History of Mobile Operating Systems
Chapter 2
Review Literature and Studies
This chapter discusses all the recent related studies and literatures from all available
resources that tackle about all sorts of mobile operating system that and what are their
different features, late to latest versions and their histories as they hastily developed in
different ways in order to sustain the needs of humans in everyday life.
Introduction
With increasing craze of mobile phones in customers, we often see a wave of confusion for
selection of best phone in their minds. Hundreds of brands with different operating systems,
providing tons of features to customers seems to be a mind boggling market.
Competition in mobile industry is increasing day by day. Every mobile company wants to
provide best features in their mobiles. As a result, we see various mobile companies provide
with different mobile operating systems, having different features on a competitive edge. In
this research, I will be talking about various mobile operating systems, together with their
features, advantages and lack points.
What is Operating System?
[1]
An operating system (OS) is software that manages computer
hardware and software resources and provides common services forcomputer programs. The
operating system is an essential component of the system software in a computer system.
Application programs usually require an operating system to function. Time-sharing operating
systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software
for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, printing, and other resources.
For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating system
acts as an intermediary between programs and the computer hardware,although the
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application code is usually executed directly by the hardware and will frequently make a system
call to an OS function or be interrupted by it. Operating systems can be found on almost any
device that contains a computer—from cellular phones and video game
consoles to supercomputers and web servers.
Types of Mobile OS Platforms
Here are the different types of mobile operating system platforms.
[1]
Real-time
A real-time operating system is a multitasking operating system that aims at executing realtime applications. Real-time operating systems often use specialized scheduling algorithms so
that they can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior. The main objective of real-time
operating systems is their quick and predictable response to events. They have an eventdriven or time-sharing design and often aspects of both. An event-driven system switches
between tasks based on their priorities or external events while time-sharing operating
systems switch tasks based on clock interrupts.
Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also
include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, printing, and
other resources.
Multi-user
A multi-user operating system allows multiple users to access a computer system at the same
time. Time-sharing systems and Internet servers can be classified as multi-user systems as
they enable multiple-user access to a computer through the sharing of time. Single-user
operating systems have only one user but may allow multiple programs to run at the same
time.
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Multi-tasking vs. single-tasking
A multi-tasking operating system allows more than one program to be running at the same
time, from the point of view of human time scales. A single-tasking system has only one
running program. Multi-tasking can be of two types: pre-emptive and co-operative. In preemptive multitasking, the operating system slices the CPU time and dedicates one slot to each
of the programs. Unix-like operating systems such as Solaris and Linux support pre-emptive
multitasking, as does AmigaOS. Cooperative multitasking is achieved by relying on each
process to give time to the other processes in a defined manner. 16-bit versions of Microsoft
Windows used cooperative multi-tasking. 32-bit versions of both Windows NT and Win9x,
used pre-emptive multi-tasking. Mac OS prior to OS X used to support cooperative
multitasking.
Distributed
A distributed operating system manages a group of independent computers and makes them
appear to be a single computer. The development of networked computers that could be
linked and communicate with each other gave rise to distributed computing. Distributed
computations are carried out on more than one machine. When computers in a group work in
cooperation, they make a distributed system.
Templated
In an o/s, distributed and cloud computing context, templating refers to creating a single
virtual machine image as a guest operating system, then saving it as a tool for multiple
running virtual machines (Gagne, 2012, p. 716). The technique is used both in virtualization
and cloud computing management, and is common in large server warehouses.
Embedded
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Embedded operating systems are designed to be used in embedded computer systems. They
are designed to operate on small machines like PDAs with less autonomy. They are able to
operate with a limited number of resources. They are very compact and extremely efficient
by design. Windows CE and Minix 3 are some examples of embedded operating systems.
Android
Android™ operating system is the most common operating system used in smartphones and
tablets worldwide.
Android Version History
[3]The
version history of the Android mobile operating system began with the release of the
Android beta in November 2007. The first commercial version, Android 1.0, was released in
September 2008. Android is under ongoing development by Google and the Open Handset
Alliance (OHA), and has seen a number of updates to its base operating system since its initial
release.
Since April 2009, Android versions have been developed under a confectionery-themed code
name and released in alphabetical order; the exceptions are versions 1.0 and 1.1:

