Android 17Android 17 (codenamed Cinnamon Bun) is the seventeenth major release and the 24th version of the Android mobile operating system, developed by the Open Handset Alliance led by Google. The first public beta was released on February 13, 2026. It was released to the public on June 16, 2026. The first devices to ship with Android 17 are the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8.
Operating systemAn operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, peripherals, and other resources.
GoogleAmerican multinational technology companyGoogle LLC ( , ) is an American multinational technology corporation focused on information technology, online advertising, search engine technology, email, cloud computing, software, quantum computing, e-commerce, consumer electronics, and artificial intelligence (AI). It has been referred to as "the most powerful company in the world" by the BBC, and is one of the world's most valuable brands.Usage share of operating systemsThe usage share of an operating system is the percentage of computers running that operating system (OS). These statistics are estimates as usage data is difficult to obtain and measure. Reliable primary sources are limited and data collection methodology is not formally agreed upon. Devices connecting to the World Wide Web log which operating system they are using, and so are an approximate measure of OS usage among consumer devices.
SmartphoneA smartphone is a mobile device that combines the functionality of a traditional mobile phone (feature phone) with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multimedia playback and streaming.
Open-source softwareSoftware with publicly available source codeA screenshot of Debian Linux running the Cinnamon desktop environment, featuring Firefox (accessing Wikipedia which uses MediaWiki), LibreOffice Writer, Vim, VLC and Nemo file manager, all of which are open-source softwareOpen-source software (OSS) is computer software whose source code is publicly available, allowing users to use, study, modify, and distribute it — in contrast with proprietary (closed-source) software.
Linux kernelFree Unix-like operating system kernelThe Linux kernel is a free and open-sourceUnix-likekernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNUoperating system (OS), which was created to be a free replacement for Unix. Since the late 1990s, it has been included in many operating system distributions, many of which are called Linux.
Tablet computerA tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet or simply tab, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being computers, have similar capabilities, but lack some input/output (I/O) abilities that others have.
Apache LicenseThe Apache License is a permissive free-software and free and open source software license written by the Apache Software Foundation (ASF). It allows users to use the software for any purpose, to distribute it, to modify it, and to distribute modified versions of the software under the terms of the license, without concern for royalties. The ASF and its projects release their software products under the Apache License. The license is also used by many non-ASF projects.
Proprietary softwareProprietary software is software that grants its creator, publisher, or other rightsholder or rightsholder partner a legal monopoly by modern copyright and intellectual property law to exclude the recipient from freely sharing the software or modifying it, and—in some cases, as is the case with some patent-encumbered and EULA-bound software—from making use of the software on their own, thereby restricting their freedoms.
Free and open-source softwareFree and open-source software (FOSS) is software available under a license that gives users the right to use, share, modify, and distribute the software — modified or not — to everyone and provides the means to exercise those rights using the software's source code. FOSS is an inclusive umbrella term encompassing free software and open-source software.
TouchscreenA touchscreen (or touch screen) is a type of display that can detect touch input from a user to do a specific task. It consists of both an input device (a touch panel) and an output device (a visual display). The touch panel is typically layered on the top of the electronic visual display of a device. Touchscreens are commonly found in smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices. The display is often an LCD, AMOLED or OLED display.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.