List of Android Versions and Their Features
Android has a market share of nearly 70% in the mobile operating system arena. It is getting more popular every day and new versions are evolving very frequently. But many people do not know about the various versions of Android and their features. The following panel details different versions and their features:
Earlier versions Android (1.0 – 2.2)
Initial Versions | ||
Version | Version Name | Features |
| Android 1.0 | Apple Pie | Basic OS with no support for camera, flash and HTML |
| Android 1.1 | Banana Bread | Ability to show/hide dial-pad and can save attachments in messages |
| Android 1.5 | Cup Cake | Auto rotation and copy and paste in web browser features are added |
| Android 1.6 | Donut | WVGA screen resolutions supported and camera more integrated for faster access |
| Later Versions | ||
| Android 2.0 | Eclair | Web browser support for HTML5, support for Microsoft exchange and digital zoom feature added to camera |
| Android 2.2 | Froyo | Supports USB tethering and apps can be installed on external memory |
Most initial versions (1.0 – 1.6) had features like Android market to download apps, gmail and Google talk. The later versions (2.0 and 2.2 ) included features like multiple accounts on a single mobile, digital zoom, USB tethering and Adobe flash support.
Most of them are outdated and are available only on old model mobile phones. Thus, they will not not get proper updates. The latest versions are the ones which are widely used in smart phones.
Latest versions (3.0 – 4.1)
- Android (2.3 – 2.3.7) – Gingerbread – Released in December, 2010.
- Android (3.0 – 3.2.6) – Honey Comb– Released in February, 2011.
- Android (4.0 – 4.0.4) – Ice Cream Sandwich – Released in October, 2011.
- Android (4.1 – 4.2.1) – Jelly Bean – Released in June, 2012.
Differentiating latest Android versions – All new versions of Android have some features in common, which the rest are different from each other. We tried to list out the features that are unique from every version.
| Common Features | Different Features | |||
| All Versions | Gingerbread | Honey Comb | Ice Cream Sandwich | Jelly Bean |
| Notifications, widgets, Android market, flash support | New easier to use user interface | Designed only for tablets | New lock screen actions | Smooth and faster working |
| Improved power management for better battery life | Redesigned keyboard with tab key newly added | Provides the facility to dictate unlimited text | Multiple user settings can be created on a single tablet | |
| Multiple camera support (Front and rear camera) | Multiple tabs can be opened in web browser | Stabilization of image zoom is introduced | Can connect to external display wirelessly | |
| One touch word selection,copy and paste actions | Anonymous or private browsing included in web browser | High content websites can be saved for offline reading | HDR feature added to camera for taking high quality images | |
These are the various versions of Android mobile operating system and their different features.
Is it possible to download android os on pc?