Alpha (1.0)

Beta (1.1)

Cupcake (1.5)

Donut (1.6)

Eclair (2.0–2.1)

Froyo (2.2–2.2.3)

Gingerbread (2.3–2.3.7)
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
Honeycomb (3.0–3.2.6)

Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0–4.0.4)

Jelly Bean (4.1–4.3.1)

KitKat (4.4–4.4.4)

"L" release (developer preview)
What Makes AndroidTM OS Different?
Open
Android was built from the ground-up to enable developers to create compelling mobile
applications that take full advantage of all a handset has to offer. It was built to be truly open.
For example, an application can call upon any of the phone’s core functionality such as making
calls, sending text messages, or using the camera, allowing developers to create richer and
more cohesive experiences for users. Android is built on the open Linux Kernel. Furthermore, it
utilizes a custom virtual machine that was designed to optimize memory and hardware
resources in a mobile environment. Android is open source; it can be liberally extended to
incorporate new cutting edge technologies as they emerge. The platform will continue to
evolve as the developer community works together to build innovative mobile applications.
All applications are created equal
Android does not differentiate between the phone’s core applications and third-party
applications. They can all be built to have equal access to a phone’s capabilities providing users
with a broad spectrum of applications and services. With devices built on the Android Platform,
users are able to fully tailor the phone to their interests. They can swap out the phone's
homescreen, the style of the dialer, or any of the applications. They can even instruct their
phones to use their favorite photo viewing application to handle the viewing of all photos.
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Breaking down application boundaries
Android breaks down the barriers to building new and innovative applications. For example, a
developer can combine information from the web with data on an individual’s mobile phone —
such as the user’s contacts, calendar, or geographic location — to provide a more relevant user
experience. With Android, a developer can build an application that enables users to view the
location of their friends and be alerted when they are in the vicinity giving them a chance to
connect.
Fast & easy application development
Android provides access to a wide range of useful libraries and tools that can be used to build
rich applications. For example, Android enables developers to obtain the location of the device,
and allows devices to communicate with one another enabling rich peer–to–peer social
applications. In addition, Android includes a full set of tools that have been built from the
ground up alongside the platform providing developers with high productivity and deep insight
into their applications.
iOS
iOS Version History
2007: iPhone OS 1
Revealed alongside the original iPhone in January 2007, the first Apple smartphone operating
system was not given a specific name until the following March, with the launch of the first
Software Development Kit beta., when it became known as iPhone OS. The first iPhone could
not support 3G, the copy and paste function, email attachments or MMS - and couldn't run
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third party apps.
Further updates included the introduction of the iTunes Music Store, allowing users to purchase
music directly onto their phones (through a WiFi connection) for the first time, and the ability
to create their own ringtones.
2008: iPhone OS 2
Coinsiding with the launch of the iPhone 3G, the second major update to the operating system
saw the launch of the App Store, leading to the introduction of third party apps and games. Full
support for Microsoft Exchange and the option to wipe your phone in the event of failing to
enter your passcode were other new features, the latter being added in a subsequent update.
Google Street View was enabled with the 2.2 update, featuring walking, driving and public
transport options.
2009: iPhone OS 3
With the third incarnation for the new 3GS handset, the cut, copy and paste function finally
became commonplace, alongside the long-awaited push notifications for third party apps.
Video recording, MMS (multimedia messaging service) and voice control were also added, and
users were given the chance to purchase films, TV shows and audiobooks through iTunes.
Spotlight search enabled more comprehensive search through email, contacts, calendar, notes
and within music, and the new voice memo function facilitated the recording and storing of
audio notes. Purchasing within apps was also introduced, but only within paid-for apps.
The 3.2 version contained a raft of improvements designed for use with the newly released
iPad. While not supporting general multitasking, it was made to accommodate the differing
resolution of a larger screen than the iPhone, as well as revamping apps specifically for the new
platform.
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2010: iOS 4
