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.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
Britain's travel restrictions
- A negative test 2 days before flying
- Complete passenger locator form
- Book a post-arrival PCR test
- Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
- 11 countries on red list quarantine
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
Scores in brief:
Day 1
New Zealand (1st innings) 153 all out (66.3 overs) - Williamson 63, Nicholls 28, Yasir 3-54, Haris 2-11, Abbas 2-13, Hasan 2-38
Pakistan (1st innings) 59-2 (23 overs)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Specs:
The Specs:
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 444bhp
Torque: 600Nm
Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT
On sale: now.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)
Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)
Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)
Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)
Sunday
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)
Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)
Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)
Eibar v Alaves (7pm)
Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
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2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile
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