Android: a universal and convenient operating system

Android has changed a lot over the past few years. Only iconic models are released every month. And then there are less significant models that appear weekly and completely “barn” ones that appear daily. Some models are good and others are not, but they all contributed to the development of Android as an operating system. Therefore, sometimes it is useful to look back and remember how things were when we just started this journey. A few days ago, the world's most popular operating system celebrated a significant date in its history - 13 years since the release of the first commercial phone under its control. Let's remember how it was.

Android is now the most popular operating system, but 13 years ago it timidly took its first steps.

History of origin

The idea of ​​creating an open operating system came from a small team of developers. She founded the company Android Inc, whose first development was the implementation of the idea of ​​​​embedding GPS modules into mobile phones. That is why the young team was bought outright by Google Corporation. Android Inc staff began working for the search giant.

On a note! At the beginning of its activities, a company of developers led by Andy Rubin was involved in the implementation of the Google Maps project. Initially, this service was developed for high-end push-button phones, such as BlackBerry, Nokia.

It is not known for certain when exactly the Android platform began to develop as an independent universal operating environment for mobile devices. Some experts point to the release of the first iPhone as a starting point. There is an opinion that the developers of the Android OS stole most of the ideas and principles from Apple. In particular, Steve Jobs openly stated this.

However, in just a few years, great prospects for acquiring truly convenient devices have opened up for a huge audience of potential mobile phone owners. The first working Android system was installed in the production model HTC Dream . Version number 1 was called Apple Pie.

Google's strategy to conquer the market included creating an open and free OS. Here the Android operating system has created a real revolution. The use of a free software environment has made it possible to sharply reduce the final cost of a mobile phone. The rationality of this step is demonstrated by the first Android smartphone HTC Dream: in 6 months after the presentation date, more than a million devices were sold.

Era of the CCP

But in fact, it all did not start with the Finnish giant. Of course, its engineers had first-hand knowledge of PCs - the company produced them with all its might, as you can see by reading the history of Nokia. But the first to significantly reduce the size of the computer was a larger player in this market - IBM. At the beginning of the 90s, the so-called PDAs already existed - pocket personal computers. IBM decided to try to add communication functions to this device.

It must be said that cell phones in those years remained like bricks. Therefore, the product of the computer giant turned out to be very bulky. It was called IBM Simon , presented in 1992 at the COMDEX exhibition. But then it was only a concept - the creators were unable to achieve stable operation from their creation. According to their idea, the device combined a mobile phone, a PDA, a pager and even a fax. A monochrome touch screen was used to control all this functionality. By the way, this allowed IBM Simon to become the first touchscreen phone in the world. Sales of the device started only in 1994, and only in the USA - in 15 states to be precise. The cost was $899.

What could IBM Simon do? It had built-in phone and address books, a calculator, notepad, calendar, world clock, email and several games. A smart keyboard was used to enter text. You could press the screen with your finger or a stylus, which had to be purchased separately. It also supported a PCMCIA memory card. Although there was not much point in it, because the device could not play MP3 music or display pictures. And most importantly: it did not have an operating system that allowed you to install additional applications. That is why the IBM Simon still should not be considered a full-fledged smartphone. It only served as inspiration for other companies.

Another interesting experiment was carried out in 1996. It was carried out by Hewlett-Packard and Nokia. The fruit of their joint labors was a PDA called 700LX . You can consider this device a redesigned version of the HP 200LX, a folding pocket computer equipped with a QWERTY keyboard and a monochrome display. The only noticeable difference was the appearance of a special place for installing a Nokia 2110 . This is how the Americans “elegantly” solved the problem of lack of voice communication. Of course, such a product cannot be called a smartphone, since it consisted of two completely independent devices.

Photo: mycalcdb.free.fr

Photo: mycalcdb.free.fr

Photo: mycalcdb.free.fr

Photo: vchehle.ua

Gradually, the size of cellular communication modules decreased. Mobile phones no longer look like murder weapons. It's time to try to truly combine the capabilities of a PDA and a cell phone in one device. Nokia 9000 Communicator was born , it happened in August 1996. The device had a folding body, an external antenna and a convenient QWERTY keyboard. The information was displayed on a fairly large monochrome display. The device was powered by the GEOS operating system. The dimensions of the communicator were 173 x 65 x 38 mm. The weight was an impressive 397 grams. Interestingly, the device could be used even when closed - for this purpose, there was a numeric keypad and a small screen on the top panel. Nokia will use this form factor more than once in the future. The last time we will see the same number of displays and buttons is in the Nokia E90.

