Android Go
File:Android Go Logo.jpg | |
OS family | Unix-like (modified Linux kernel) |
---|---|
Working state | Current |
Initial release | December 5, 2017[1] |
Latest release | Android Go 10 |
Marketing target | Low end smartphones, Phones with 2GB RAM or less, Ultra low budget phones |
Official website | www |
Android Go, also known as Android Go Edition, is a version of Android distribution designed for low-end and ultra-budget smartphones, first made available for Android Oreo. It is intended for smartphones with 2 GB of RAM or less. This mode has platform optimizations designed to reduce mobile data usage (including enabling Data Saver mode by default), and a special suite of Google Mobile Services designed to be less resource- and bandwidth-intensive. Google Play Services was also modularized to reduce its memory footprint.[2] The Google Play Store will highlight lighter apps suited for these devices.[3][4]
The operating system's interface differs from that of mainline Android, with the quick-settings panel giving greater prominence to information regarding the battery, mobile-data limit, and available storage; the recent apps menu using a modified layout and being limited to four apps (in order to reduce RAM consumption), and an application programming interface (API) for allowing mobile carriers to implement data-tracking and top-ups within the Android settings menu.[2]
Versions
Android Go was made available to OEMs for Android 8.1, and later, for Android Pie.
Code name |
Version numbers |
Initial release date |
Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Oreo (Go edition) | 8.1 | December 5, 2017 | [5] |
Pie (Go edition) | 9 | August 15, 2018 | [6] |
10 (Go edition) | 10 | September 25, 2019 | [7] |
Legend: Old version, not maintained Old version, still maintained Latest version |
See also
- Comparison of Android Go products
- Android One, another system software originally designed for entry-level devices
- KaiOS, similarly designed system software for modern Nokia feature phones
References
- ^ Morrill, Dan (September 23, 2008). "Announcing the Android 1.0 SDK, release 1". Android Developers Blog. Google. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ a b "Android 8.0 Oreo, thoroughly reviewed". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^ ""Android Go" will strip Android down for ultra-low-budget phones". Ars Technica. Conde Nast. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ "Android Go could help make Android O a runaway success". Engadget. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ "Introducing Android Oreo (Go edition) with the release of Android 8.1". Google. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Android 9 Pie (Go edition): New features and more options this fall". Google. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "More improvements for Android on entry-level phones". Google. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.