Unknown Facts about Android-1
Unknown Facts About Android You Should Know From Its Origin to Surprising Truths
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Unknown Facts About Android-1 |
Introduction
- Understand the Origins of Android: Learn how Android started and who founded it before Google acquired it.
- Explore the Challenges: Discover how critics initially doubted Android’s success in the smartphone market.
- See the Early Designs: Find out how the first Android prototype looked, completely different from what we know today.
- Learn About Version Names: Understand the unique dessert-based naming tradition and its exceptions.
- Discover Special Versions: See why Android 3.0 Honeycomb was unlike any other version and only ran on tablets.
Google Didn’t Create Android
Although Android and Google are now synonymous, Google didn’t actually create Android. It was founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White. Andy Rubin had previously created the popular T-Mobile Sidekick, and Nick Sears was a vice president at T-Mobile, which explains why T-Mobile got the first Android phone. Google only acquired Android Inc. in 2005, and Rubin’s nickname “Android” became the inspiration for the OS name. Today, Android controls over 88% of the global smartphone OS market.
Many Critics Thought Android Would Fail
When Android first appeared, critics doubted its potential. Back then, Apple’s iPhone was fresh and dominating headlines, while Microsoft and BlackBerry were leading the smartphone race. The idea that a web search company like Google could make a successful mobile OS seemed unlikely. In fact, during a 2008 industry discussion, one representative from Pandora famously said, “Nobody cares about Android.” Fast forward to today, and Pandora now has millions of Android app users proving the critics wrong.
The First Android Prototype Looked Like a BlackBerry
Before the iPhone’s launch in 2007, Android’s early prototype, codenamed “Sooner,” looked completely different. It featured a physical keyboard, trackpad, call buttons, and no touchscreen. The UI resembled BlackBerry devices more than modern smartphones. But after Apple revealed the iPhone, Google quickly adapted its design, leading to the touchscreen-based T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) that we remember today.
Android 1.0 and 1.1 Weren’t Named After Desserts
Most Android versions are famously named after desserts, Cupcake, Donut, KitKat, Oreo, but the first two versions weren’t part of that tradition. Android 1.0 was internally referred to as “Alpha” or “Astro Boy,” while Android 1.1 was called “Petite Four” (a French pastry). The dessert naming convention officially began with Android 1.5 Cupcake. If Android 1.0 and 1.1 had followed the alphabetical dessert theme, they might have been “Apple Pie” and “Banana Split.”
Android 3.0 Honeycomb Was Only for Tablets
In 2010, when Apple introduced the iPad, the tablet market exploded. Google created Android 3.0 Honeycomb specifically for tablets like the Motorola XOOM. It introduced the dark “Holo UI” and larger widgets. However, Honeycomb was never released for phones, and its lack of tablet-optimized apps led to limited success. Eventually, Google merged phone and tablet OS features starting with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but Honeycomb’s on-screen navigation buttons remain a standard Android feature today.
Journey of Android Versions
- Android 1.0 (2008) – No version name
- Android 1.1 (2009) – Petite Four
- Android 1.5 – Cupcake
- Android 1.6 – Donut
- Android 2.0/2.1 – Eclair
- Android 2.2 – Froyo
- Android 2.3 – Gingerbread
- Android 3.0 – Honeycomb
- Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich
- Android 4.1 – Jelly Bean
- Android 4.4 – KitKat
- Android 5.0 – Lollipop
- Android 6.0 – Marshmallow
- Android 7.0 – Nougat
- Android 8.0 – Oreo
- Android 9.0 – Pie
- Android 10
- Android 11
- Android 12
- Android 13
- Android 14
- Android 15
Conclusion
From its humble beginnings in a small startup to becoming the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, Android’s journey is full of surprising twists and milestones. Whether it’s the fact that Google didn’t originally create Android or the unusual Honeycomb-only tablet version, there’s always more to learn about this tech giant. Next time you use your Android device, remember you’re holding a piece of technology history in your hands.
- Related Reading: How to Display Your Android IMEI Number (*#06#)
- Also Read: Top Mobile Tips for Android Users
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