First Android phone released (October 22, 2008)
The T-Mobile G1 (known overseas as the HTC Dream) is the first smartphone to ship with Android. Even though the phone was incredibly clunky, it was pretty well received overall sold over a million units.
announces Cupcake (April 30, 2009)
The first major update to the OS, Android 1.5 Cupcake starts the trend of naming Android updates after desserts adds support for widgets, video uploads to YouTube, a virtual on-screen keyboard.
Android Donut unveiled (September 15, 2009)
Android 1.6 Donut rolls out to the small hful of Android phones brings with it support for more screen resolutions. The update also improves the camera adds a speech-synthesis engine that lets Android “speak” simple lines of text.
Verizon backs Android (October 26, 2009)
The Motorola Droid is announced for Verizon, making it the first Android phone for the carrier. The phone ships running Android 2.0 Eclair, which includes a better version of Maps. Verizon aggressively markets the phone, painting it as the antithesis of Apple’s ione.
The Nexus One is released (nuary 5, 2010)
decides to leave the carriers behind by releasing its own unlocked phone. The Nexus One is sold directly from with the promise of software updates directly from the search giant, free from any carrier or OEM interference.
announces Android Froyo (May 20, 2010)
Android 2.2 Froyo brings Adobe Flash to Android, allowing people to enjoy Flash videos games on their smartphones.
Android Gingerbread debuts (December 6, 2010)
Android 2.3 Gingerbread adds native support for NFC (near field communications) a number of other sensors including gyroscopes barometers. Gingerbread would go on to be the most used mobile operating system in the world.
First real Android tablet announced (February 24, 2011)
The Motorola Xoom becomes the first true Android tablet is announced alongside Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Honeycomb adds support for multicore processors replaces the hardware navigation buttons with virtual ones.
Malware in the Android et (h 1, 2011)
The ay Store (known then as the Android et) suffers from a serious bout of malware. ends up pulling more than 50 infected apps, people start to seriously question how secure Android really is.
shows off Ice Cream Swich (October 19, 2011)
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Swich gives the operating system a major makeover, bringing many elements from Honeycomb to smartphones. This version of the OS includes a number of new features including Android Beam, panoramic photos, the ability to unlock your phone using your face.
ablets become a thing (late October 2011)
Samsung introduces the Galaxy Note, sparking a trend of smartphones with bigger screens. The phone is panned in the United States but becomes a huge success overseas, outselling many regular-size phones. Copy editors everywhere cringe as people invent a new word for this not-quite-a-phone-but-not-quite-a tablet device.
announces the Nexus 7 Nexus Q (ne 27-29, 2012)
At the 2012 I/O, the company takes the wraps off a number of products including the budget-friendly Nexus 7 totally bizarre Nexus Q. The Q unfortunately (fortunately?) never sees the light of day, but the Nexus 7 becomes an instant hit sells out almost immediately online.
Oh, Android 4.1 lly Bean (ne 27-29, 2012)
at’s a product launch without a new version of Android? Android 4.1 lly Bean adds the ever helpful Now helps to unify Android tablets phones. The update also gives the OS a much needed speed boost thanks to the improvements in “oject Butter.”
500 million Androids activated (September 11, 2012)
Android is the most popular operating system in the world, with 1.5 million new devices activated daily.
Nexus 10 Android 4.2 lly Bean announced (November 13, 2012)
Despite its event being canceled by a hurricane, goes ahead with announcing Android 4.2 lly Bean the Nexus 10. This new version of lly Bean adds oto Spheres the ability to have multiple user accounts on tablets. The Nexus 10 marks the first 10-inch Nexus tablet boasts an eye-meltingly high-resolution display.
Rubin leaves Android (h 13, 2013)
The head of Android leaves the project to work on other things at . Sundar chai is put in charge of the department, tasked with running both the Android Chrome teams.
New Nexus 7 new version of lly Bean revealed (ly 24, 2013)
A slimmer, faster version of the Nexus 7 is launched running Android 4.3 lly Bean. The update includes support for OpenG3.0 Bluetooth 4.0 w Energy.
Hugo Barra leaves (August 28, 2013)
In a move surrounded by scal mystery, the vice president of Android, Hugo Barra, leaves for Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi. Barra was the face of Android was the one who stood on stage introducing the Nexus 7.
1 billion Android devices activated total (September 3, 2013)
Android continues to grow doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It’s still the most popular mobile operating system in the world is starting to make its way into other devices like laptops, TVs, watches. Happy birthday, Android! Here’s to another five years.