Introduced on June 21 2010, iOS 4 was the first operating system to bear the iOS name,
released on the new flagship iPhone 4. Its folder system accommodated the storing of up to 12
similar apps within one mother folder, while multitasking allowed apps to run simultaneously,
such as writing an email while listening to Spotify, and navigation apps continuing to track your
location in the background.
iBooks, Apple's ebook-reading software, and its parent iBookstore was introduced, and the
improved 5MP iPhone 4 camera was complemented by 'tap to focus' software and 5x digital
zoom. The device's new front-facing camera also facilitated video calling feature FaceTime.
2011: iOS 5
2011 saw the launch of the iPhone 4S and with it, iOS 5. The main new feature was Siri, Apple's
voice-activated virtual assistant that had previously been downloadable from the App Store as a
third party app. Now integrated into the OS, Siri now communicated with other apps to make
calls, check emails and transcribe text.
Containing more than 200 new features, iOS 5 heralded the arrival of iOS user messaging
system iMessage, Twitter integration across a range of apps and online storage facility iCloud,
replacing previous system MobileMe.
2012: iOS 6
Tim Cook took to the stage at Apple's 2012 WorldWide Developers' Conference shocked fans by
announcing that Google Maps would not feature in latest incarnation iOS 6, and would be
replaced by the company's own inbuilt Maps app.
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Siri also received a makeover, featuring restaurant recommendations, the ability to dictate
tweets or Facebook statuses and film reviews.
A year after Twitter integration into Apple's native apps, Facebook was added to the fold, and
Apple launched its answer to Google Wallet, Passbook, will collated tickets, boarding passes
and coupons within the single app.
2013: iOS 7
iOS 7 marked a radical aesthetic departure for Apple, masterminded by Sir Jony Ive, and
debuted on the twin release of the iPhones 5s and 5c. The new 'flattened' and pared-back user
interface drew praise and criticism in equal measures.
The single-swipe control centre feature allowed users to quickly access key settings such as
WiFi, Airplane mode, Bluetooth and the newly-introduced torch without having to delve into
the Settings menu. Siri was upgraded to both male and female voices, and redesigned to
understand French and German.
Other changes included a new camera interface with a square photo mode, full multitasking for
all apps and new wallpapers.
2014: iOS 8
Announced at the 2014 WWDC conference in June, iOS 8 will feature new frameworks
HealthKit and HomeKit, integrating apps to track health data and the standardisation of
controlling internet-enabled home appliances.
It is expected to ship on the iPhone 6, which Apple is believed to be preparing to announce at
next week's 'special event' in San Francisco.
Other new features include being able to sent audio and video messages by holding down a
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record button while inside the Messages app, new predictive typing feature QuickType and the
new and improved file hosting service iCloud Drive.
iOS Artificial Intelligence
Siri
An intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator which works as an application
for Apple Inc.'s iOS. The application uses a natural language user interface to answer
questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set
of Web services. Apple claims that the software adapts to the user's individual
preferences over time and personalizes results. The name Siri is Norwegian, meaning
"beautiful woman who leads you to victory", and comes from the intended name for the
original developer's first child.
Siri was originally introduced as an iOS application available in the App Store by
Siri, Inc., which was acquired by Apple on April 28, 2010. Siri, Inc. had announced that
their software would be available for BlackBerry and for phones running Android, but all
development efforts for non-Apple platforms were cancelled after the acquisition by
Apple.
Siri has been an integral part of iOS since iOS 5 and was introduced as a feature of
the iPhone 4S on October 14, 2011. Siri was added to the third generation iPad with the
release of iOS 6 in September 2012, and has been included on all iOS devices released
during or after October 2012.
Siri’s Features
Here are some features of the recent update in Apple’s iOS’, the Artificial Intelligence, Siri. Let
us take a look at these features as we turn the spotlight for her.
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
Quick Reply
[4]
If you’re running OS X Mavericks on your Mac, you’re aware of the ability to quickly reply to
certain items in Notification Center. For example, if someone sends you a text message, you can
respond to it just by typing in Notification Center—no Messages app necessary. Likewise, you
can use this same area to enter a quick response to an email message or answer a FaceTime
call.
