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Jan 28 AT 7:09 PM Taylor Wimberly 48 Comments

Google to present an in-depth look at Honeycomb next week, send us your Android 3.0 questions

Google just revealed that they will provide a special deep dive into Honeycomb for the press, next Wednesday. We saw Android 3.0 on Motorola’s Xoom tablet at CES earlier this month, but we weren’t allowed to really play with it so this will be the first time we get some hands-on demos.

I’ve never traveled to the Googleplex before, so I’ve decided to make the trip and check it out.

If there is anything you want to know about Android 3.0, please leave a comment and we will do our best to dig up some answers. Oh and if you want to watch their presentation, it will be broadcast live on the web at youtube.com/android.

p.s. A little bee also told me the new online Android Market will FINALLY go live next week so let’s keep our fingers crossed…

To the Googleplex we go...

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48 Comments Join the discussion!

SphericalPumaGuest 01/28/11 7:16 PM

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Number one question : how does honeycomb translate to phones and if it comes to phones will it be 3.0 or a different version? I think its obvious it will come to phones.

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- TonyGuest 01/29/11 5:25 PM
  
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  Ok, here’s my list:
  
  1. Will Google ever introduce a xbox live equivalent gaming platform for android in the future?
  2. To clear up rumors, what’s going to be the relationship going forward between honeycomb on tablets and phones, how will you name the versions? All 3.x? or in parallel having a 2.x for phones too? And in the future will you release tablet/phone OS updates at the same time or different times like apple does with the iPad?
  3. What’s an area that Google wants to improve upon in future releases of Android as in IceCream/Jellybean/whatev it ends up being called?
  4. Will Google put more pressure and restrictions on carriers and manufacturers to allow the option to put stock or custom manufacturer skin upon first booting up the device? Would Google consider holding back Market access to those who don’t comply to use as leverage?
  5. Long shot but any plans to help manufacturers make it easier to update their devices on a faster timescale?
  
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AlexGuest 01/28/11 7:20 PM

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Differences between honeycomb on phones and tablets along with is the version number the same as the tablet(3.0)

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Ben BajarinGuest 01/28/11 7:27 PM

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See you there Taylor.

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- 100 Taylor Wimberly 01/28/11 7:34 PM
  
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  Ditto. You are my favorite stalker by far :P
  
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  - Ben BajarinGuest 01/28/11 7:42 PM
    
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    Haha. I promised you I wouldn’t forget your name and I keep my promises :)
    
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Paul EganGuest 01/28/11 7:43 PM

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Has development finished on the version for phones (Will there be a version for phones?), or is that still being worked on?

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daveGuest 01/28/11 7:54 PM

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Hi Taylor, I’m about to launch my own Android / everything Google tech blog And am wondering how to go about registering with companies like Google to get these type of invites or review units of smartphones.
Thanks.

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KevinGuest 01/28/11 7:56 PM

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Will it be possible to load Honeycomb on current single core tablets? Devices like the Archos 70.

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- anakin78zGuest 01/28/11 7:59 PM
  
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  Honeycomb supports single core procs.
  http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-3.0-highlights.html#multicore
  
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RichGuest 01/28/11 7:58 PM

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1. If Honeycomb releases to Android Smartphones, what key differences will they be between the tablet OS and the Smartphone OS?

2. If Honeycomb releases to Android Smartphones, what release time frames are available for HTC Google Nexus One & Samsung Google Nexus S?

3. For Future Android OS versions (Ice cream Sandwich and beyond) what are some aspects Android has to improve that may be a feature for future versions for both smartphones and tablets?

4. Is Google creating a Nexus Tablet with Honeycomb/Ice Cream Sandwich or they are going to use Motorola XOOM as a lead device for Android Tablets?

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- anakin78zGuest 01/28/11 8:01 PM
  
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  +1 to #4. Will there be a Nexus Tablet?
  
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  - YoungGuest 01/29/11 4:31 PM
    
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    They might escape that question like they did with Nexus S.
    
    They always said there won’t be “Nexus Two”,
    They were right, instead of “Nexus Two”, they announced “Nexus S”.
    
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- ScottGuest 01/28/11 8:19 PM
  
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  +1 – #2, as long as the answer isn’t “in the coming weeks “
  
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- TiberiusMonkeyGuest 01/29/11 7:34 AM
  
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  Yeah, VERY much interested in knowing if their will be a Nexus tablet.
  
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anonGuest 01/28/11 8:13 PM

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I’d like to know what they can do to speed up the delivery of Android os updates to our phones. Yes, I know that the carrier and manufacturers are currently responsible for this but I think that google could be more involved in guiding / forcing them down a better path for their users.

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JayGuest 01/28/11 8:13 PM

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Are Google worried that so many update releases are fragmenting the marketplace for phones that use their software?

