In 2008, the smartphone world had already been turned on its head after Apple unveiled a mobile device without a physical keyboard a year earlier, a move infamously mocked by Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive at the time.
The iPhone's design was not original – remember the Palm devices and other personal digital assistants? But it was the first that was an actual smartphone and Apple was so confident it was the next big thing that the late Steve Jobs said the company had made sure its screen technology was patented.
At the time, apart from the second iPhone, the 3G, the most notable smartphones were the first Sony Xperia (X1), the BlackBerry Bold and Nokia's XpressMusic, which was in its second year alongside its usual phalanx of devices.
Even Samsung Electronics, which would later become the world's biggest mobile manufacturer, was trying to join the major smartphone league although – fun fact – the South Korean technology giant had launched a device without a keyboard, the Palm OS-powered SPH-i300, in 2001.
However, in the line up of hand-held devices of the era, one phone stood out – the HTC Dream. Known also as the T-Mobile G1 in the US and parts of Europe, it was powered by a new mobile operating system from Google, called Android.
It was the new challenger to operating systems such as Nokia's Symbian, BlackBerry's OS, Windows's Mobile, everything Linux-based and what would become its main rival, Apple's iOS.
Since 2019, Android versions have simply been known as integers. Of course, old tech heads know it had sweeter beginnings.
April 27 marks the 15th year of the Android Cupcake. Emerging in 2009, it stands as the bedrock on which the foundation for the world's most-used mobile operating system is built.
Android commands about 71 per cent of the global market as of March 2024, comfortably ahead of iOS's 28.5 per cent, data from StatCounter shows.
“Google's mission is to establish Android as an open-source OS freely available to all, and this will continue to be our driving force … for our future developments,” Yacine Zerkdi, the tech company's Android chief for the Middle East, tells The National.
“Android Cupcake is a true milestone for us for many reasons.”
It all began with Android, the company
Before the Android OS was the company: Google's California neighbour, Android Inc. The Palo Alto-based company began in 2003 with a mission to develop an OS for a camera system before pivoting to focus on mobile devices in 2004 (the same year Google “pranked” us all with Gmail).
The most notable executive of Android Inc was one of its founders, Andy Rubin, who previously worked as an engineer at German imaging company Carl Zeiss and Apple, where it is said he got his idea for the name “Android”.
He would eventually work as a senior vice president at Google from 2005 to 2014, mostly overseeing the development of Android.
The next year, 2005, Google bought Android Inc for a reported $50 million – about $80 million in 2024 dollars, making it a steal compared with the $12.5 billion Google paid for Motorola Mobility in 2011.
It is unclear what Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were thinking when they acquired Android the company. Reports say they had their own aspirations and vision for mobile devices, but Google focused on developing Android for personal computers.
In 2007, Google led the foundation of the Open Handset Alliance, which aimed to promote Android as an open source software and – critically – free OS. Among the earliest members to sign up were Samsung, LG, Intel and Nvidia.
Google had an enticing pitch: Use Android and take advantage of its growing ecosystem, which at the time included the early versions of Google Earth and Google Docs, among others – all at the touch of your finger.
'Dream' comes true
Users finally got to sample what Android was all about in the HTC Dream – although, in line with the times, it is a far cry from what we are used to on our screens nowadays.
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Android 1.0 – code-named Alpha – was released in September 2008 and would eventually be used on the Dream in the following month. It featured Google Maps and Gmail integration, and at times painfully needed physical keys to perform certain functions.
Android 1.1 – Beta – was introduced on February 9, 2009, and mostly fixed issues that plagued its predecessor. Judging by the naming convention, you would be forgiven if they used the next letter in the Greek alphabet, Gamma, or maybe continued on using the phonetic alphabet, which in this case should have been Charlie. A foreshadowing of Google's restructuring to Alphabet in 2015?
Alpha and Beta were code-named Astro Boy and Bender, respectively, and some quarters called them Apple Pie and Banana Bread, just for fun.
Then Google dropped a sugar bomb: The next version of Android, 1.5, was named Cupcake, and, once again, it was another HTC device, the Magic, on which the OS made its debut.
That triggered a run of sweet times for users and developers, spawning guessing games and even brand tie-ups, which cemented its popularity and eventual dominance.
Subsequent versions of Android would be named Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo and Pie.
The KitKat and Oreo versions were particularly fun and hyped, with custom products and loads of internet fodder.
But Cupcake is not just recognised for its name; it also introduced some key Android features that would pave the way for subsequent, important updates.
The tangle with Apple
Probably the most critical feature of Cupcake was its text prediction and custom word support for virtual keyboards, including custom words from third-parties, steering away from the HTC Dream's physical keyboard.
It was “a soft keyboard for more efficient communication”, Mr Zerkdi says.
That also set the stage for buttonless smartphones and positioned Google to directly tangle with Apple, which, by this time in 2009, was only weeks away from launching the third iPhone, the 3GS.
In addition, Cupcake introduced shortcuts and widgets, and allowed users to customise their home screens. It also unveiled a faster web browser that would now also support copy-paste features.
On the multimedia side, Cupcake added auto-pairing and stereo support for Bluetooth, video recording, support for MPEG-4 and 3GP video formats, as well as the ability to directly upload videos to YouTube, which was four years old at the time, having been acquired by Google for $1.65 billion in 2006 – another steal for the company.
Other notable Cupcake features included favourite contacts with pictures, date and time stamps in its call log and, just for fun, animated screen transitions.
It would also lay the groundwork for a significant gaming experience on mobile, which is a lucrative market today with hundreds of millions of users globally.
“Because of the widespread availability and affordability of smartphones, mobile gaming has enhanced gaming accessibility for all by incorporating customisable controls, subtitles and adjustable difficulty settings,” Adveta Dwivedi, head of marketing at Dubai-based GameCentric, tells The National.
“This ensures that people of diverse ages and backgrounds can conveniently enjoy gaming anytime and anywhere on their mobile devices.”
Bittersweet end?
Eventually, Google stopped using sugar bombs after Android Pie, simply naming 2019's version as Android 10, because the company felt they might not be inclusive internationally.
Cupcake’s end, on the other hand, came on June 30, 2017, when Google officially stopped market support for the iconic version.’
In addition, there were no mainstream sweets starting with Q, but according to Dave Burke, vice president of Android, his personal choice would have been Queen Cake, which is from the UK.
It is reported that Android 10 was internally code-named Quince Tart, after the Greek dish, showing versions that officially used numbers still received their “sweet” internal codenames.
It was Red Velvet Cake for 11, Snow Cone for 12, Tiramisu for 13, Upside Down Cake for 14 and Vanilla Ice Cream for 15, which is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2024.
The alphabetical order leaves us with W, X, Y and Z. Off the top of the head, we would like to think they would be Waffle, Xuixo (from Spain), Yogurt and Zebra Cake.
Maybe it's best to start the guessing games now.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
if you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals (more at www.hertz.com/etihad). A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United: Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')
Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Results
2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.
4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
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