Happy eighth birthday, Android! Google’s cake salutes previous versions

By Julian Chokkattu Published September 24, 2016

Eight years ago on September 23, Google released Android 1.0. Today, the mobile operating system has more than 80 percent of the smartphone market around the world.

Despite many issues, like a fragmented update process, increased anti-competitive scrutiny by European powers, and increased malware attacks, the operating system has grown remarkably within that short 8-year span.

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Android’s Twitter account said the company was “whipping up something sweet for a big day” on Saturday. The image in the tweet showed Bugdroid, Android’s green mascot, whisking some eggs next to ingredients including marshmallows, nougat, and Kit Kat bars.

We’re whipping up something sweet for a big day tomorrow. #Android pic.twitter.com/I4idH0F4am

— Android (@Android) September 23, 2016

If you’re unaware, the ingredients refer to versions of Android — 4.4 KitKat, 6.0 Marshmallow, and the more recent 7.0 Nougat. Turns out, the announcement was commemorative as we expected.

8 epic years. Naturally, we're celebrating with some of our favorite treats. #Android pic.twitter.com/t2GPZWSCJj

— Android (@Android) September 24, 2016

Still, Android and Chrome OS Senior Vice President, Hiroshi Lockheimer, tweeted the following: “We announced the 1st version of Android 8 years ago today. I have a feeling 8 years from now, we’ll be talking about Oct. 4, 2016.”

Android Police says we’ll be seeing more than the crop of hardware devices expected to launch at Google’s October 4 event in San Francisco. Google may offer a sneak peak at Andromeda, the codenamed project that merges Android and Chrome OS. This would mark one of the biggest changes to Android since its initial release.

We announced the 1st version of Android 8 years ago today. I have a feeling 8 years from now we'll be talking about Oct 4, 2016.

— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) September 24, 2016

The company is expected to launch Google Home, Daydream VR, a Chromecast, and a Wi-Fi router at the event. There hasn’t been much news about Android Wear 2.0 since I/O, but it’s still in beta and expected to launch this fall.

Android, Inc. was founded in 2003, and Google bought the company in 2005. The first Android-powered handset, the HTC Dream, was released in 2008.

Julian Chokkattu

Former Mobile and Wearables Editor

Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…

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Computing

Stop fighting with your roomie over outlets and get one of these multi-port chargers before you head back to school

One plug, zero drama, all your devices charged by morning.

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Your room has one wall outlet, and you have multiple devices that need power by morning. Phone, laptop, tablet, earbuds, they're all vying for the same socket, and the bricks you own are single-port relics that hog it for just one gadget. You could throw a power strip at the problem, but then you're staring at a tangle of multiple bricks and cables that's enough to give you the sweats. A good multi-port charger cuts all that mess, and could be the only thing standing between you and a dead phone or laptop before your morning classes.

Back-to-school season is a smart time to buy one. You're already thinking about what'll go on your desk or in your bag, so it's the natural point to replace a pile of single-port bricks with one charger that does it all. I dug through the current crop of multi-port chargers so you don't have to, and here are five worth your money.

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Somewhere between the last day of school and the first day back, your phone conked out. Perhaps the screen shattered after a particularly nasty fall, or its battery regularly gives up by noon, or apps take so long to launch that by the time they do, you've forgotten why you opened them in the first place. You don't think it'll last another school year, but between all the school supplies and everything else, a budget phone is all your wallet can handle right now.

Fortunately for you, cheap phones have come a long way, offering better screens, bigger batteries, and more capable cameras than devices launched just a couple of years ago. Since you're already prepping to head back to school, this is as good a time as any to lay your old phone to rest and lock in an upgrade. But unfortunately, the timing isn't great for the smartphone industry in general, and that has had a real impact on entry-level phones.

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Does your phone have a cracked screen? A battery that barely makes it past 3 PM? Or a camera that captures a blurry mess instead of great memories? You know it's high time for a new one, and right now, while you're shopping for the new school year, is probably the best time to make the switch.

The best part is that you don't need to spend flagship money to get a phone that'll last you the next few years. Mid-range phones have gotten seriously good of late, closing the gap with flagships where it matters the most, be it battery life, performance, or camera quality. Whether you're upgrading your own phone or picking one out for your kid before classes start, here are the best mid-range phones worth your money this back-to-school season.