Android
| Distribution of Linux | |
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| Latest version | Android 15 |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 23 September 2008 |
Android is an operating system based on Linux produced by Google that targets smart, portable and/or embedded devices such as phones, tablets, smartwatches, televisions, cars and other embedded systems. Android was originally developed by a company called Android Inc. Google later acquired the company in July 2005 and then made the Android SDK available in November 2007. One year later, the first version of Android was released in September 2008.
From Android 1.5 until Android 10, every major Android version had a name based on different desserts in alphabetical order. Since Android 10 to 12L, the version number is used instead in official releases, while the dessert names only remain for internal codenames. Starting from Android 13, the dessert name is mentioned in the public SDK and shown in developer previews and early beta versions.
Starting from Android 14 QPR2, Android uses a trunk stable development model. Every quarter the platform will advance to a much more recent version of the primary development branch, with incomplete/unreleased functionality being disabled through configuration (aconfig) build system flags.
In January 2020, Microsoft released the first preview of their custom Android experience meant to run on the Surface Duo, build 2020.117.2.
Timeline
The codenames are named after desserts, similar to how Ubuntu's codenames were named after animals.
| Codename(s) | Release date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android 1.x | Astro Boy, Bender, Petit Four, Cupcake, Donut | 23 September 2008 | HTC Dream was the first phone to be released with Android. |
| Android 2.x | Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread | 26 October 2009 | Supported more screen resolutions. |
| Android 3.x | Honeycomb | 22 February 2011 | This version was targeted at tablets only. |
| Android 4.x | Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Key Lime Pie (4.4 internal) | 18 October 2011 | First version to integrate the screenshot feature. |
| Android 5.x | Lollipop, Lemon Meringue Pie (internal) | 12 November 2014 | Introduced a new design known as Material Design. |
| Android 6.x | Marshmallow, Macadamia Nut Cookie (internal) | 29 September 2015 | First version to support USB-C and fingerprint sensors natively. |
| Android 7.x | Nougat, New York Cheesecake (internal) | 22 August 2016 | First version to have multi-window support.
First version to support A/B seamless update. |
| Android 8.x | Oreo, Oatmeal Cookie (internal) | 21 August 2017 | First version to have picture-in-picture support.
First version to support Project Treble. First version to support Vendor Native Development Kit. |
| Android 9 | Pie, Pistachio Ice Cream (internal) | 6 August 2018 | First version to support screen cutouts.
First version to have time limits for apps. First version without a minor version number. |
| Android 10 | Quince Tart (internal), Queen Cake (planned but scrapped public codename)[1], Q | 3 September 2019 | First released version to not publicly use a dessert codename.
Added dark mode. First version to support Dynamic Partitions and Dynamic System Updates. |
| Android 11 | Red Velvet Cake (internal), R | 8 September 2020 | First version to support foldable devices.
First version to support Generic Kernel Image. |
| Android 12 | Snow Cone (internal), S | 4 October 2021 | Introduced a new design known as Material You or Material Design 3.
First version to have system-as-root enforcement. First version to support tri-fold devices. |
| Android 12L | Snow Cone 2 (internal), Sv2 | 7 March 2022 | Introduced a new optimized layout for tablets and large-screen devices.
Released as "Android 12.1" for Pixel smartphones[2]. |
| Android 13 | Tiramisu | 15 August 2022 | First version since Android 10 that publicly uses a dessert codename.
First version to have A/B seamless update enforcement on Vendor Test Suite. |
| Android 14 | Upside Down Cake | 4 October 2023 | Adds support for satellite connectivity |
| Android 15 | Vanilla Ice Cream | 3 September 2024 | First major version to use the trunk stable development model and configuration (aconfig) flags. |
References
- ↑ https://www.androidcentral.com/android-q-queen-cakes-publicly
- ↑ Android 12.1 March security patch rolling out to Google Pixel, factory images & OTAs live - 9to5Google: The factory images this morning revealed that Android 12L is officially Android 12.1, though [the version number doesn't] appear anywhere in the OS/system Settings app.