Android OS

🧩 1. Basic Information

Field —>Description
OS Name —>Android
Developer —>Originally Android Inc. (acquired by Google in 2005), now led by Google (via Open Handset Alliance)
First Released —>September 23, 2008 (Android 1.0)
Latest Version —>Android 14 (2023), Android 15 beta (2024)
License Type —>Open Source (Apache License 2.0 for AOSP) + proprietary Google Play services
Supported Platforms —>ARM, ARM64, x86, RISC-V (early stages)
Still Active? —>✅ Yes, powering ~3 billion active devices

⚙️ 2. Kernel & Architecture

Kernel Type: Monolithic, based on Linux kernel (heavily modified with Android-specific patches)

Uses unique Android subsystems: Binder (IPC), SELinux for mandatory access control

Architecture: Primarily ARM & ARM64 for smartphones/tablets, x86 used in Chromebooks/Android emulators

Modular system: Android Runtime (ART), HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer), and Google Play system updates for components outside OS upgrades

🌟 3. Key Features

Touch-optimized GUI with home screen, widgets, app drawer

Google Play Store with millions of apps & games

Notifications center, quick toggles, rich media support

Advanced power management (Doze, App Standby)

Multi-window & split-screen multitasking

Google Assistant integration, voice commands

Extensive OEM customization (Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI, etc.)

📈 4. Version History & Important Milestones ✅

Version —>Year —>Major Milestones
Android 1.0 / 1.5 (Cupcake) —>2008–09 —>First commercial devices (HTC Dream)
2.3 (Gingerbread) —>2010 —>Refined UI, NFC support
4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) —>2011 —>Unified phone & tablet UI
5.0 (Lollipop) —>2014 —>Material Design UI
6.0 (Marshmallow) —>2015 —>Runtime permissions, Doze
8.0 (Oreo) —>2017 —>Project Treble modularization
10 (Q) —>2019 —>Gesture navigation, dark theme
12 —>2021 —>Material You theming
14 —>2023 —>Satellite connectivity support, privacy enhancements
15 —>2024 —>Ongoing beta with more AI integrations

🎯 5. Target Audience & Use Cases

General consumers: smartphones, tablets, TVs, smartwatches (Wear OS), cars (Android Auto)

OEMs & hardware manufacturers: use AOSP to build their branded Android devices

Developers: mobile apps via Java/Kotlin or games with OpenGL/Vulkan

Enterprises: managed devices & secure work profiles

✅ 6. Pros & Cons

Pros —>Cons
Largest global app ecosystem —>Fragmentation (many Android versions across devices)
Highly customizable by OEMs & users —>Often slower updates vs iOS
Extensive hardware & price range —>Privacy concerns due to ad tracking
Open source AOSP enables forks —>Security depends on timely vendor updates

🎨 7. UI Demo & Visuals

Lock screen & gesture-based unlock

Home screens with widgets, app drawer, notification shade

Settings menus with system updates, permissions manager

Google Play Store browsing & app install

Multitasking & split-screen demo

Example of different OEM skins: Samsung One UI, Pixel UI, Xiaomi MIUI

📦 8. Ecosystem & App Support

Google Play Store with over 3 million apps

Alternative stores: Amazon Appstore, Huawei AppGallery, F-Droid (for open source)

Integrated with Google services: Maps, Gmail, Assistant, Photos, Drive

Play Protect for scanning malware

Android TV, Wear OS, Android Automotive, Android Things (IoT)

🔐 9. Security & Updates

SELinux enforcing mode, file encryption, verified boot

Google Play Protect scans billions of apps daily

Monthly security patches (Pixel gets fastest updates, others vary)

Scoped storage & granular runtime permissions

“Project Mainline” modular updates via Play Store for key components (media, DNS, Wi-Fi)

🌍 10. Community, License & Development

License: AOSP is Apache 2.0 (open source), Google Mobile Services is proprietary

Huge global developer community, Android Developer portal (developer.android.com)

Android Open Source Project (AOSP) on Google’s servers

Forks like LineageOS, GrapheneOS, /e/OS for privacy enthusiasts

Annual Android Dev Summit, Google I/O announcements drive new features

🎁 BONUS: Android Full Version History Table

Version —>Year —>Codename —>Key Highlights
1.0 —>2008 —> — —>First commercial Android release (HTC Dream / G1)
1.1 —>2009 —> — —>Minor updates, early bug fixes
1.5 —>2009 —>Cupcake —>Virtual keyboard, widgets, video upload to YouTube
1.6 —>2009 —>Donut —>CDMA support, improved camera & search
2.0/2.1 —>2009-10 —>Eclair —>Google Maps Navigation, live wallpapers
2.2 —>2010 —>FroYo (Frozen Yogurt) —>Wi-Fi hotspot, performance optimizations
2.3 —>2010 —>Gingerbread —>NFC support, improved UI, gaming enhancements
3.0–3.2 —>2011 —>Honeycomb —>Tablet-focused UI (Motorola Xoom), holographic themes
4.0 —>2011 —>Ice Cream Sandwich —>Unified phone & tablet UI, Face Unlock
4.1–4.3 —>2012–13 —>Jelly Bean —>Project Butter smoothness, Google Now, expandable notifications
4.4 —>2013 —>KitKat —>OK Google always-on, optimized for low RAM devices
5.0–5.1 —>2014–15 –Lollipop —>Material Design, ART runtime by default
6.0 —>2015 —>Marshmallow —>Runtime permissions, Doze battery saver, fingerprint API
7.0–7.1 —>2016 —>Nougat —>Multi-window, direct replies in notifications
8.0–8.1 —>2017 —Oreo —>Project Treble, notification dots, picture-in-picture
9.0 —>2018 —>Pie —>Gesture navigation, Digital Wellbeing
10 —2019 —>(No codename public) —>Privacy controls, dark theme, foldables support
11 —>2020 —> — —>Scoped storage, chat bubbles, screen recording
12 —>2021 — >— —>Material You theming, privacy dashboard
13 —>2022 —> — —>Per-app languages, Bluetooth LE Audio
14 —>2023 —> — —>Satellite connectivity support, improved battery health stats
15 —> 2024 —> — —>Ongoing beta, deeper AI system integrations