WYSIWYG editor.

Coding

With Kotlin or Java, developers define the application logic and couple it with the UI.

Testing

Extensive testing is essential. Android Studio provides an Emulator and testing tools.

Publishing

Developers upload their apps to the Google Play Store and comply with quality standards and best practices.

The Impact of Android

Android has had a profound impact on the mobile industry and beyond. With a 70% market share, its open-source support and high rate of adoption among manufacturers have made it a dominant force in the smartphone market.

Open Ecosystem

Android is an open-source platform offering unprecedented opportunities for developers and manufacturers to build innovative applications.

Accessibility

Android powers phones from all major vendors worldwide and is customizable to address the digital divide with smartphones.

Fragmentation

As an open system, Android's customizability has led to fragmentation, making it challenging for Google to control every aspect of its OS.

Conclusion

Android OS has transformed the world of mobile technology through its flexibility, customization, and extensive ecosystem. From its humble origins, Android has grown significantly and remains a leader among mobile operating platforms. As technology continues to evolve, Android is poised to stay in the spotlight with a bright and promising future.