Photo: prodnote.wordpress.com

The disadvantage of the unusual device was its closed operating system. Finnish developers did not have time to introduce the ability to install additional applications here. But even without this, the device was not inferior to full-fledged PDAs that existed at that time. And in addition to this, it allowed you to make calls. That is why we can consider that this is the very first smartphone in the world, albeit with some reservations.

Interesting fact: in the future, for quite a long time, any PDA supplemented with a GSM module will be called a communicator. By analogy with MFPs, which for a very long time were called “copiers,” although this word is a trademark owned by the company of the same name.

Advantages of Android

Android differs from other operating systems in its approach to universalization, the use of unified schemes for managing hardware platform components and interaction with the end user. The operating system has the following advantages.

1. A synchronization scheme has been implemented. Having several Android devices, you can have an identical set of programs, contacts, and calendar entries on them. In this case, the user does not need to make any effort.
2. This is an open platform. You can install both programs from the store and those written by third-party developers. Today you can write a program for Android yourself.
3. There is no single app store. This is something other operating systems cannot boast of. In addition to Google Play, Russian users can use the UpToDown depository and other third-party services.
4. The Android-based smartphone was the first to support the Bluetooth wireless protocol. And today this operating system offers the use of the latest versions of this type of communication.
5. Smartphones running pure Android received support for memory cards a long time ago. By the way, iPhones offered this functionality only in the latest versions.

And last but not least for the user, the advantage is that on Android today you can choose a phone from a truly gigantic list of offers. This OS is open and free, so competition in the market for mobile device manufacturers is, as they say, to the death. Both budget-level smartphones and high-end products are available on Android.

The emergence of the first smartphones

For many years, developers have been trying to make pocket computers truly pocket-sized. Those devices that were presented on the market could hardly be called compact even in the 2000s.

But back in the 90s, craftsmen managed to combine not the most convenient PDA with a mobile phone. The name of such a device is a smartphone (smart - smart, phone - telephone).

The 1997 Sharp Personal Mobile Communicator MC-G1 did not gain much fame. However, he became a pioneer of his kind. The device was equipped with dialer, organizer and email functions. And the basis was taken, although monochrome, but a touch screen.

Released in 2000, the Ericsson R380 became much more popular. And this is understandable, because the touch screen and simple push-button keyboard were supported by active advertising, which forced businessmen to shell out money for a new communicator.

A few more years later, full-fledged smartphones appeared. For example, Sony Ericsson P900 (2003).

The device is equipped with a color display of rather large size for those times and a folding panel with buttons. On board it has 16 MB of memory and a 0.3 MP camera.

As if foreshadowing the era of Apple, developers began to produce smartphones like a machine gun. At the end of the usual devices at that time, the Nokia 7710 (2004) took off.

It had a touch screen, a camera, and even support for MS Office. So it could safely be called a full-fledged smartphone and one of the most legendary devices based on the Symbian operating system.

Then other companies showed their devices. For example, ASUS with its P525 (2006).

But by that time it had already become clearly clear that consumers wanted to blur the line between a regular mobile phone and a communicator. The revolution will come with the advent of the first iPhone, and before that time the “zero” generation had to deal with not the most stable Symbian devices.

Brief overview of current versions

You can spend hours discussing which version of Android is better for a smartphone. Even today, owners can still find devices running on Android 2.0. However, version 4.0 offered the optimal set of features and stability.

Ice Cream Sandwich

Version 4.0 was named "Ice Cream Sandwich". Android of this generation was presented along with the branded Galaxy Nexus. For the first time, the operating system became a unified environment for both smartphones and tablets.

In version 4.0, for the first time, facial recognition functionality appeared, the ability to launch applications from the lock screen, support for gestures, and expanded work with cameras. Users were able to shoot panoramas.

Important! But this was not the only breakthrough. Version 4.0 of Ice Cream Sandwich made full phone encryption possible.

KitKat

Android version 4.4 has become, first of all, less resource-intensive. This was achieved, among other things, by refining the interface and improving stability. This feature immediately attracted the attention of manufacturers, and KitKat smartphones became the most popular product on the market. The following functionality has been added to the operating system:

• new interface;
• appearance of a step counter;
• support for subtitles when playing videos;
• new brightness control circuit;
• search for numbers that are not in the phone book - directly in the Google search engine;
• IR port support.

On a note! Users of smartphones running Android version 4.4 have the opportunity to control household appliances. This caused a stir for a while, and today there are hundreds of programs for using your phone as a remote control.

Lollipop

Android version 5.0 received a new updated kernel, the ART virtual machine. The system has become faster, more stable, and more economical in terms of resources. A new mechanism for working with colors has appeared for users. They have become brighter, juicier, more attractive.

