It’s been a long eventful year in the Android world. may not have experienced a major interface overhaul like we did with llipop, but with all the constant device releases, it’s been a particularly busy year.

also spent the year with a renewed focus on reclaiming Android. Companies like Samsung, , Motorola still drive Android’s sales numbers around the globe, but it’s still that drives the direction of the platform. Here’s a look back at the events releases that shaped Android in 2015.

Android ar comes of age

st year was slim pickings for Android ar watches. were limited to a bulky, masculine-looking smartwatch made for bigger wrists, or nothing at all. But this year Android ar saw the introduction of more choice. Now, you can choose a stylish smartwatch that matches you taste from manufactures like , Huawei, Asus, Fossil. Motorola also let you customize your second-generation Moto 360, there’s even a size made for ladies.

Android ar received a ton of software updates this year, too, making it the best it’s ever been. ’re still waiting to hear what the deal is with Android ar’s stalone cellular abilities, however. The Urbane 2nd ition E was supposed to be the first Android Device to sport its own E connection, but pulled it from the shelves because of hardware issues.

One thing’s for sure: if you wanna try on a smartwatch, has plenty of variety to choose from— now they work with the ione, too.

The first batch of Android Auto cars come to dealerships

ke I said in my Android Auto review: I love Android I love driving, so I was particularly excited when I had the chance to review one of the first batch of 2015 Hyundai Sonatas with Android Auto baked in.

Android Auto is not perfect by any means—it still needs a bigger library of compatible apps, not to mention more functionality—but ’s put enough work into it thus far that it’s one of the better in-car navigation systems available. You can check which of the car companies have signed on here, or check out one of oneer’s aftermarket units.

Android TV…exists?

’re still sort of confused about Android TV. It exists, but not as prominently as ’s other Android ventures. tried to clear up some confusion this year on what Android TV actually is how you can get it. It comes with some new televisions set-top boxes, like the Nexus ayer the Nvidia Shield. But it’s still a bit of a mystery. Even our sister site wonders if Android TV is really headed anywhere.

Introducing oject Fi, the carrier

weren’t expecting to launch its own carrier this year, but lo behold, oject Fi exists. After months of rumors, oject Fi arrived with promises of fast data in more places, better connections to -Fi. teamed with Sprint T-Mobile to offer the service as an MVNO, basic plans start at $30 for 1GB of data. also just recently announced that you can share your oject Fi data on with a cellular-enabled tablet device, including Apple’s id. ’re not sure what ’s up to with oject Fi in the long run, but for now there’s a cost-effective option from the same company that makes your smartphone. Unfortunately, it’s only available for recent Nexus devices.

Mobile payments become more ubiquitous

I had quite the experience learning to use Android y Samsung y this year. To recap, Android y uses the existing NFC chip in your phone, while Samsung y can use NFC also Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST), which Samsung acquired when it bought opy earlier this year.

But even though retailers have come on board with mobile payments, it’s still not the utopian ideal it’s been made out to be. After my experience testing out both of these mobile payment services, I still find myself whipping out my wallet to complete the transaction. Regardless, both Samsung are doing a lot of marketing to educate the public about each service, including offering incentives to pay with your smartphone.

imposes monthly security updates

You know how they say that, sometimes, bad things happen for a reason? The Stagefright vulnerability that plagued Android users over the summer was awful, but it ultimately lead to more cooperation faster security updates from both device manufacturers. Frequent updates doesn’t necessarily translate to less software fragmentation among Android devices, but at the very least you don’t have to live in fear of the next major security issue.

More executive shuffling

crowned Sundar chai, former head of Android Chrome OS, as its CEO. The move was meant to help create “less of a bottleneck” for chai. His position was eventually filled by Hiroshi ckheimer, who now presides as the Senior Vice esident for Android, Chrome OS, Chromecast. 

Soon after the news of chai’s promotion, announced a restructuring of its business as multiple companies under one umbrella corporation. phabet now serves as an umbrella br for its subsidiaries, which include , Calico, GV,  Capital,  X,  Fiber,  Nest bs. 

