The Geek House
Android Froyo what’s new?
Today at the Google I/O Froyo (Android 2.2) makes its official appereance and it looks really really great!!!
I would like to resume the biggest news of the latest Andorid release:
1. Android Just In Time Compiler
Finally JIT (Just In Time) Compiler is released in Android. JIT Compiler represents a hybrid approach in code compilation between the two classic one: intepreted and static compilation. This “feature” makes our android much faster.
In particular during the event it was shown the fps rate in a game running on two Nexus One (one Eclair and one Froyo with JIT); as you can see, the first is much better performance of the second although they have the same hardware.
Some days ago a NexusOne with Android 2.2 beated its “brother” with Android 2.1 in a benchmarch test (Linpack for Andorid), the first is 450% faster.
2. Browser
Web Browser is one of the most used smartphone application, with Froyo it gets some important enhancements:
- HTML 5 standars compatibility
- APIs able to interact with cell sensors and camera
- New V8 engine
HTML 5 grants the possibility to access to new web contents and able to run all the cloud applications such as Google Wave.
New API instead allows browser application to perform much better our daily use, for example easier photo upload on Buzz, Facebook, Picasa and so on.
Finally the new Javascript engine which enables faster loading of JavaScript-heavy pages.
3. Flash for Android
Froyo is fully compatibile with Flash 10.1, moreover, for all developers of Adobe Air, there will be some sort of support for apps developed and written in Adobe AIR.
Flash support brings some big gaming potential to the Android platform, this site shows some mobile application examples http://www.adobe.com/m/nexusone/websites.html.
4. Applications Install & Update
One of the greatest news (absolutely IMHO) it is the native support for Apps2SD functionality. With Froyo it is possible to install application directly into the SD card and run it.
Many improvements were done in application distribution and upgrade. First of all with Froyo we will be able to update all market applications simply by clicking once one button “Update all”.
But the surprises are not over, because now you can also leave the task to Android and perform auto-update without any interaction; it will be possible to activate the auto-update option during the application installation.
The last but not least, it is the possibility to auto notify developer in case of bugs or crashes. This innovation provides the opportunity for the developer to receive any bug with its stack-trace directly on his dashboard
5. New Market
Very soon we will be given the opportunity to browse the Android market directly from our PC.
We will have the possibility to install applications from our browser. Yes, you understand it. Very soon, we can install our applications simply by searching the Internet and clicking a button.
Moreover will be also added a new kind of category in the market that allows you to download music (iTunes Fuck?) in order to always have all your music on your phone.
6. Optimizing Voice Recognition
The voice recognition is much improved. It ‘much more smart and returns results in more useful and more accurate.
7. Native Wireless Tethering
Yeah, the wifi tethering is now available on Android phone. Certain devices like the Nexus One can be turned into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot that can be shared with up to 8 devices.
You can use your Android-powered phone as a 3G connection for a Windows or Linux laptop by connecting their phone to the computer with a USB cable. The connection is then shared between the two devices.
What they said today: “Let’s see how taking such a terminal that has no connectivity: The iPad! “
Conclusions
Froyo seems to be a really improvement to Android and could finally close the gap with the IPhone, just now some people is talking about the new release Adroid 3, but we would enjoy this one right now.
Unfortunately I have to wait since a developer will create a port of Froyo in a custom ROM for HTC Hero.
That’s it!
More highligths are available at http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html
Related posts:
Nice post about.. the latest Andorid release….will help many surfers looking for information. http://www.learnabapprogramming.com