iOS 8 offers a similar feature. In earlier versions of iOS you could see notifications on the lock
screen or by swiping down from the top of a device’s screen to expose Notification Center, but
your interaction with those notifications was largely limited to reading them and then launching
their host app by tapping on them.
With iOS 8, Apple brings greater interaction to notifications (and not just those issued by
Apple’s apps). For example, if you now receive an iMessage, you can reply to it from the lock
screen or Notification Center. In either case just swipe left on the message to expose a Reply
button. Tap Reply and a Text Message field appears where you can enter your text. Tap Send
next to that field to send your message. Or if you receive a calendar invitation, similarly swipe it
to the left and tap Decline or Accept to do just that. To delete any notification, just swipe it to
the left and tap the X button to remove it. As before, in most cases you can launch a
notification’s host app by tapping on the notification. (Of course when you do this from the lock
screen you’ll have to unlock the device if it’s protected with a passcode.)
Touching the people who matter
Another improvement brought with iOS 8 is the ability to quickly reach out to the people who
matter to you most (or who have most recently been in contact with you). This happens when
you invoke iOS 8’s multitasking interface.
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Double-click on your device’s Home button and you’ll see not only a carousel of the apps
recently accessed on your device, but you’ll also spy favorite (iPhone only) and recent contacts
as represented by round icons at the top of the screen. (On the iPhone you can assign Favorite
status to contacts within the Contacts and Phone apps.)
You can choose to not view recent contacts. To do so, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts,
Calendars and scroll down to the Contacts area. Tap Show in App Switcher and turn off the
Recents switch. On an iPhone you also have the option to not show iPhone favorites.
To contact one of these people, just tap on their icon. The results you see depend on the kind
of information you’ve added to their contact screen. For example, if you’ve added FaceTime,
texting, and mobile phone information to Bubba Jones’ contact card, tapping his icon will
expose links to each means of communication. Tap FaceTime and a FaceTime call will be placed
to the number or account associated with Bubba’s contact. Tap Message and the Messages app
opens, ready for you to compose and send a text.
Shining a light on Spotlight
Under iOS 7 you could swipe down on an iOS device’s screen to explose the Spotlight field.
You’d use this to launch apps or access information stored on your device—contacts, music,
events, email, messages, and so on. If you wanted to look for something not on the device you
could enter a search term or phrase and then tap Search Web or Search Wikipedia.
With iOS 8, Spotlight is in contact with the outside world to a greater extent. Now, instead of
having to specifically tap Search Wikipedia, Wikipedia entries automatically appear in the
results. Spotlight will also search news sources, nearby places, Apple’s stores (iTunes, App, and
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
iBooks), and suggested websites. It’s also able to show you movie showtimes at theaters near
you.
When you tap an entry an appropriate app will launch and display the results. For example, if
you’ve installed the Fandango app and tap on a movie result, Fandango launches and presents
you with the information you want. The Safari app has access to these same sources, so you’ll
get similar results when performing a search within it.
As you could before, you can limit what Spotlight searches for. To do so, tapSettings > General >
Spotlight Search and you’ll see a list of search results. These include Applications, Spotlight
Suggestions, Contacts, Music, Podcasts, Videos, Audiobooks, Notes, Events, Mail, Voice Memos,
Reminders, Messages, and Bing Web Results. If you disable Spotlight Suggestions and Bing Web
Results, Spotlight will search only the contents of the device rather than crawl the Web for
results.
So, about Siri
Siri sports two significant improvements. The first is that it’s more responsive under iOS 8.
Instead of waiting for you to complete your thought, it recognizes words as you say them.
Another trick up Siri’s sleeve is that if you plug your iPhone into a power source, saying the
words “Hey Siri” will cause Siri to come to life, ready to do your bidding. This will be particularly
helpful when you’ve jacked your iPhone into a car’s power outlet and want hands-free help
from iOS’s digital assistant.
If you’re in the habit of shouting “Hey Siri” in your sleep, you’re welcome to switch off this
feature by going to Settings > General > Siri and switch off the Allow “Hey Siri” option.
Windows Phone OS
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
A brief history of Windows Phone OS
Development
[5]
