From CNET
Android Era
Google’s Android operating system for mobile phones has been characterized by such rapid change, it’s hard to believe that Google has released no fewer than five notable iterations since the T-Mobile G1 kicked off the Android era in late October 2008.
Compare this figure to the four major iPhone operating system (or iOS) versions since June 2007, and you’ll see just how intently Google has been pouring resources into creating Android. The result? A competitive mobile OS that has achieved for market penetration in a very short time.
Google’s breakneck development speed has certainly paid off since it acquired the incipient Android start-up in 2005. Android now accounts for 13 percent of the smartphone market and 27 percent of smartphone sales in the last six months, according to a Nielsen Company report.
The pace, however, is unsustainable. We expect the rate of Android updates to slow down from about twice per year to a once-a-year update that hews closer to Apple’s iOS release schedule. Otherwise, says Google Vice President of Engineering, Andy Rubin–the original Android’s co-founder and CEO, no less–”it’s hard for developers to keep up.”
With carriers slowly but surely updating Android 2.2 (code-named Froyo) for Android handsets, we take a retrospective look at how we got here from the G1, and where we expect Android to head next.
| ANDROID VERSION | SDK RELEASE* | NOTABLE UPDATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 (G1) | February 2009 |
|
| 1.5 (Cupcake) | September 2009 |
|
| 1.6 (Donut) | April 2009 |
|
| 2.0 (Éclair) | October 2009 |
|
| 2.1 (Éclair, second helping) | January 2010 |
|
| 2.2 (Froyo) | May 2010 |
|
| 3.0 (Gingerbread) | Forthcoming |
|
| * We list the date of the SDK release rather than the over-the-air (OTA) update timeline since OTA release dates vary by carrier and handset model. | ||
Froyo highlights
Of the significant changes in Froyo, the new Bluetooth an app-saving capabilities stand out. Drivers using any version of the operating system prior to Android 2.2 are unable to initiate phone calls through their Bluetooth headsets, a vast inconvenience for those who strive to go hands-free. In our tests, pairing and voice dialing were on point.
Saving apps to the SD card is also a crucial addition that Froyo serves up. Being able to move application storage to the external memory frees up room on the internal memory for other items, especially space-taking multimedia. Unfortunately, you still have to download apps to the phone before transferring files to SD card, but it was a fairly hassle-free experience overall.
Gingerbread
Even while Android users are scooping up Froyo, many are already looking to the next OS iteration, Gingerbread. There has been much rumor and speculation, but apart from slipping the code-name once, Google has remained tight-lipped.
We do, however, know a few features that Google demoed this past May at its I/O conference, so there’s a good chance these could show up in Gingerbread. One is video playback using the WebM video format that Google has developed. Another is a refurbished, account-based online Android Market with the capability to load apps over-the-air. In other words, clicking the installation button on your computer screen will kick off a physical download–not just the download link–directly onto your phone.
Google’s crew also discussed an Android Market music store to rival iTunes. Google’s acquisition of Simplify Media bolsters the plan for Android to facilitate streaming selections from your PC music library onto your smartphone. We know that Google has a keen eye on Apple’s iAds push, and is further developing its mobile advertising strategy.
According to rumors, Gingerbread will include copy/paste improvements and will require certain hardware specssuch as a 1GHz processor, 512MB memory, and 3.5-inch or larger display. Rumors suggest we could see Gingerbread as soon as autumn. However, in light of Froyo ongoing release coupled with Andy Rubin’s statement regarding a slower release schedule, that seems too soon.
As always, we’ve got our ears pricked for Gingerbread news.
