One day after we called out Google for holding onto the Android 2.0 SDK, it magically appeared on their website. Developers can now grab the new SDK from the official Android site.
Hightlights of the Android 2.0 platform include:
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.
- Sync support for contacts from multiple data sources including Exchange. Handset manufacturers can choose whether or not to include Exchange support in their devices.
- New way to hover on a person to see more info and select communication mode (for example, phone, SMS, email).
- 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.
Camera
- Built-in flash support
- Digital zoom
- Scene mode
- White balance
- Color effect
- Macro focus
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.
Browser
- Refreshed UI 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:
- Database API support, for client-side databases using SQL.
- Application cache support, for offline applications.
- Geolocation API support, to provide location information about the device.
<video>tag support in fullscreen mode.
Calendar
- Agenda view provides infinite scrolling.
- Events indicate the attending status for each invitee.
- Invite new guests to events.
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)
New Framework APIs
Android 2.0 includes several new developer APIs. For an overview of new APIs, see the Android 2.0 version notes.
For a complete report of all API changes, see the API Differences Report.
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Taylor Wimberly
Taylor is the founder of Android and Me. He loves playing with all kinds of gadgets, but most importantly cell phones. His other hobbies include cooking (BBQ hero!), politics, football, and watching every MMA event possible.
26 Comments
and this is why I love Google
As soon as you call them out on something, they generally fix/address the issue asap.
Lets hope someone ports eclair to the G1 now
cuz it sucks being punished for being an early adopter (I got mine the day it came out on T-Mo)
smart move google! dont get your name mixed up with apple. secrecy has no place in open source
All I want out of 2.0 is the ability to customize the notification bar. Here’s hoping for nothing…
I’m sure they were planning on releasing it this week because of the Verizon event, but it can never hurt to nudge them along.
Has anyone heard for sure if this is or is not coming to the G1?
No word. I am installing the SDK now, we’ll see just how big the system image is.
Cool cant wait to see these features in the next CM ROM….
We’ll see if/when the 2.0 code gets dumped to AOSP.
I’m exited about the multitouch!! woho!
Damn, I can’t get the video to work from my phone! Could anyone get me the actual YouTube link, please?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opZ69P-0Jbc
Thanks! Too bad you’re not able to view it on a mobile device though. Kinda weird, considering it’s a video about Android… :/
Ah well, I’m at a desktop now. Looks great!
So I wonder what phone will be the first in consumer hands with eclair …my guess is the g1 and the magic
My guess is the Motorola Droid due out in less than two weeks.
My guess is that less than 24hrs after a code drop to the tree XRom will have a working bash running on a Sapphire. SO *technically* that would be the first one in the wild…IF Goog checks code in before the launch (they really should), and IF the framework will fit (it should, at least on the Sapphire, us poor saps on the Dream are likely SOL).
But yeah, no-root, retail? The DROID.
What is the instant messaging application used in this preview called? Is it available on the Android market? (the app referred to by the android image in the contacts quick list 3rd from the left)
well yeah …but it was sort of a joke …i wouldn’t be surprised if it was ported to the g1 or magic before the droid comes out
A pink android! i want that!
the multi-touch virtual keyboard is big news, from what i understand that’s one of the main reasons the iphone’s virtual keyboard is currently more usable than android’s, and it pretty much spanned the threshold of me being comfortable getting a keyboardless android phone
so motorola droid vs. HTC passion decision: that’s one point for the passion
I’m not too impressed with this SDK. There are glaring visual consistency issues on the normal-resolution graphics (standard 320×480, 3.2″ screens), almost as if they were an afterthought. I’m guessing that means it’ll be a while until we see Android 2.0 on one of these devices.
I think it is kind of dissapointing what android 2.0 offers… Almost no difference with 1.6??
you do realize it’s out just 2 months after 1.6 ? It’s hard to be disappointed with such a pace, others platforms updates seems stucked in time compared to Android
What do you guys think? Will Android 2.0 also be released on the first devices such as the HTC Magic/Mytouch3G and maybe also the G1 (but this one is known for his smaller memory so will they be able to fit Android 2.0 on it?)
I’ve personally got the HTC Magic rev A (256mb memory)…hope it is released on my phone, but I think the local provider Proximus will take quite a while to deliver their version of the update (any update like 1.6 or 2.0)
It’s looking like a negative on the G1 (sucks for early adapters), but the MyTouch/Hero/ect should be able to handle it.