Work on a major Windows Mobile update may have begun as early as 2004 under the
codename "Photon", but work moved slowly and the project was ultimately cancelled. In 2008,
Microsoft reorganized the Windows Mobile group and started work on a new mobile operating
system.[13] The product was to be released in 2009 as Windows Phone, but several delays
prompted Microsoft to develop Windows Mobile 6.5 as an interim release.
Windows Phone was developed quickly. One result was that the new OS would not be
compatible with Windows Mobile applications. Larry Lieberman, senior product manager for
Microsoft's Mobile Developer Experience, told eWeek: "If we'd had more time and resources,
we may have been able to do something in terms of backward compatibility. Lieberman said
that Microsoft was attempting to look at the mobile phone market in a new way, with the end
user in mind as well as the enterprise network. Terry Myerson, corporate VP of Windows Phone
engineering, said, "With the move to capacitive touch screens, away from the stylus, and the
moves to some of the hardware choices we made for the Windows Phone 7 experience, we had
to break application compatibility with Windows Mobile 6.5.
Versions
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7 was announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, on
February 15, 2010, and released publicly on November 8, 2010 in the United States.
Microsoft released an updated version of Windows Phone 7, Mango (also referred to as
Windows Phone 7.5), in May 2011. The update included a mobile version of Internet Explorer
9 that supports the same web standards and graphical capability as the desktop version, multitasking of third-party apps, Twitter integration for the People Hub, and Windows Live
SkyDrive access.
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
A minor update released in 2012 known as "Tango", along with other bug fixes, lowered the
hardware requirements to allow for devices with 800 MHz CPUs and 256 MB of RAM to run
Windows Phone.
In January 2013, Windows Phone 7.8 was released. It added some features from Windows
Phone 8, such as an updated start screen, additional color schemes, and additional wallpaper
options. Windows Phone 7.8 was intended to prolong the life of older Windows Phone 7
devices, as these were not upgradable to Windows Phone 8 due to hardware limitations.
However, not all users have received the Windows Phone 7.8 update yet.
Windows Phone 8
On October 29, 2012, Microsoft released Windows Phone 8, a new generation of the operating
system. Windows Phone 8 replaces its previously Windows CE-based architecture with one
based on the Windows NT kernel with many components shared with Windows 8, allowing
applications to be easily ported between the two platforms.
Hardware support
Windows Phone 8, while adding a number of software improvements, also brought support for
updated hardware. This included support formulti-core processors and high resolution screens.
Windows Phone 7 and 7.5 were often criticized for a lack of high end hardware support, but
Windows Phone 8's new hardware gave Windows Phone the ability to better compete with
Google and Apple smartphones.
Windows Phone 8.1
Windows Phone 8.1 was announced on April 2, 2014, after being released in preview form to
developers on February 10, 2014. New features added include a notification center, Internet
Explorer 11 with tab syncing among Windows 8.1 devices and WP devices, separate volume
controls, and the option to skin and add a third column of live tiles to the Start Screen. Starting
with this release, Microsoft has also dropped the requirement that all Windows Phone OEMs
include a camera button and physical buttons for back, Start, and Search.
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Windows Phone 8.1 also adds "Cortana", a voice assistant much like Siri and Google Now.
Cortana replaces the previous Bing search feature, and will be released as a beta in the United
States in the first half of 2014, before expanding to other countries in late 2014 and early 2015.
Partnership with Nokia
On February 11, 2011, at a press event in London, Microsoft CEO Steve
Ballmer and Nokia CEO Stephen Elop announced a partnership between their companies in
which Windows Phone would become the primary smartphone operating-system for Nokia,
replacing Symbian. The event focused largely on setting up "a new global mobile ecosystem",
suggesting competition with Android and iOS with the words "It is now a three horse race".
Elop's stated the reason for choosing Windows Phone over Android, saying: "the single most
important word is 'differentiation'. Entering the Android environment late, we knew we would
have a hard time differentiating. While Nokia would have had more long-term creative control
with Android (note that MeeGo as used by Nokia resembles Android more than it does
Windows Phone 7), Elop enjoyed familiarity with his past company where he had been a top
executive.
The pair announced integration of Microsoft services with Nokia's own services; specifically:

