Google has been putting Android versions in alphabetical order for a while, naming them after desserts such as Android 7.0 Nougat, Android 8.0 Oreo and Android 9.0 Pie. However, with the release of Android 10, it seemed like the fun tradition had come to an end. But some traditions never die, they just go underground. So what is the secret name of the dessert for Android 11? The latest version of the platform is now Android 11 Tiramisu.
It is an ultra-fast operating system designed for smartphones with less than 2 GB of RAM and it is lighter and saves data, making it more accessible on many devices. Android 11 had a wider release than previous versions, with OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo and Realme joining Google Pixel for first place. If you have a Pixel 2 or later, you probably have this operating system update. Android 11 groups notifications from messaging apps into a Conversations section at the top of the notification screen.
It recognizes different message chains and you can set one as a priority conversation to receive improved notifications. You can also mute notifications for specific threads if they are blowing up your phone. By holding down the power button, more options appear in Android 11, including Google Pay and smart home controls. It also improves privacy features by allowing you to choose whether to allow an app access to your location, microphone or camera while you're using it or just once.
If you haven't used an app for a long time, Android 11 automatically resets its permissions. Android 10 (formerly known as Android Q) adds support for foldable phones and Live Caption which automatically captions audio played on a smartphone without an Internet connection. The new focus mode allows you to mute distracting applications when you need a break and the intelligent response can detect your next move. Android 10 adds privacy and location sections to your settings so you can choose to share location data only when using an app and receive alerts when you share your location. It also integrates Google Family Link with the smartphone usage panel introduced with Android Pie and security updates take place in the background without needing to restart them. Android 9.0 Pie aims to help you use your smartphone less by adding a panel that monitors your usage and several ways to mute notifications when you're busy or trying to sleep.
The operating system also learns from your behavior, offering to disable notifications that you frequently dismiss and giving battery priority to the apps you use most frequently. Google no longer supports Android 8.0 Oreo but it coincided with Go Edition, the company's lightest operating system for low-end devices which brought standard Android to cheaper devices that didn't have room for the full operating system. It also added some usability improvements and fixed a controversial emoji. Google no longer supports Android 7.0 Nougat but it added support for split screen functionality and more inclusive emojis with more skin and hair options. Google no longer supports Android 6.0 Marshmallow but it introduced Do Not Disturb mode which allows users to mute all notifications for a specific time or only allow priority alarms or alerts. It also added permissions in applications so users can choose which permissions to allow and which to block instead of enabling them all. Android Marshmallow was also the first Android operating system to support mobile payments through Android Pay (now known as Google Pay).Google no longer supports Android 5.0 Lollipop but it introduced Google's Material Design language which controls the appearance of the interface and extends to all Google mobile applications. It also added a new way to transfer data between phones, Smart Lock which prevents your phone from locking when you're in a trusted place or connected to a trusted device, and security features such as remaining locked until the owner logs in to their Google Account even if the thief manages to reset the device. Android 5.0 Lollipop was also the first version of the operating system to support Wear (formerly Android Wear) by Google. The deal between Android and Nestlé was so secret that many Google users didn't know it until the presentation of the KitKat statue on the company's Silicon Valley campus. Android 12 would have to follow the alphabet and start with “S”, and there are a lot of options to choose from.
