A brief intro to android versions, their years of release, salient features, major up-gradations done.

1. Android Versions
Kamran Zahid

2. Android Versions

3. Cupcake 1.5
• Introduced: April 30, 2009
• Key features in this version of Android:
Integration of home screen widgets, support
for folders on home screen, stereo Bluetooth
support, copy/paste in web browser, video
recording and playback.

4. Android 1.6 Donut
• Introduced: September 15, 2009
• Key features in this version of Android: Quick
search box, updated interface for camera,
camcorder, and gallery, updated Google Play
(Android Market), battery usage indicator,
text-to-speech engine,

5. Android 2.0 – 2.1 Eclair
• Introduced: October 26, 2009
• Key features in this version of
Android: Google Maps Navigator (beta),
updated browser, support for multiple
accounts, improved keyboard, SMS search,
Exchange support

6. Android 2.2 – 2.3 Froyo
• Introduced: May 20, 2010
• Key features in this version of Android:
Support for Adobe Flash, portable hotspots,
multiple keyboard languages, speed and
performance improvements,
enhanced Microsoft Exchange support

7. Android 2.3 – 2.3.7
Gingerbread
• Introduced: December 6, 2010
• Key features in this version of Android: UI
refinements, NFC support, native support for
SIP VOIP, faster/more intuitive text input,
enhanced copy and paste

8. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Introduced: October 19, 2011
• Key features in this version of Android:
improved multi-tasking, face unlock,
resizeable widgets, Android beam, enhanced
email options, improved text and voice input,
soft buttons can replace hard keys

9. Android 4.1 – 4.3
Jelly Bean
• Introduced: July 9, 2012
• Key features in this version of Android: larger,
rich, and actionable notifications, Google Now,
offline voice dictation, streamlined UI,
performance improvements “Project Butter”,
smart widget placement, multi-user profiles for
tablets (4.2), lock screen widgets (4.2), daydream
(4.2), OpenGL ES 3.0 (4.3), Bluetooth Smart
Ready (4.3), restricted user profiles for tablets
(4.3)