Android has seen a number of updates since its original release. These updates to the base Operating System typically fix bugs and add new features.
1.5 (Cupcake)
Base on Linux Kernel 2.6.27
On 30 April 2009, the official 1.5 (Cupcake) update for Android was released. There are several new features and UI updates included in the 1.5 update:
* Ability to record and watch videos with the camcorder mode
* Uploading videos to YouTube and pictures to Picasa directly from the phone
* A new soft keyboard with an "Autocomplete" feature
* Bluetooth A2DP support (which in turn broke Bluetooth connectivity with many popular cars and headsets. This has still yet to be fixed as of December 2009[update])
* Ability to automatically connect to a Bluetooth headset within a certain distance
* New widgets and folders that can populate the desktop
* Animations between screens
* Expanded ability of Copy and paste to include web pages
1.6 (Donut)
Base on Linux Kernel 2.6.27
On 15 September 2009, the 1.6 (Donut) SDK was released Included in the update are:
* An improved Android Market experience.
* An integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery interface.
* Gallery now enables users to select multiple photos for deletion.
* Updated Voice Search, with faster response and deeper integration with native applications, including the ability to dial contacts.
* Updated search experience to allow searching bookmarks, history, contacts, and the web from the home screen.
* Updated Technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPN, Gestures, and a Text-to-speech engine.
* Support for WVGA resolutions.
* Speed improvements for searching, the camera.
2.0/2.1 (Eclair)
Base on Linux Kernel 2.6.29 On 26 October 2009 the 2.0 (Eclair) SDK was released.[37] Among the changes are:
* Optimized hardware speed
* Support for more screen sizes and resolutions
* Revamped UI
* New browser UI and HTML5 support
* New contact lists
* Better white/black ratio for backgrounds
* Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
* Microsoft Exchange support
* Built in flash support for Camera
* Digital Zoom
* MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events
* Improved virtual keyboard
* Bluetooth 2.1
* Live Wallpapers
On 3 December 2009 the 2.0.1 SDK was released.
On 12 January 2010 the 2.1 SDK was released. Some sources called this 'Flan' but it is actually still considered part of 'Eclair'.
Update History of Platforms
Android History
In July 2005, Google acquired Android, Inc., a small startup company based in Palo Alto, California, USA. Android's co-founders who went to work at Google included Andy Rubin (co-founder of Danger), Rich Miner (co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc.), Nick Sears (once VP at T-Mobile and Chris White (headed design and interface development at WebTV). At the time, little was known about the functions of Android, Inc. other than that they made software for mobile phones. This began rumors that Google was planning to enter the mobile phone market.[citation needed]
At Google, the team led by Rubin developed a mobile device platform powered by the Linux kernel which they marketed to handset makers and carriers on the premise of providing a flexible, upgradeable system.[citation needed] It was reported that Google had already lined up a series of hardware component and software partners and signaled to carriers that it was open to various degrees of cooperation on their part. More speculation that Google would be entering the mobile-phone market came in December 2006. Reports from the BBC and The Wall Street Journal noted that Google wanted its search and applications on mobile phones and it was working hard to deliver that. Print and online media outlets soon reported rumors that Google was developing a Google-branded handset More speculation followed reporting that as Google was defining technical specifications, it was showing prototypes to cell phone manufacturers and network operators.
In September 2007, InformationWeek covered an Evalueserve study reporting that Google had filed several patent applications in the area of mobile telephony.. Ultimately Google unveiled its smartphone Nexus One that uses the Android open source mobile operating system. The device is manufactured by Taiwan's HTC Corporation, and became available on January 5, 2010.
Android (operating system)
Android is a mobile operating system that uses a modified version of the Linux kernel. It was initially developed by Android Inc., a firm later purchased by Google, and lately by the Open Handset Alliance. It allows developers to write managed code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.
The unveiling of the Android distribution on 5 November 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 47 hardware, software, and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices.Google released most of the Android code under the Apache License, a free software and open source license.