Android 2.0 released; more features and improvements for developers
Created by hasan.kamal under Android
Google launched the newest version of the Android 2.0 SDK today to the public for development purposes. The new release offers a significant amount of tools for developers to help with app development along with increased support for the various phones that are being released in anticipation of the holiday season.
For users there are plenty of new features that will be used in their new high-end phones from HTC, Samsung, and Motorola. As a result, the attraction for Android phones will most likely sky-rocket and developers can create more sophisticated and detailed apps.
Below is a list of new features for users:
Contacts and accounts
· Multiple accounts can be added to a device for email and contact synchronization, including Exchange accounts. (Handset manufacturers can choose whether to include Exchange support in their devices.)
· Developers can create sync adapters that provide synchronization with additional data sources.
· Quick Contact for Android provides instant access to a contact’s information and communication modes. For example, a user can tap a contact photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person. Other applications such as Email, Messaging, and Calendar can also reveal the Quick Contact widget when you touch a contact photo or status icon.
· Exchange support.
· Combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page.
Messaging
· Search functionality for all saved SMS and MMS messages.
· Auto-delete the oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is reached.
All of these new features are important considering that many of the phones are now the equivalent of personal media devices that plays multimedia files, surfs the Internet, doubles as Personal Digital Assistants and function as phones as well.
The Exchange support is vital for business users who often need to sync with secure company email servers to access their email. In addition, the improved support will help developers with business productivity apps to increase their customer base since companies will most likely require apps that secure connections and provide customized email support. The improved synchronization support helps cement the concept of phones being personal digital assistants and small netbooks that are capable of handling the demands of business professionals.
Improved phone contacts are necessary when most individuals have close to more than a hundred or so detailed contacts in their phones. Especially those that are in the business world often have detailed business cards dedicated to their contacts.
Camera
· Built-in flash support
· Digital zoom
· Scene mode
· White balance
· Color effect
· Macro focus
Camera support is important considering that many of the new Android phones have powerful cameras which require improved support as the phone cameras are slowly becoming acceptable means of capturing photos. Considering that the iPhone received camera support very late, it is good to note that Android has strongly started committing support to the camera features on its phones.
Android virtual keyboard
· An improved keyboard layout to makes it easier to hit the correct characters and improve typing speed.
· The framework’s multi-touch support ensures that key presses aren’t missed while typing rapidly with two fingers.
· A smarter dictionary learns from word usage and automatically includes contact names as suggestions.
The virtual keyboard for the iPhone has been a source of serious contention amongst users for a significant amount of time. The primary reason of many people leaving the iPhone has been the virtual keyboard that either aggravates or delights users. Android has learnt from Apple’s mistake and has constantly worked to improve the virtual keyboard in its OS. Resultantly, this is also important for handset manufacturers who have massive touch-screens on their phones and need an extremely stable input technique to ensure the phones sell in the upcoming holiday season. The input system is a major competitive point between Android phones and the iPhone; an input system that is much user-friendly than that of the iPhone will boost Android phone sales significantly.
Browser
· Refreshed user interface with actionable browser URL bar enables users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation.
· Bookmarks with web page thumbnails.
· Support for double-tap zoom.
· Support for HTML5:
o Database API support, for client-side databases using SQL.
o Application cache support, for offline applications.
o Geolocation API support, to provide location information about the device.
o <video> tag support in full screen mode.
As data service plans become cheaper, phones should be able to access web content more efficiently and effectively. With large touch screens many websites can comfortable be loaded without requiring a mobile specific version of the website. The improved HTML5 support is also important considering that most Android phone users are of a fairly technical background and utilize their phones to their full capacities. With HTML5 support growing and as websites adopt new standards, it ensures that Android phones remain up-to-date regardless of the changes in technology.
Media Framework
Revamped graphics architecture for improved performance that enables better hardware acceleration.
Bluetooth
· Bluetooth 2.1
· New BT profiles: Object Push Profile (OPP) and Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
With a slew of accessories that are now reliant on the new Bluetooth standard, this update is a welcome addition allowing users to fully upgrade to their new accessories. With the number of car entertainment systems and navigation devices offering Bluetooth support, new Android phones are capable of synching more efficiently with these devices to provide improved support and updates.
The new SDK release comes in perfect timing as Google is spending significant amounts of capital acquiring specific technology firms that will most likely be used to revamp the Android Marketplace along with possible specialized app development. The slew of phones to be released on Verizon’s and T-Mobile’s network will benefit immensely with this new update. The hype and buildup to help boost the image of Android seems to be working very well. People are seriously looking forward to the release of phones with numerous technology websites actively praising the Google-Verizon alliance that plans on challenging the iPhone-AT&T collaboration.
With the impetus further growing and Google-Verizon working overtime to promote the Android based phones; do you think that there are going to be defections from the iPhone camp? Or will there be a trickle of consumers moving away form their iPhones? Do you think that the new SDK release will lure more developers to the Android platform? Leave your comments and thoughts below.