Google's Android division
certainly has a sense of humor
as it named all their version
codenames after desserts (just
as Intel name all its CPUs after
rivers). To celebrate new
version release of Android, a
giant mock-up of the dessert
that matches the codename is
usually delivered to the Google
Campus and put on display.
So what are the different
versions of Android OS, and the
desserts associated with
them? Let us go over a short
history of when's what.
[size=24pt]Noname 1.0 and 1.1
versions[/size]
There appears to be no
codename assigned to
Versions 1.0 and 1.1 of Android
OS.
Google bought a company
called Android back in July
2005. Android was headed by
several mobile bigshots,
including former head of a big
carrier, ex-owner of a phone
maker, and more. After their
buyout, Android went into
stealth mode, and rumors
spread that Google is working
on a mobile phone.
The dam finally broke in
November 2007, when Google
suddenly announced that they
are indeed working on a phone
(Google Phone), but also a
brand-new mobile operating
system called Android, based
on the Linux kernel, to be used
by the Open Handset Alliance,
a group of 65 different
hardware maker, carriers, and
other mobile-related
companies.
HTC was the first phone maker
to get a real consumer phone
out, the T-Mobile G1 (also
known as the HTC Dream
outside of US), on October
2008.
An update of Android, version
1.1, was released in February
2009. However, the first
significant version of Android
OS that really showcased the
power of the platform is V1.5,
codename "Cupcake".
As Cupcake starts with letter
"C", it's is widely suspected
that 1.0 would start with "A",
and 1.1 would start with "B",
but no actual codenames were
ever assigned.
[size=24pt]Android 1.5, i.e.
Cupcake[/size]
Technically Android 1.5
wasn't the first version,
but versions before that
doesn't seem to have
received any codenames.
Stories were told that it
was supposed to be
version 1.2, but Google
decided to make it a major
revision and made it 1.5
instead, and gave it the dessert
name "cupcake" as a
codename, and that's when the
"dessert series" got started.
A cupcake is a small cake, the
size of an individual portion,
baked in a cup-shaped mold,
usually served with frosting on
top.
[size=24pt]Android 1.6, i.e.
Donut[/size]
Android V1.6, codename
Donut, was released in
September 2009. It fixed
reboot errors in the OS as
well as revamped photo
and video features (i.e.
camera interface) and
better search integration.
It also added support for
larger screen size, and is
the first version to offer
Google turn-by-turn navigation
feature.
Donut is usually defined as a
small ring-shaped friedcake, is
actually spelled doughnut,
made out of rich, light dough
and deep fried, then various
sweet coating can be added.
Please don't mistake this with
bagel, which is baked, much
denser, and usually salty.
[size=24pt]Android 2.0 / 2.1,
i.e. Eclair[/size]
Android 2.0 was released
in October 2009, with a
bugfix version 2.0.1 in
December 2009. Android
2.1 was released January
of 2010. Most people
consider them a single
release. Added features include
Bluetooth 2.1 support, flash
and digital zoom for the
camera, multi-touch support,
live wallpapers, and more.
Eclair the dessert is usually
describe as an oblong "cream
puff", a baked pastry with
cream filling and chocolate
coating on top.
[size=24pt]Android 2.2, i.e.
Froyo[/size]
Android 2.2 mainly
improved speed by
adopting the Javascript
"just-in-time" compiler
engine from the Google
browser "Chrome", as well
as improved browser
support by adding animated
GIF support, Flash 10.1 plug-in
support, along with USB
tethering and Wi-Fi Hotspot
capability (for those with
supporting hardware).
Froyo is actually concatenated
from "frozen yogurt", but is also
a brand name. It is a frozen
dessert made from yogurt, so it
is slightly more sour, but also
lower in fat.
[size=24pt]Android 2.3, i.e.
Gingerbread[/size]
Gingerbread man on
Google campus has been
reported in early
November 2010, and
Gingerbread is officially
released in December
2010.
On December 7th, 2010,
Google officially
announced the Nexus S (made
by Samsung) to be released on
T-Mobile, the first phone with
Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread.
SDK has been released. Nexus
S has since also appeared on
Sprint and AT&T.
Gingerbread features support
for SIP internet calling, NFC
wireless transaction capability
(if hardware is present),
support for more than one
camera, support for gyroscope
and other sensors (barometer,
gravimeter, and others are
possible), download manager,
some tweaks to allow usage on
Tablets, and other system level
tweaks for programmers.