Bing would power search across Nokia devices

integration of Nokia Maps with Bing Maps

integration of Nokia's Ovi store with the Windows Phone Store
The partnership involves "funds changing hands for royalties, marketing and ad-revenue
sharing", which Microsoft later announced as "measured in billions of dollars. Jo Harlow, whom
Elop tapped to run Nokia's smartphone business, rearranged her team to match the structure
led by Microsoft's VP of Windows Phone, Terry Myerson. Myerson was quoted as saying, "I can
trust her with what she tells me. She uses that same direct and genuine communication to
motivate her team.
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The first Nokia Windows phones, the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710, were announced in October
2011 at Nokia World 2011 event.
At the Consumer Electronics Show in 2012 Nokia announced the Lumia 900, featuring a 4.3-inch
AMOLED ClearBlack display, a 1.4 GHz processor and 16 GB of storage. The Lumia 900 was one
of the first Windows Phones to support LTE and was released on AT&T on April 8. An
international version will launch in Q2 2012, with a UK launch expected in May. The Lumia
610 is the first Nokia Windows Phone to run the Tango Variant (Windows Phone 7.5 Refresh)
and is aimed at emerging markets.
On September 2, 2013, Microsoft announced a deal to acquire Nokia's mobile phone division
outright, retaining former CEO Stephen Elop as the head of Microsoft's devices
operation. Microsoft managers revealed that the acquisition was made because Nokia was
driving the development of the Windows Phone platform to better match their products. The
merger was completed after regulatory approval in all major markets in April 2014. As a result,
Nokia's hardware division is now a subsidiary of Microsoft operating under the name Microsoft
Mobile.
In February 2014, Nokia released a the Nokia X series of smartphones, using a version of
Android forked from the Android Open Source Project. The operating system was modified;
Google's software was not included in favour of competing applications and services from
Microsoft and Nokia, with a user interface is highly modified to resemble Windows Phone.
Cortana
The latest update on Windows Phone OS 8.1 uncovered the latest main feature, The AI
assistant “Cortana”. The Microsoft’s counterpart to Apple’s “Siri”. But who is this “Cortana”
anyways? That shall do when we turn the spotlight to her.
Who is “Cortana”?
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
[6]
Cortana is a personal digital assistant, a kind of silicon secretary who can help make your life
easier. Instead of searching for things you ask Cortana - so if you want to know what the
weather forecast is, how many pounds are in a kilo, who's winning the football or when Jim's
birthday is, you'll ask and Cortana will give you the answer.
Microsoft says that Cortana will be socially intelligent, so for example you'll be able to set a
reminder to ask somebody about something, and the reminder will pop up if you text, call or
otherwise interact with that person.
Cortana, which is Microsoft's rival to Apple's Siri and Google Now, takes its codename from
Cortana, an artifically intelligent character in Microsoft's Halo series who can learn and adapt.
Cortana, Microsoft's assistant technology, likewise will be able to learn and adapt, relying on
machine-learning technology and the "Satori" knowledge repository powering Bing.
Cortana will be an opt-in, not required, feature of Windows Phone 8.1. According to the new
video, Cortana, unsurprisingly, will require users to sign in with a Microsoft Account to use the
service. Once users have signed in, pressing the Bing search button will bring up Cortana as the
default search engine on the phone.
Cortana initially ask users questions including their preferred nickname/name, prefered leisure
activities and interaction styles and the like, according to the video. It will prompt users with
sample questions and tasks they can ask Cortana to perform, such as "wake me at 7 a.m."
BlackBerry OS
Recently, Blackberry is making a big comeback in the fields of mobile technology, to show and
realize to the people that they mean business. Blackberry is taking their products to a next
level, and by the means of that, they revealed their newest operating system, Blackberry 10.
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
[8]The
BlackBerry OS is a proprietary mobile operating system developed by BlackBerry for use
on the popular line of BlackBerry Smartphones. Having gone through many transitions since
its original version 1.0 iteration in 1999, the BlackBerry OS is best known for its security,
multitasking capabilities and interoperability with corporate email infrastructures using such
services as Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise email. Additionally,
calendar, tasks, notes, and contacts are also supported when used withBlackBerry Enterprise
Server. Other features such as BlackBerry Messenger have become a key component of the
BlackBerry OS allowing for consumers and business users alike to communicate through the
real time instant messaging. Although the BlackBerry OS is still widely used and being
