HISTORY AND FEATURES OF ANDROID VERSIONS AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEW AND OLD ANDROID VERSIONS PART 2

FOR PART 1 OF HISTORY OF ANDROID VERSION CLICK HERE

ANDROID  2.2–2.2.3 FROYO (API level 8)

On 20 May 2010, the SDK for Android 2.2 was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.32.

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Speed, memory, and performance optimizations
• Additional application speed improvements
• Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application
• Support for the Android Cloud to Device Messaging (C2DM) service, enabling push notifications
• Improved application launcher with shortcuts to Phone and Browser applications
• USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality
• Option to disable data access over mobile network
• Updated Market application with batch and automatic update features
• Quick switching between multiple keyboard languages and their dictionaries
• Voice dialing and contact sharing over Bluetooth
• Support for Bluetooth-enabled car and desk docks
• Support for numeric and alphanumeric passwords
• Support for file upload fields in the Browser application
• Support for installing applications to the expandable memory
• Adobe Flash support
• Support for high-PPI displays (up to 320 ppi), such as 4" 720p screens
• Gallery allows users to view picture stacks using a zoom gesture

 ANDROID 2.3–2.3.2 GINGERBREAD (API level 9)

On 6 December 2010, the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) SDK was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.35. Changes included

ANDROID 2.3 SCREEN SHORT

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Updated user interface design with increased simplicity and speed
• Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher) 
• Faster, more intuitive text input in virtual keyboard, with improved accuracy, better suggested text 
• Enhanced copy/paste functionality, allowing users to select a word by press-hold, copy, and paste
• Support for Near Field Communication (NFC)
• New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost
• New Download Manager, giving users easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email & apps
• Support for multiple cameras on the device, including a front-facing camera, 
• Improved power management with a more active role in managing apps that are keeping the device awake for too long
• Enhanced support for native code development
• Switched from YAFFS to ext4 on newer devices
• Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers
• Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance
• Native support for more sensors (such as gyroscopes and barometers)

 ANDROID 2.3.3–2.3.7 GINGERBREAD(API level 10)

In this version Several improvements and API fixes

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Support for voice or video chat using Google Talk
• Open Accessory Library support. 
• Improved network performance for the Nexus S 4G, among other fixes and improvements
• Fixed Bluetooth bug on Samsung Galaxy S
• Improved Gmail application
• Shadow animations for list scrolling
• Camera software enhancements
• Improved battery efficiency
• Fixed a voice search bug

 ANDROID 3.0 HONEYCOMB (API level 11)

On 22 February 2011, the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) SDK – the first tablet-only Android update – was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.36 The first device featuring this version, the Motorola Xoom tablet, was released on 24 February 2011.

MOTOROLA XOOM

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Optimized tablet support with a new virtual and “holographic” user interface
• Added System Bar, featuring quick access to notifications, status, and soft navigation buttons
• Added Action Bar, giving access to contextual options, navigation, widgets, 
• Simplified multitasking
• Redesigned keyboard, making typing fast, efficient and accurate on larger screen sizes
• Simplified, more intuitive copy/paste interface
• Multiple browser tabs replacing browser windows, 
• Quick access to camera exposure, focus, flash, zoom, front-facing camera, time-lapse 
• Ability to view albums and other collections in full-screen mode in Gallery
• New two-pane Contacts UI and Fast Scroll to let users easily organize and locate contacts
• New two-pane Email UI to make viewing and organizing messages more efficient
• Support for video chat using Google Talk
• Hardware acceleration
• Support for multi-core processors
• Ability to encrypt all user data
• HTTPS stack improved with Server Name Indication (SNI)
• Filesystem in Userspace (FUSE; kernel module)

 Android 3.1 Honeycomb (API level 12)

This version include several improvement 

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• UI refinements
• Connectivity for USB accessories
• Expanded Recent Apps list
• Re sizable Home screen widgets
• Support for external keyboards and pointing devices
• Support for joysticks and game pads
• Support for FLAC audio playback
• High-performance Wi-Fi lock, maintaining high-performance Wi-Fi connections when device screen is off
• Support for HTTP proxy for each connected Wi-Fi access point

ANDROID 3.2 HONEYCOMB (API level 13)

Most first- and second-generation Google TV-enabled devices utilize Honeycomb 3.2.

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Improved hardware support, including optimizations for a wider range of tablets
• Increased ability of apps to access files on the SD card, e.g. for synchronization
• Compatibility display mode for apps that have not been optimized for tablet screen resolutions
• New display support functions, giving developers more control over display appearance on different Android devices
• Bug fixes and minor security, stability and Wi-Fi improvements
• Update to Android Market with automatic updates and easier-to-read Terms and Conditions text
• Update to Google Books
• Improved Adobe Flash support in browser
• Improved Chinese handwriting prediction

 ANDROID 4.0–4.0.2 ICE CREAM SANDWICH (API level 14)

The SDK for Android 4.0.1 (Ice Cream Sandwich), based on Linux kernel 3.0.1 was publicly released on 19 October 2011 Google's Gabe Cohen stated that Android 4.0 was "theoretically compatible" with any Android 2.3.x device in production at that time.The source code for Android 4.0 became available on 14 November 2011.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NEXUS

