Since its debut in 2008, the Android operating system has shot up to make it the most widely used OS in the world. However, what does the word Android actually mean or its origin?
Android before being bought by Google, was originally a startup founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin and his colleagues. Andy Rubin is a former Apple employee who then wants to try his luck by establishing his own company.
Initially, Android was designed as an operating system for digital cameras. Later on, they felt that Android had more potential to become a competitor to Windows Mobile or Symbian, which was victorious at that time, so that it eventually became an OS for mobile phones.
Andy Rubin had approached HTC and Samsung to support Android, but failed. Until finally Google bought Android Inc for USD 50 million in 2005.
Now regarding the name, Android has actually been around for a long time as a nickname for robots shaped like humans. Even the word Android has been used since the 1700s to name a mechanical device that looks like a human.
Regarding its origin, the root of the word is from Greek. Andr means human and oid means like. So when combined it means like a human.
Well, Android as the name of the OS is actually not directly related to the OS itself. As quoted from Howtogeek, when Andy Rubin worked at Apple from 1989 to 1992, he was nicknamed Android.
That's because Andy is known to really like the world of robotics. Andy even had a personal website called Android.com. So when you set up a startup, your name is Android. So that's what the word Android means. As for Andy Rubin himself is no longer working at Google.