The Android era: From G1 to KitKat

Android 4.4 KitKat refreshed the operating system with a new design, and ushered in a plan to deal with fragmentation. CNET weighs in on how far the Android OS has come and where it's going next.

Google has come a long way since the early days when it struggled to convince the world that its friendly green extraterrestrial could make applesauce of the revolutionary iPhone.

In truth, Google's first Android phone, the HTC-made T-Mobile G1, wasn't much to look at when it debuted in October 2008, with its trough for a keyboard and its bizarrely jutting chin. HTC was hardly a known brand, and we weren't even sure if we were getting a single Google Phone or an entire operating system. Still the humble G1, with its ugly design and few apps, kicked off an Android avalanche just the same.

Now in 2014, Android and iOS both command the smartphone market (CNET's Jason Parker outlines the history of iOS here). Yet for all the platform's success, too many versions of the operating system are available at the same time across handsets and carriers. Whether you call that fragmentation or not, Google is actively trying to change it. When the company released version 4.4 KitKat in 2013, it made a big push to make its operating system smaller, so that it could run on budget devices with small amounts of internal storage and just 512MB of RAM (most flagship Android phones have 1GB or more). And yet, while some Android device manufacturers are starting to build KitKat phones, we still see plenty of brand-new low-end devices released with Jelly Bean 4.3 and 4.2. At least for the foreseeable future, the fragmentation problem is here to stay.

A little perspective tends to go a long way, and in light of that, here's a look at the major milestones in Google's Android operating system, from its humble beginnings to its current ambitions in smartphone and tablet domination.

Android versionSDK release*Notable updatesGPS and Bluetooth (but not stereo Bluetooth)MultitaskingTight integration with Google services like Gmail, Google Maps (with Street View), and Google CalendarApps: Amazon MP3 Store; YouTubeAndroid Market (about 35 apps at launch)No Microsoft Exchange Server; no camcorderUniversal search box (search had been limited to the Web)Revamped Android Market: Browsing categories (Apps, Games, Downloads) and filters (Top Free, Top Paid, Just In)Camera: Toggle between camera and video modes; integrated photo gallery and camera with bulk photo deletingSDK expands support for gestures, voice-to-textVirtual onscreen keyboardCamcorder mode for recording (and watching) videoStereo BluetoothHome screen widgets and foldersCopy/paste and search within the browserDirect upload to YouTube and PicasaMultiple user accountsExchange support; universal email inboxQuick Contact pop-up widget to launch communications with friends in the address bookSearch saved SMS and MMS messagesCamera improvements include support for flash and digital zoomBluetooth 2.1Keyboard improvements: Adaptive dictionary that includes contact names in suggestionsLive wallpaper; five home screensSpeech-to-text added to any text field; microphone icon for voice dictation in emails, texts, and so onSpeedier OSUSB tethering and hotspot supportAndroid Market update: Batch and automatic updates; installing apps to the SD cardAdobe Flash 10.1File uploading in the browserImproved Microsoft Exchange support: Security policies, global address lookup, calendar sync, remote wipeBluetooth support for voice dialing and contact sharingRedesigned copy/pasteWebM video compression supportNFC (near-field communication) supportSwitch to front-facing camera from camera appVirtual keyboard shortcuts3D graphics supportSide-by-side browser tabs; private browsingDual-pane modes for address book, emailRedesigned UI includes program thumbnailsVideo chatting with Google TalkFull-screen-mode photo galleryBluetooth tetheringSupport for peripherals like keyboards and game padsResizable widgets"Pay as you go" support for 3G, 4G tabletsVarious bug fixes and enhancementsSupport for virtual buttons in addition to touch-sensitive buttonsCreate folders by dragging apps on top of each otherA new app tray tab for thumbing through widgetsCalendar app now supports pinch-to-zoomGmail gets offline search, swiping between conversationsRevamped Gmail user interfaceNew Chrome browser syncs with your bookmarks, saves pages offline, supports 16 browser tabsMore keyboard error correction, inline spell checkCustomizable lock screen, launcherRecent applications iconRoboto typefaceNew swipe/delete behaviorImproved voice integration and copy and pasteFace Unlock security featureData Usage trackingHide unwanted app iconsShut down apps that are using background dataNative camera features include zero shutter lag, continuous focus, zoom while recording, taking a still photo while recording, panorama photos, time lapse settings 1080p recordingFace detection in the cameraIntegrated photo editorNew gallery layout, organized by location and personPhone app lets you swipe between favorite friends with integrated visual voice mailSpeed up and slow down voice mailsQuick message sends canned response text message when you decline a callAndroid Beam, an NFC feature for exchanging information between two phones by tapping themWi-Fi Direct supportFaster, smoother performance with "Project Butter"Expandable notifications with greater interactionVoice search access by swiping up from bottom of the screenVoice actions engine replies to some queriesGoogle NowOffline dictationDefault Chrome browserResizable app widgets (for some)Android Beam support for transferring larger files, like photo and videoNew filmstrip view of recent shots in the camera appApplications update in Google Play with just the changed codeSound search widget for music IDHigher-resolution contact photosGreater accessibility optionsExpanded language support, especially for Arabic and HebrewInterface tweaksLock screen widgets, and the ability to open the camera from the lock screen.Quick Settings in the notification menu to toggle Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and more."Daydream" screensavers, which show time and other information when the screen is locked or device is docked.Multiple user accounts on tablets only.Support for wireless display (such as Miracast)Accessibility features, including triple-tap to magnify the entire screen, pan and zoom with two fingers. Speech output for blind users.Unified interface layout for all devices, with system bar at the top of the screen, and a home screen dockMore Actionable Notifications, which let you respond to the notification without opening the app.Bluetooth Low Energy support.Location tracking with Wi-Fi -- your device can track your location without turning on Wi-Fi.Support for 4K resolution phones.Major design interface update, especially for new Nexus devices. Translucent status bar in the OS and in apps. New "immersive mode" where apps can hide navigation and status bars.The size of the operating system shrunk so it can run on lower-end devices with small amounts of RAM and internal storage.Wireless printing using Google Cloud Print.* The date reflects the SDK release rather than the over-the-air (OTA) update timeline since OTA release dates vary by carrier and handset model.

