This weekend Android celebrated its 5th Birthday. On September 23rd, 2008, T-Mobile launched the first smartphone to run Android – The HTC G1. The device featured a sub-standard-definition display, 3G connectivity and 528MHz processor. That was all cutting-edge hardware in 2008.
This mobile operating system has inspired the growth of a highly competitive ecosystem that has helped fuel innovation worldwide. Over the years Android has evolved to support HD displays and tablet form factors. It was the first OS to pair smartphones with LTE connectivity — and the list goes on.
But my favorite feature of Android is its nomenclature. For each major build of Android, Google assigns it a dessert name. The company then commissions a statue of said dessert and installs it on its headquarters’ lawn. It pick desserts in alphabetical order:
Android 1.5 – Cupcake
Android 1.6 – Donut
Android 2.0 – Éclair
Android 2.2 – Frozen Yogurt, aka “FroYo”
Android 2.3 – Gingerbread
Android 3.0 – Honeycomb
Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich
Android 4.1 – Jelly Bean
What should the next Android release be named? Tell us in the comments below!