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Soft buttons from Android 3.x are now available for use on phones
• Separation of widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar manner to apps
• Easier-to-create folders, with a drag-and-drop style
• A customizable launcher
• Improved visual voice mail with the ability to speed up or slow down voice mail messages
• Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar
• Integrated screenshot capture (accomplished by holding down the Power and Volume-Down buttons)
• Improved error correction on the keyboard
• Ability to access apps directly from lock screen
• Improved copy and paste functionality
• Better voice integration and continuous, real-time speech to text dictation
• Face Unlock, a feature that allows users to unlock handsets using facial recognition software
• New tabbed web browser under Google's Chrome brand, allowing up to 16 tabs
• Automatic syncing of browser with users' Chrome bookmarks
• A new typeface family for the UI, Roboto
• Data Usage section in settings that lets users set warnings when they approach a certain usage limit, and disable data use when the limit is exceeded
• Ability to shut down apps that are using data in the background
• Improved camera app with zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, panorama mode, and the ability to zoom while recording
• Built-in photo editor
• New gallery layout, organized by location and person
• Refreshed "People" app with social network integration, status updates and hi-res images
• Android Beam, a near-field communication feature allowing the rapid short-range exchange of web bookmarks, contact info, directions, YouTube videos and other data
• Support for the WebP image format
• Hardware acceleration of the UI
• Wi-Fi Direct
• 1080p video recording for stock Android devices
• Android VPN Framework (AVF), and TUN (but not TAP) kernel module. Prior to 4.0, VPN software required rooted Android.

 ANDROID 4.0.3–4.0.4 ICE CREAM SANDWICH (API level 15)

Ice Cream Sandwich is the last version to support Adobe Systems' Flash player.

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Numerous bug fixes and optimizations
• Improvements to graphics, databases, spell-checking and Bluetooth functionality
• New APIs for developers, including a social stream API in the Contacts provider
• Calendar provider enhancements
• New camera apps enhancing video stabilization and QVGA resolution
• Accessibility refinements such as improved content access for screen readers
• Stability improvements
• Better camera performance
• Smoother screen rotation
• Integrated screenshot capture (now accomplished by holding down the Power and Home buttons)
• Improved phone number recognition

 ANDROID 4.1 JELLY BEAN (API level 16)

Google announced Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) at the Google I/O conference on 27 June 2012. Based on Linux kernel 3.0.31, Jelly Bean was an incremental update with the primary aim of improving the functionality and performance of the user interface. The performance improvement involved "Project Butter", which uses touch anticipation, triple buffering, extended vsync timing and a fixed frame rate of 60 fps to create a fluid and "buttery-smooth" UI.Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was released to the Android Open Source Project on 9 July 2012 and the Nexus 7 tablet, the first device to run Jelly Bean, was released on 13 July 2012

ASUS NEXUS 7 TABLET

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• Smoother user interface:
• Vsync timing across all drawing and animation done by the Android framework, including application rendering, touch events, screen composition and display refresh
• Triple buffering in the graphics pipeline
• Enhanced accessibility
• Bi-directional text and other language support
• User-installable keyboard maps
• Expandable notifications
• Ability to turn off notifications on an app specific basis
• Shortcuts and widgets can automatically be re-arranged or re-sized to allow new items to fit on home screens
• Bluetooth data transfer for Android Beam
• Offline voice dictation
• Tablets with smaller screens now use an expanded version of the interface layout and home screen used by phones.
• Improved voice search
• Improved camera app
• Google Wallet (for the Nexus 7)
• High-resolution Google+ contact photos
• Google Now search application
• Multichannel audio
• USB audio (for external sound DACs)
• Audio chaining (also known as gapless playback)
• Stock Android browser is replaced with the Android mobile version of Google Chrome in devices with Android 4.1 preinstalled
• Ability for other launchers to add widgets from the app drawer without requiring root access
• Android 4.1 on the Asus Nexus 7 tablet
• Fixed a bug on the Nexus 7 regarding the inability to change screen orientation in any application
• Lock/home screen rotation support for the Nexus 
• One-finger gestures to expand/collapse notifications
• New “Select All” button glyph on Swype keyboard
• Bug fixes and performance enhancements

 ANDROID 4.2 JELLY BEAN  (API level 17)

Google was expected to announce Jelly Bean 4.2 at an event in New York City on 29 October 2012 Google announced the new version with a press release, under the slogan "A new flavor of Jelly Bean". The first devices to run Android 4.2 were LG's Nexus 4 and Samsung's Nexus 10, which were released on 13 November 2012.

GOOGLE NEXUS 4

FEATURES INCLUDED IN THIS VERSION ARE

• "Photo Sphere" panorama photos
• Keyboard with gesture typing 
• Lock screen improvements, including widget support and the ability to swipe directly to camera
• Notification power controls 
• "Daydream" screensaver, showing information when idle or docked
• Multiple user accounts (tablets only)
• Support for wireless display (Miracast)
• Accessibility improvements: triple-tap to magnify the entire screen, pan and zoom with two fingers. Speech output and Gesture Mode navigation for blind users
• New clock app with built-in world clock, stop watch and timer
• All devices now use the same interface layout, previously adapted from phones on 4.1 for smaller tablets (with centered software buttons, the system bar at the top of the screen, and a home screen with a dock and centered application menu), regardless of screen size
• Increased number of extended notifications and Actionable Notifications for more apps, allowing users to respond to certain notifications within the notification bar and without launching the app directly
• SELinux
• Always-on VPN
• Premium SMS confirmation
• Group Messaging

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