developed for, BlackBerry announced on September 27th, 2010 their new operating system,
BlackBerry 10, is based on QNX. QNX powers the BlackBerry PlayBook as well as the now
available BlackBerry Z10 and will be used in future BlackBerry 10 devices.
[9]
BlackBerry Trivia: How did the BlackBerry get its name?
Coming up with a great name for a business is very risky, because it is the first thing a customer
sees, hears and thinks about. If a business does not have a very interesting name, then it might
never succeed.
However, it seems that fruit names for technology are safe bets for manufacturers, especially
since two companies were successful in that department: Apple Inc. and RIM’s BlackBerry.
Naming a device after a piece of fruit seems to be a sure-fire way to ensure a trademark.
The very first BlackBerry phone was not originally named BlackBerry. The devices were called
RIM Wireless Handhelds, initially.
RIM asked a naming expert at the Lexicon Branding in California to name their device. One
person said that the small buttons of the phone looked like seeds, and so they began playing
with fruit names, like strawberry. One linguist said that “straw” was too slow-sounding, and so
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
they came up with BlackBerry. That was better than “LeapFrog,” which was the name RIM came
up with during the gadget’s development.
A Brief History Of BlackBerry OS
[10]
Primitive beginnings
The first operating system launched by RIM was actually on a pager rather than a smartphone.
At this stage the OS already offered email, agenda, calendar and limited HTML access.
2000: The evolution begins
The second version of the BlackBerry OS was a big step forward from the first. The operating
system was migrated from a two-way pager to PDA format and the capabilities of the platform
were ramped up. The OS included email, web browser, agenda,calendar, notes and
even games!
2002: The first BlackBerry smartphone OS emerges
BlackBerry 3.x was the first version of the operating system to be used on board a phone.
Features were very similar to the PDA version, though, notably, Java support was added for the
first time
2004: Color screens and improved web browsing
In 2004 the first color screen BlackBerry devices were unveiled, loaded with the shiny new
BlackBerry 4.x OS.
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BlackBerry OS 4 could be considered RIM’s first ‘modern’ smartphone operating system. The OS
offered an improved HTML browser, a Gallery application for viewing photos and
enhanced two-way chat capabilities.
BlackBerry OS 4 was the operating system with the longest shelf-life of all RIM’s platforms.
After 2004, new versions were being released (4.1 (above), 4.2, 4.3, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7
(below)) until 2008.
BlackBerry goes mainstream
The launch of BlackBerry OS 5 coincided with the period of biggest expansion for BlackBerry. Its
gain in popularity was in part thanks to improved mobile internet connectivity, and also
through the launch of slicker hardware aesthetics, aimed at a younger generation of users.
Version 5 of the OS offered a much improved email application, file viewer, wireless contact,
syncing, Gmail integration, BlackBerry Maps, and much more.
BlackBerry OS 5 was also the first RIM operating system with support for touchscreen devices,
which began to hit the market in 2008.
2010: The social revolution comes to BlackBerry
In 2010 RIM launched the sixth version of its operating system, which boasted among its new
features: an improved browser, with tabbed navigation; integrated system search; social
networking notifications (Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry Messenger, LinkedIn, etc.) and a native
YouTube app.
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
2011: Minor tweaks
BlackBerry OS 7 is the version that today’s BlackBerry devices are armed with – at least until
BlackBerry 10 rolls out. The new additions in respect to version 6 were: FM radio, a tool
for creating WiFi hotspots, NFC support and updates to some native applications.
2013: BlackBerry 10 – RIM’s resurgence?
BlackBerry 10 will deliver a fresher, revamped UI, bringing wholesale changes made to the way
users interact with their BlackBerry devices. It could be RIM’s last chance to stay in touch with
the competition in the smartphone wars.
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
References:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siri
4. http://www.macworld.com/article/2683927/get-to-know-ios-8-spotlight-siri-andnotifications.html
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Phone
6. http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobilephones/cortana-everything-you-need-to-know-about-microsoft-s-siri-rival-1183607
7. http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-cortana-alternative-to-siri-makes-a-video-debut7000026987/
8. http://crackberry.com/category/blackberry-os
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History of Mobile Operating Systems
9. http://www.ecyclebest.com/blog/gadgets/the-very-berry-history-of-blackberry
10. http://features.en.softonic.com/a-history-of-the-blackberry-os-in-pictures
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