Android OS Turns Four: Step-by-Step Journey Through the Years [PICTURES]

| Updated: Monday, September 24, 2012, 16:49 [IST]

Android OS – the Google's mobile platform turned four on Sunday. Prior to the evolution of the original SDK 1.0 of Android, the Apple's iOS and the Windows Phone OS were the only choices left for the smartphone users. However, only in four years, the platform has escalated to 50% of the total OS market and is being incorporated aggressively in most of the smartphones and tablets across the globe.

Google has made a giant mobile platform utilizing Linux. Four years back, the entire tech world was dealing with rumors of the upcoming mobile OS. At that time, the consumers were sticking on the manufacturer's stock operating systems, iOS and Windows Phone 6.0.

Coming to the history part of the Android OS, Google released the Android v1.0 in September 2008 followed by Cupcake v1.5 in April 2009, Donut v1.6 in September 2009, Eclair v2.0 in October 2009, Froyo v2.2 in May 2010, Gingerbread v2.3 in December 2010, Honeycomb v3 in February 2011, Ice Cream Sandwich v4 in October 2011 and Jelly Bean v4.1 in June 2012.

The greatest advantage of Android is its ability to expand the optimization from smartphones and tablets to other devices including microwave ovens, cameras and many other gadgets.

The manufacturers are taking complete advantage of the open source concept of the Android OS, which allows them to develop the devices that will offer enhanced user experience with the choice of a wide range of hardware requirements.

Check out the picture gallery on the below to know about the first devices and the enhancements made to each of the Android versions.