I was pleased with version 5.0 and the provision of smart unlocking. The phone now has the ability to remove encryption on its own when it is in a so-called safe place. The functionality has also been added:

• ability to work with two SIM cards;
• flashlight;
• virtual private network service;
• Android TV;
• manual mode for adjusting color temperature, backlight brightness and other display parameters.

Introduced at the end of 2014, Android version 5.0 became an operating system that largely set the development path for further versions of the software environment.

Marshmallow

Marshmallow Android 6 has placed an emphasis on multimedia, primarily on working with the camera. Now you can take high-quality photographs of landscapes, children, and pets. Real-time processing effects are now available. It was devices on Android 6 that were first used for the production of music videos.

The functionality of the system has been supplemented:

• Google's own Now On Tap assistant;
• fingerprint recognition system for locking and encryption;
• support for the Project Brillo operating system - the so-called Internet of Things.

Important! Version 6 introduced a permissions system for the first time. Now for each application you can regulate access rights to hardware or parts of software resources.

Nougat

Version Android 7 was presented to the public in 2016. The operating system now has the ability to use multiple applications simultaneously. You can switch between them with one touch of a button. Besides:

• new system for changing languages ​​with one button;
• separate panel for quick access icons;
• new folder display scheme;
• night mode with reduced brightness;
• energy saving systems;
• virtual reality mode;
• new sleep mode to save battery;
• traffic saving functionality.

Version 7.0 introduced the ability to encrypt folders and applications.

Oreo

The latest version of Android 8 in a huge list of devices offered users advanced configuration of a wide variety of reactions and behavior patterns of the operating system. Appeared:

• new type of notifications;
• the ability to assign a separate notification for actions (notification channels);
• picture-in-picture functionality, allowing users of large-screen tablets to watch videos in the corner of the display (the same mechanics are used to make it easier to control a smartphone with one hand);
• system of restrictions (processes, tracking, etc.);
• reducing the load when several browser tabs are open;
• smart storage system;
• dynamic icons (change the icon without reinstalling the program).

The function of setting up applications responsible for a particular action is very convenient; the gesture control system is popular among users. The new system for responding to long taps and touches is also positively assessed.

Pie

Android version 9, scheduled for release in 2022, risks becoming the most revolutionary product in the entire line of operating system improvements. It will feature features that are not typical for mobile devices.

1. In Android 9, it is possible to turn your smartphone into a mouse and wireless keyboard for a computer or smart TV. To get these features in version 8, it was necessary to obtain superuser rights. Pie functionality will be available to all users.
2. Support for popular unibrows and notches at the top of the display, like Apple, Honor 10 and others, will be implemented at the operating system level. Now the screensaver and desktop background image will expand to fill the entire screen.
3. Advanced security system. Android 9 will monitor absolutely all external connections. It becomes impossible to gain unauthorized access to files, camera, microphone to record conversations. This system is positioned by Google as the beginning of the fight against hackers and other attackers.
4. Working with flexible displays. Folding smartphones are a fashionable trend in the modern market. Android 9 will support working with displays of this type at the software level.
5. Personal assistant for communication. This part of the software environment will help get rid of spelling errors and typos. She will be able to create blanks and learn while using them.
6. Comprehensive biometric identification system. The version 9 system will be able to simultaneously work with retinal scanners and facial recognition software environments. Now this does not require services or programs - everything works at the level of the operating environment.
7. Modified display system. Now digital parameters and signal strength will be displayed as accurately as possible and change in real time.

The capabilities of Android 9 allow us to say that the autonomy of mobile devices will increase dramatically . The operating system receives the rights to regulate the operation of applications. It can learn by predicting which programs will need resources and which processes to assign high or low priority.

Important! A highly anticipated functionality for a huge audience of users is smartphone control using gestures only. Some manufacturers have already announced that this will remove buttons and other controls from the body or screen.

Android 9 will most likely be received out of the box by top-end smartphones. However, many manufacturers have already announced the planned update of the operating system for their models. For example, smartphones running Android 9 are:

• Essential Phone;
• Google Pixel first and second generation;
• OnePlus 6;
• Sony Xperia XZ2;
• HTC U12 Plus and others;
• Huawei P20 and Plus version;
• Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S.

Advice! The full list of smartphones that will receive Android 9 can be found on the official website of the operating system.

Android One and Android Go

Separately, it is worth noting the modifications of the main line of operating systems of the Android family. Smartphones running Android One are called pure Android devices. Initially, this version of the operating environment was developed for extremely low-cost devices. Android One was promoted in the Indian market. Today, famous manufacturers have become interested in it. In particular, Xiaomi plans to release its A1 smartphone on Android One. This phone is based on the Mi 5X model. Other brands are also interested in the platform. Today it is common to talk about the Android One standard, pure Android.