Android KitKat was released on October 31, 2013, and brought with it a bunch of design changes, most of which were only noticeable on the new Nexus 5 handset. While there have always been differences between Android on a Nexus device and Android on every other phone or tablet, the Nexus 5 took on a completely new look thanks to the Google Now launcher (originally called the Google Experience launcher), a home screen replacement with a transparent app drawer, large icons, and a dedicated Google Now screen.

On other Android phones and tablets, KitKat's additions are a bit more subtle. On most phones, you'll now see a transparent status bar, instead of the earlier black bar, on the home screen and in some apps. KitKat also brings wireless printing to the entire OS, so you can print photos, websites, documents, and more from your phone or tablet, as long as you've set up Google Cloud Print.

At the time of this update, we are a little more than a month away from Google I/O 2014, the company's development conference, where it often announces new products, software updates, and more. What we'll see at the event is still up in the air, but it's possible we'll get a shiny new Android update. It might be version 4.5, or Google could finally jump to a new number with 5.0. Either way, rumors say the next flavor of Android will be named Lollipop, and debut on a new 8-inch Nexus tablet. We can't wait to sink our teeth into it.

Editors' note: This article was originally published August 4, 2010, and is periodically updated to include new versions of Android.

The Bottom Line: Though we're not in love with the design and would have liked some additional features, the real beauty of the T-Mobile G1 is the Google Android platform, as it has the potential to make smartphones more personal and powerful. That said, it's not quite there yet, so for now, the G1 is best suited for early adopters and gadget hounds, rather than consumers and business users. / Read full review

Jessica Dolcourt Jessica Dolcourt reviews smartphones and cell phones, covers handset news, and pens the monthly column Smartphones Unlocked. A senior editor, she started at CNET in 2006 and spent four years reviewing mobile and desktop software before taking on devices. See full bio

Sarah Mitroff Sarah Mitroff is a CNET associate editor who reviews Android and Windows Phone software and, occasionally, hardware. In the past she's written about everything from Android apps to startups Wired, MacWorld, PCWorld, and VentureBeat. She loves pretty space photos, the San Francisco Giants, and apps that organize the recipes she compulsively hoards. See full bio