Decoding the different versions of Android

WE LOVE Android, but things can get confusing with a new platform coming out once every few months. According to data collected last month, the Android market consisted of devices powered by five different versions of the operating system (OS), with Android 2.2 taking the lion's share at 57.6 per cent.

So if the multiple versions on the various Android-powered devices market right now have got you scratching your head, check out this handy list we have compiled from the official website that shows you the more important features of each version and lets you get to know the capabilities of your Android device better. Do note that some features could be altered or disabled by handset manufacturers, and most of them tweak the user interface, so don't expect to find the exact same feature set on your device unless it's a Google phone.

To check which platform your mobile device is running on, just head to the Settings menu, go to About Phone, and check the firmware version.

Android 1.5 (Cupcake)

Released: April 2009

Features: On-screen keyboard, home screen widgets and live folders, video recording and playback, stereo Bluetooth support (needed for streaming music wirelessly, for example) and auto-pairing (for linking Bluetooth devices more easily), copying and pasting into browser, searching within a browser page, a unified Go and Search box on the browser, uploading videos to Youtube and photos on Picasa

Android 1.6 (Donut)

Released: September 2009

New Features: Search across multiple sources like contacts and the web - directly from the home screen, integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery experience for added convenience, camera is faster to launch and shoot, a screen for users to see which apps and services are consuming battery power - and manage them to increase battery life, better organisation of information and apps within the Android market, an engine that allows any Android application to "speak" a string of text, gestures input for recognizing, loading, and saving gestures - e.g. apps can be launched by drawing a certain shape

Android 2.0/2.1 (Éclair)

Released: January 2010

New Features: Multiple accounts support for email and contact synchronization, support for Exchange email accounts, combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page, Quick Contact for Android - just tap a contact photo to call, SMS, or email the person, search saved SMS and MMS messages, new features like macro focus for the camera, improved keyboard layout for easier and faster typing, multi-touch support so you can type more quickly with two fingers simultaneously, double-tap to zoom into a browser page, improved calendar events management

Android 2.2 (Froyo)

Released: June 2010

New Features: Support for Exchange Calendars in the Calendar app, easier to setup and sync an Exchange account, global address lists lookup in the Email application for you to auto-complete recipient names from the directory, improved gallery - peek into picture stacks by pinching to zoom, ability to turn 3G-connected devices into portable Wi-Fi hotspots that can be shared with up to 8 devices each - or tethered to computers via USB to share the internet connection, faster CPU and browser performance, speedier and smoother multitasking experience, option for apps to be installed on an external SD card instead of internal memory (giving you space for more apps)

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

Released: December 2010

New Features: Refined user interface to make it easier to learn, faster to use, and more power-efficient, improved keyboard for faster text input and editing, one-touch word selection and copy/paste, better power management by closing misbehaving apps, ability to make voice calls over the Internet to other users with an Internet calling number, Near-Field Communication Reader application for reading and interacting with NFC tags

Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)

Released: February 2011

New Features: New user interface optimized for devices with larger screen sizes - particularly tablets, System Bar at the bottom of the screen for quick access to notifications and navigation buttons, Action Bar for easier access to application control, visual layout mode for home screens, redesigned keyboard for more efficient and accurate text input on larger screens, built-in support for Media/Picture Transfer Protocol to sync media files with a USB-connected camera or desktop computer without needing to mount the drive, multiple tabs and anonymous browsing, built-in support for time-lapse video recording, improved organisation of information in Contacts app



Which to choose?

We recommend getting a device that's running on version 2.2 and above because some of its features are rather handy. For example, if you are an app lover, you can use the move-to-SD-card function instead of being limited to your phone's internal storage space. Its portable WiFi hotspot and tethering capabilities also render it very useful for those who are always on the go and need to get online on their laptops. Also, Froyo and its successors all have performance boosts to make operation smoother and faster. If you are in the market for a tablet, one that's running on Honeycomb seems to be worth waiting for as its tablet-optimised interface looks pretty promising from the videos we've seen.

by May Chua
10:05 AM Mar 14, 2011

Source: www.todayonline.com