Amazing Facets about Android.

Android's next version dubbed as Android N will be out soon, so till then this might keep you occupied. Here's 8 facts worth knowing about Google's mobile operating software - Android.

 

Android is a mobile operating system (OS) currently developed by Google, primarily used for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It is the largest installed base of all operating systems of any kind. 

Android has also been the best-selling OS on tablets since 2013, and one of the dominating OS on smartphones devices.

1. Google did not create Android:

Since Google and Android are marketed together, you may think it is created by Google. But you will be surprised to find out that was not always the case. Android was founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White. It wasn’t until 2005 that Google acquired Android Inc.

2. The first Android prototype looked like a Blackberry:

A lot of people believe that if it wasn’t for the Apple, iPhone the first Android device would have looked radically different. In 2007, before Apple showed off the iPhone, the first Android prototype was floating around. 

The device was called “Sooner” had a Qwerty keyboard, call and end buttons, track pad, and no touchscreen. The Android device somewhat resembled a Blackberry interface.

3. Android 1.0 and 1.1 were not named after desserts:

For some time now, Google has been naming new versions of Android with sweets. Android 6.0 was called Marshmallow, and before that it was Lollipop, KitKat, Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich, Honeycomb, Gingerbread, Froyo, Éclair, Donut and Cupcake. 

However, Android 1.1 was internally referred to as "Petit-Four" and this was the first tasty treat, before the name went in an alphabetical format.

4. Android 3.0 is the only version to never run on phones:

In this day and age, we know that Android OS is built and is run on many different types of devices. Android 6.0 can run on phones, tablets, watches, cars, and TVs. That hasn’t always been the case. When Apple decided to launch the iPad in 2010 the Android manufacturers wanted to cash in on the tablet frenzy as well. But Android was only made for phones at that time.

Samsung had some luck using Android 2.3 Gingerbread on the mid-sized Galaxy Tab 7.0, but if Android was going to compete with the 10-inch iPad it needed some major upgrade. At Consumer Electronics Show 2011 the world got its first look at Android 3.0 Honeycomb on the Motorola XOOM. It had a completely restructured interface made especially for tablets.

5. Android got Google’s CEO kicked off Apple’s board:

The relationship between Google and Apple hasn’t always been so tense. The previous iPhone’s had Google Maps and YouTube apps. Over time it became a competition between iOS and Android, and their friendship has been rocky ever since. This was the case in 2009 when Google CEO Eric Schmidt was forced to resign from Apple’s board of directors.

6. Sony was the first manufacturer of an Android smartwatch in 2010:

In 2014 Google announced Android Wear and Samsung launched the Samsung Gear with its Galaxy phones. You might think that these are the first Android smartwatches to be made. But in 2010 Sony (Ericsson) launched the LiveView watch. It was connected to an Android phone to display Twitter feeds, RSS feeds, SMS, and control the phone’s media player. In 2013 Sony launched the SmartWatch 2 SW2 with many of the same features.

7. Android and NASA:

There is an Android run device in space. NASA has equipped Floating space robots with Nexus S handsets. These devices run on Android Gingerbread or Android 2.3.

8. The story behind the Android Logo:

Most people think that the name of Android’s logo character is also Android, but that is not true. The actual name of Android Mascot is Bugdroid. Though the name is not an official one the Google team call it by this name. Human with a robot appearance is the meaning of the word Android. And that refers to a male robot. Gynoid is the female looking robot.