A separate version of the operating system has been developed for extremely old or weak hardware platforms. Smartphones running Android Go are models with a small amount of memory from 512 MB to 1 GB. Also, this operating system does not require much processor power. Today there are many applications for Android Go on Google Play, they are marked with a special icon.

Important! It's worth noting that Android Go is not a stripped-down version. Most of the functions and features of Oreo 8 are available in it. Therefore, users with budget and weak smartphones can decide which Android to choose - the one installed initially or the new GO.

The emergence and development of pocket personal computers

The path of smartphones was very thorny and it began with the advent of pocket personal computers. Among the people, such devices quickly acquired the abbreviation PDA, which is still used by older people today.

But the first pocket computers bore little resemblance to today's smartphones. Relatively speaking, the first small electronic calculators, which appeared in the 60s of the last century, can even be classified as PDAs. At their core, they represented a compact computer with modest computing capabilities.

The weight of the first electronic calculators was 25 kilograms, which is very difficult to imagine in today's realities.

But technology was actively developing, and it became clear that the matter would not be limited to compact calculators. By the 1980s, such devices acquired additional functions that blurred the line between unsightly computing equipment and a full-fledged computer.

The CCP, as it entered history, appeared in 1984. The pioneer was Psion Organizer 1.

The device had a small black and white display and a keyboard that was used for typing. On board the device was a processor with a clock frequency of less than 1 MHz (in modern smartphones, the frequency is measured in GHz), as well as 2 KB of built-in memory.

But a PDA from the same company, produced in 1999, could easily be called a pocket computer. This applies to both external properties and filling.

The processor frequency was 36 MHz, and the built-in memory was already 16 megabytes. In addition, the filling included the Contacts program, which was compatible with Microsoft Outlook.

In the 2000s, the development of handheld computers reached its apogee. Apple's revolutionary device was looming at dawn, and smart businessmen were using Nokia communicators with slide-out keyboards.

At the same time, models with touch screens began to gain popularity. However, this is the topic of the next section of the material.

Review of the best processors for Android smartphones

To decide which processor is better for an Android smartphone, which phone is better to buy from the standpoint of a reasonable investment, you need to understand the operating system features. All chip cores are not always used. For the average user, a modern dual-core processor will be quite sufficient. Those who like surfing and watching videos will be satisfied with the capabilities of a platform with four cores. Well, gamers will need an eight or more core modern processor. In addition to power records, top chips offer other interesting features.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

This chip is the most common on the market. It is used by a large number of manufacturers of top smartphones. The chip has 8 cores and shows significant performance. In addition, the following functionality is offered:

• separate graphics data processing coprocessor;
• module for tracking face and eye position;
• position sensor maintenance system;
• Built-in security coprocessor.

Which useful functions will be used in the smartphone is decided only by the manufacturer. However, we can say with confidence: Snapdragon 845 is widespread, used not only in phones, but also in helmets and virtual reality headsets. It looks like the best processor for an Android smartphone thanks to its power and accessibility to OEMs.

Samsung Exynos 9810

The product developed by Samsung is focused on biometric measurements and record-breaking performance. It has a built-in GPU that is literally second to none. However, there is no artificial intelligence coprocessor here. CPU power requires quick calculation of the required amount of data.

Important! The disadvantage of the processor is a simple fact: it is installed only in Samsung smartphones supplied to the European market. The chip is not very common.

HiSilicon Kirin 970

This Huawei development is both a measure of protection from sanctions and restrictions, and a truly revolutionary product. This processor is the first to implement a neural computing system. At the CPU level, recognition of objects, scenes, setting photographic parameters and much more is implemented. The chip contains a powerful graphics module, as well as a dual image processor. This CPU is installed in Huawei and Honor products.

The first Android phone

This phone was the T-Mobile G1 , also known as the HTC Dream. Its characteristics were more than acceptable by the standards of 2008, although now they seem ridiculous. The phone was powered by Qualcomm's MSM7201A processor with a single ARM11 core clocked at a then whopping 528 MHz along with an Adreno 130 GPU.

It also had 192 MB of RAM and only 256 MB of internal memory, which, however, could be expanded using a microSD card. For connection we used 3G, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi and mini-USB (not even micro). Interestingly, it didn't have a headphone jack, as they say, “before it became mainstream.”

This phone was a masterpiece for its time.

It attracted even more attention because of its BlackBerry-style keyboard —it was a sliding QWERTY keyboard. The phone was 17.1 mm thick and weighed 158 grams, despite having a tiny (by modern standards) 3.2-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels.

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