In desserts, gingerbread is
basically ginger-flavored "cake"
or "cookie". It is often made to
celebrate end-of-year holidays
in the US, and often in the
shape of a man.
[size=24pt]Android 2.4: Still
Gingerbread[/size]
TechCrunch just revealed that
there will be "Ice Cream
Sandwich" after Honeycomb.
A version of Android 2.4 was
found on Sony Ericssen Xperia
Arc at CES 2011. The phone
maker claims wrong version,
but later Google source
confirmed that "Ice Cream" will
be announced at Google I/O
event in May 2011 and
released June or July 2011.
But wait, Pocket Lint quotes
Viewsonic (an Android tablet
maker, among other things)
that 2.4 will retain the
"Gingerbread" moniker , and "Ice
Cream" (or "Ice Cream
Sandwich" will be 3.1!
Well, 2.4 being Ice Cream
doesn't make sense, as it
violates the existing order, as
the dessert names are in
alphabetical order, and I is after
H, not before. It does make
sense to make it after
Honeycomb (3.0)
[size=24pt]Android 3.0 / 3.1 /
3.2 i.e. Honeycomb[/size]
Honeycomb was released
in February 2011, and
was rapidly followed by
3.1 and 3.2 which only
came out in July / August
2011. Google posted a lot
of previews and highlights
on Honeycomb.
Android-based tablets should
be running 3.X as that will be
optimized for tablets, (implying
current Android OS 2.X are not
really designed for tablets) That
did not stop a slew of smaller
manufacturers as well as
Samsung from putting out an
army of Android tablets of
various sizes before the end of
2010 with Android 2.X hoping
to catch the Christmas
shopping season and success
of Apple's iPad.
Motorola Xoom is the first
Android 3.X tablet to be
released, It has since been
followed by a ton of Tablets.
Dessert-wise... Honeycomb is
a sweetened breakfast cereal
that has been made since 1965
by Post Cereals. It consists of
honey-flavored corn cereal bits
in a honeycomb shape.
[size=24pt]Android 4.0 and
later: The REAL "Ice
Cream Sandwich"[/size]
It appears now that
Honeycomb (3.X) will
remain a tablet-only OS,
while the phones will
keep getting Gingerbread
(2.x) updates until the
unified codebase, i.e.
Android OS 4.0, which will
be "Ice Cream Sandwich"
launch some time in the
future.
And it turns out, the future
is... October 2011. Wow,
that's fast. I actually said
12-18 months just a few
months ago. I guess I'll
have to eat my words.
Will your device run it? I have
no idea. And I STILL don't. I'm
guessing the dual-core
machines will have no
problem. But older devices?
Don't bet on it. Even now,
January 2012, only ONE phone
(Samsung Galaxy Nexus) has
been released to run it, and a
few more are expected to get
updates (Motorola Droid RAZR
and Droid Bionic, Samsung
Galaxy S2 series, HTC
ReZound?) later.
In real life, ice cream sandwich
is a layer of ice cream, usually
vanilla, sandwiched between
two chocolate cookies, and
usually rectangular in shape.
(see illustration)
[size=24pt]Android 4.1: Jelly Bean[/size]
It is now certain that next
version of Android OS will
be named Jelly Bean.
On June 26th, the Jelly
Bean mascot (see right)
appeared on Google
campus, as reported by the
Verge (also visible are Ice
Cream Sandwich, Honeycomb,
and Gingerbread).
UPDATE: CNET just reported
from Google I/O 2012 that Jelly
Bean will have "Google Now",
AI assistant that anticipates
your needs, better notification
than (more interactive), and
more.
[size=24pt]Android 4.4:kit kat[/size]
Google has JUST
announced on 03-
SEP-2013 that Android
4.4 will be named Kitkat.
And apparently the
mascot has been
delivered and installed on
Google campus! That
means this version
should be released very
soon for the Nexus
devices. Ports to other
Android devices will take
several months.
Apparently Nestle is fully
onboard, as they have
launched an advertising
campaign with Google...
Specially marked packages of
Kitkat (look for Andy the Green
Android on the package) will
contain a sweepstakes code
that can win you a new Nexus
7 Android tablet, or Google Play
store credit. Clearly, this would
be US only.