Android Marshmallow goes transparent

ok, I’m not saying that Android 6.0 Marshmallow is particularly exemplary or anything like that, but it is a really significant update, it finally brings to Android users what we’ve been clamoring for all along: transparency.

Unlike llipop, which focused on delivering a new aesthetic way of using Android, Marshmallow is more about giving you some control over what’s going on under the hood. The software update allows you to tinker with the permissions for almost every application installed. Marshmallow also features the first iteration of ’s Now on Tap, as well as Doze, which is a serious battery life saver.

Android N is up next on the horizon. ’ll probably hear about that at I/O in the spring time, though the xel C team has hinted that the next version of Android will have much better tablet optimization. (I certainly hope so.) 

A big year for Cardboard

I still get dizzy when I use virtual reality, but that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally indulge in some time with Cardboard, ’s cheap affordable virtual reality viewer.

really wants it to catch on. At its developer conference earlier this year, the company announced a software kit that would bring Cardboard apps to more devices, like the ione. It also showed showed off a 360-degree camera with 16 Goos rigged to it for filming videos specifically to be viewed with Cardboard. And, it introduced  Expeditions, which gives school kids their own Cardboard so that they can take virtual field trips along with their classroom. The New York es, Verizon, Adult Swim have also all offered up their own versions of Cardboard, now you can even make your own personal virtual reality video. There’s no doubt we’ll see plenty more apps experiences for Cardboard coming in the new year.

Blackberry jumps ship to Android

Admittedly, when I heard that BlackBerry would be using Android as its operating system instead of its own BlackBerry 10, I laughed. udly, even. I didn’t believe it was possible for BlackBerry to make an Android device that was worthwhile.

But I was proven wrong, the BlackBerry iv really is a solid smartphone. The iv has even sold out on numerous occasions—though that’s more likely due to the fact that retailers were underestimating how it would perform, thus didn’t order enough units to put on their shelves. Regardless, BlackBerry’s first entry into the Android sphere is an impressive, if somewhat expensive, phone. t’s see if it can make an even better version two.

Android cameras grow up

This year, Android manufacturers made photography a priority. Companies like Samsung, , even Motorola wised up by stuffing better, more capable rear-facing— front-facing!—cameras into their phones, with better software to match. 

This wasn’t the case last year, or even the year before, where it seemed that photography was the last thing an Android phone maker paid mind to. But now, you can prop up a device like the V10 on a smartphone tripod take long exposure shots that look fantastic, the ione no longer holds the crown as the de facto best camera experience.

Android One is a let down

Android One, which was announced at I/O 2014, was meant to bring Android to the masses in emerging markets like India South America. But despite optimistic sales numbers, the affordable Android program is struggling to gain much traction. 

isn’t giving up, however. It’s still investing time in developing software like offline modes for Maps YouTube in an effort to line up with the needs of these sometimes data-poor countries. Sundar chai also continues to underline how important it is for Android to make it in countries like India. He is confident that “in 2016, there will be more Android users in India than in the .” ether that will translate to sales numbers is another thing entirely. Android One still faces stiff competition overseas.

Nexus devices rule everything around me

2015 was definitely the year of the Nexus device. Not only did announce two new Nexus smartphones this year—the Nexus 6/a> Nexus 5X—but they’re both the near-perfect embodiment of what a stock Android phone should be.

’ve yet to see much from in terms of its tablet trajectory, however. The xel C has finally materialized, but we’re not entirely sure what it’s meant for. Is it for productivity, or is it just a really decent Android tablet? ’ll likely see more of that vision in the next year.

I’ve noticed putting more stock into marketing advertising for its Nexus devices, I don’t remember the company ever appealing to the common consumer this much. I constantly see commercials for Nexus phones on Hulu on regular cable television. It’s great, with Material Design all the granularity of Marshmallow, can make a real case that a Nexus phone offers a great experience for the common consumer.

It’s no longer up to to the OEMs to drive the Android force. ’s managed to take back the reins this year. Android’s software is the best it’s ever been. Android hardware is the best it’s ever been. I imagine that, in 2016, it’s just going to get better.