2.x Eclair
Sync: Expanded Account sync. Multiple accounts can be added to a device for email and contact synchronization
Email: Exchange support, Combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page.
Bluetooth: 2.1 support
Contacts: Tap a contact photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person.
Messaging: Search all saved SMS and MMS messages. Auto delete oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is reached.
Camera: Flash support, Digital zoom, Scene mode, White balance, Color effect, Macro focus
Virtual keyboard: Improved typing speed, smarter dictionary learns from word usage and includes contact names as suggestions.
Browser: Refreshed UI, Bookmark thumbnails, Double-tap zoom, Support for HTML5
Calendar: Agenda view enhanced, Attending status for each invitee, Invite new guests to events.
System: Optimized hardware speed, Revamped UI
Display: Support for more screen sizes and resolutions, Better contrast ratio
Maps: Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events.
Live Wallpapers: Home screen background images can be animated to show movement
2.0.1
Android 2.0.1 is a minor platform release deployable to Android-powered handsets starting in December 2009. This release includes minor API changes, bug fixes and framework behavioral changes.
2.1
Android 2.1 is a minor platform release deployable to Android-powered handsets starting in January 2010. This release includes new API changes and bug fixes.
2.2 Froyo
System: Speed, memory, and performance optimizations.
Additional application speed improvements courtesy of JIT implementation.
Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application
Improved Microsoft Exchange support (security policies, auto-discovery, GAL look-up, calendar synchronization, remote wipe)
Improved application launcher with shortcuts to Phone and Browser applications
USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality
Added an option to disable data access over mobile network
Updated Market application with batch and automatic update features.
Quick switching between multiple keyboard languages and their dictionaries
Voice dialing and contact sharing over Bluetooth
Support for numeric and alphanumeric passwords
Support for file upload fields in the Browser application.
Support for installing applications to the expandable memory
Adobe Flash support.
Display: Support for extra high DPI screens (320 dpi), such as 4" 720p.
2.3.x Gingerbread
2.3
System: Updated user interface design for simplicity and speed
Display: Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher).
Internet calling: Native support for SIP VoIP telephony
Virtual Keyboard: Faster, more intuitive text input, improved accuracy, better suggested text. Voice input mode
Copy/Paste: Enhanced. Select a word by press-hold, copy, and paste
Near Field Communication lets the user read an NFC tag embedded in a poster, sticker, or advertisement
New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost
New Download Manager giving users easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email, or another application
Camera: Access multiple cameras on the device, including a front-facing camera, if available
Media: Support for WebM/VP8 video playback, and AAC audio encoding
System: Improved power management with a more active role in managing apps that are keeping the device awake for too long
System: Enhanced support for native code development
System: Switched from YAFFS to ext4 on newer devices.
Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers
Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance
Native support for more sensors (such as gyroscopes and barometers)
2.3.3
Android 2.3.3 is a small feature release that adds several improvements and APIs to the Android 2.3 platform.
2.3.4
Added support for voice or video chat using Google Talk.
2.3.5
25 Jul 2011
Brought improved network performance for the Nexus S 4G, among other fixes and improvements.
Fixed bluetooth bug on Samsung Galaxy S
Improved Gmail application
2.3.6
Voice search bug fixed.
2.3.7
Google Wallet support for Nexus S 4G
3.x Honeycomb
3.0
Optimized tablet support with a new virtual and “holographic” user interface
System Bar: Quick access to notifications, status, and soft navigation buttons available at the bottom of the screen
Action Bar: Access to contextual options, navigation, widgets, or other types of content at the top of the screen
Multitasking: Tap Recent Apps in the System Bar, to see snapshots of the tasks underway and quickly jump from one app to another
Redesigned keyboard: To make entering text fast and accurate on larger screen sizes with greater accuracy and efficiency
Copy/Paste: Simplified, more intuitive
Browser: Multiple tabs replace browser windows, form auto-fill, and a new “incognito” mode allows anonymous browsing
Camera: Quick access to exposure, focus, flash, zoom, front-facing camera, time-lapse, and more
Gallery: View albums and other collections in full-screen mode, with easy access to thumbnails for other photos
Contacts: New two-pane UI and Fast Scroll to let users easily organize and locate contacts
Email: New two-pane UI to make viewing and organizing messages more efficient. The app lets users select one or more messages
Support for video chat using Google Talk
Hardware acceleration
Support for multi-core processors.
3.1
UI refinements
Connectivity for USB accessories
Expanded Recent Apps list
Resizable Home screen widgets
Support for external keyboards and pointing devices
Support for joysticks and gamepads
Media: Support for FLAC audio playback.[46][47]
High-performance Wi-Fi lock maintains high-performance Wi-Fi connections when device screen is off
Support for HTTP proxy for each connected Wi-Fi access point.
3.2
Improved hardware support, including optimisations for a wider range of tablets
Easier access for apps to files on the SD card, e.g. for synchronisation
Compatibility display mode for apps that have not yet been optimized for tablet screen resolutions
New display support functions that give developers more control over the look and feel on different Android devices.
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Well, Android 4.0 or Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich is a latest version of Android OS, which is currently under development phase. But there are lots of smartphones and tablet makers are waiting for Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich release. Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich is latest and newest version of Google Android which is expected to release at the end of September or November of 2011.
Here are a number of features regarding Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich:
USB Hosting
It is realized that Android 4.0 will come up with around USB Hosting which will permit one to exploit virtually every device with the tablet series from an Xbox regulator for games to a keyboard/mouse for surfing and additional stuffs. You will also have the capability to incorporate a USB tool to work particularly with an app. So a spirit monitor used with a fitness app, such as.
Tracks Your Face
Android 4.0 will have the capability to road your look so in its place of you attempting to move around to get into the camera, the camera will auto-focus on to you in its place. It will also be practical in video conferencing because the camera will move to you when you begin talking and then move to whoever speaks so you don't waste time attempting to move your device consistently the you would like to spotlight it on anyone in picky.
5.0 Jelly Bean
The next version of Android operating system (Version 5.0) is been already rumored to be named as Jelly Bean which is is believed to include some exciting new feature originally planned in Ice Cream Sandwich version.
Logically the name of the next OS should start with ‘J’ and Jelly Bean sounds quite appropriate as believed by a whole lot of people in know.
The Android Jelly Bean version ( Android 5.0) is believed to be a unified version of Android OS that would function seamlessly on all sorts of devices from Smartphones to Tablets. Shades of such unification might emerge in upcoming Android version Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) itself.
