In just five years since its inception, Android-powered devices are dominating the smartphone world. Per reports, three in four smartphones shipped in Q3 2012 were Android, and the adoption rate does not show any signs of slowing down.

On 5 Nov. 2007, the newly formed Open Handset Alliance unveiled Android as an open-source operating system for mobile phones. Google was the key player in the launch of Android, and 34 other corporations including HTC, Motorola, and T-Mobile were members of the Alliance.

Android was initially introduced as the OS that would bring innovations to mobile devices. However, it soon turned out as a business killer for smartphones running competitive operating systems, including Symbian, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone. T-Mobile G1, the first Android handset, was an innovative device. Nevertheless, it still wasn't enough to take on BlackBerry or iPhone.

HTC brought Android to spotlight with glorious handsets like the HTC Desire and EVO line-up. Currently, Samsung is the leading manufacturer of Android devices. According to AppBrain, eight of ten top-selling Android devices are Galaxy phones. Samsung's 2011 flagship model - the Galaxy S2 - leads AppBrian's list with 9.9 percent market shares, followed by the Galaxy S3 at 8.9 percent market shares.

In a mid-year Internet Trends report update, Merry Meeker - also known as "Queen of the Net" by some - revealed that Android smartphone adoption is growing six times faster than iPhone, according to TechCrunch. Meeker also highlighted that Android surpassed Windows as the top operating system for Internet-enabled devices in Q1 2012.

Android conquered the smartphone world, but it is second to Apple in the tablet market. However, the difference in Apple's and Android's shares in tablet market is narrowing each quarter.

According to a report by IDC, Apple's tablet market shares dropped to 50.4 percent in Q3 2012, down from 59.7 percent in Q3 2011. On the other hand, Samsung and Amazon - both vendors of Android tablets - experienced a huge growth in the same quarter.

Apple's iOS in the only other mobile OS to record double-digit markets shares for the last quarter, and it will maintain a distant second place, according to IDC. Predications about tablet market are hard to make. However, in the smartphone scenario, it looks like that Android has topped Apple once and for all.