I love android but I can see the benefit of the iPhone . It feels more integrated with things such as music (especially things like airplay), docking stations etc. I know that the docking station is really a common port thing but a lot of things on android feel like a workaround or a hack.

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J-ManGuest 01/28/11 8:15 PM

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Ask them if they’re going to repeate the Gingerbread update debacle with the Nexus One again with HC, or whether this is the time they kick the N1 to the curb.

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teleclimberGuest 01/28/11 8:35 PM

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If you get a chance to go slightly off-topic, ask them what they think of the Atrix and whether they will build this kind of capability in the core of Android. Naturally ask them whether the Android version would boot ChromeOS as the desktop just to see what kind of vague non-committing answer you get.

Frankly I’m more excited about the future of dockable phones than I am about Honeycomb, as nice as it looks.

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- Lucian ArmasuGuest 01/30/11 8:27 AM
  
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  The docking idea is nice but I think having 2 OS’s on the same phone like that is kind of redundant. Linux will barely offer any advantage over Android in the near future, so why not just use Android itself, especially now that Android will look more like a desktop OS.
  
  Also why would you want Chrome OS over Android on the laptop dock? I think the phone should be able to dock/connect wirelessly with any big screen in the future. Doesn’t it make more sense to just have Android show on those big screens instead of having a different OS for each, whether it’s laptop, PC monitor or TV?
  
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  - teleclimberGuest 01/30/11 1:58 PM
    
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    Oh I agree with you. My mention of ChromeOS was more facetious than wishful. ChromeOS is Goog’s “other” OS for bigger screen so at first glance it seems natural to pair them. But I agree this would be a mistake. I am not sold on COS by itself even though I am intrigued by it. But two OSes on one device is just a pain. Already people are asking if there will be an app store for Webtop. Two app stores for one device? No thanks.
    
    With Android 3.0 being designed for large screens an all-android solution is very possible, and would make a lot more sense.
    
    Oliver
    
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MannyGuest 01/28/11 9:34 PM

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The 1st comment pretty much sums it up…i think everyone wants to know if 3.0 is coming to phones. What it will look like?

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WilliamGuest 01/28/11 10:57 PM

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What type of HDMI out support? Along the lines of docking phones, i would like to know if I could plug this into any tv and display a full mirror image. Maybe that is a bit of a hardware issue, but i would still like to know if honeycomb will have any such support.

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DennisGuest 01/28/11 11:08 PM

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Will it make my bed, mow my lawn and get my wife to just shut up for once?

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chrisGuest 01/29/11 1:00 AM

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1.Will the new music player be in this verison?
2. Google music?
3. better gaming ecosystem?

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shezenGuest 01/29/11 1:59 AM

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just 1 question: any sign of usb otg for tablet?

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gadGuest 01/29/11 2:26 AM

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Please when is that in GMT? Would have to follow it on youtube.

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- riperGuest 01/29/11 6:01 AM
  
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  Googleplex is in Mountain View, CA so GMT-8.
  
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  - riperGuest 01/29/11 6:03 AM
    
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    Which means 2am-5am GMT.
    
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    - gadGuest 01/29/11 9:33 AM
      
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      What?…..That can’t be right
      
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      - ManhattanGuest 01/29/11 4:54 PM
        
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        I believe it would be starting at 6 pm GMT.
LeviGuest 01/29/11 7:04 AM

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As many said above, it wold be nice to know the lineage. 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 we already saw and how they relate to 3.0. How will 3.0 translate to phones, especially the nexus phones and especially in light of the ridiculous and unacceptable delays on the N1 2.3 update (despite all promises). I am really worried about the prospects of post 2.3 updates for the N1. If they can’t release 2.3 on it in a timely manner when there is only one additional google device they need to pay attention to (NS), what’s the chance of timely updates when two phones and a tablet takes priority?

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- ACGuest 01/29/11 11:25 AM
  
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  Agreed. Would be nice to know the relationship between Ginger and Honey (will Honey have ALL the features of Ginger). Also, what about the future: will Google maintain two different branches (phone and tablet), or will those branches merge/converge eventually. Of course it would be nice if new features would be synchronized between those 2 branches (if there will be 2).
  
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ScottatronGuest 01/29/11 7:53 AM

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Is there a chance that Google will release a Dual core handset to coincide with 3.0 being released to phones?

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- MannyGuest 01/29/11 12:18 PM
  
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  I was just thinking about that lol…. but then i was like well the nexus s just came out so maybe not… Still it doesn’t hurt to ask though : ). Remember before the nexus s came out there were those rumors of a dual core version. Man that was the only think keeping me away from buying the phone. Oh and no HSPA+ support….and no HD recording too… oh and no SD card slot was disappointing as well. I just had a feeling that the phone was rushed.
  
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  - MannyGuest 01/29/11 12:20 PM
    
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    thing*
    
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JT StradGuest 01/29/11 10:16 AM

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I like to know how is the web browser improved compared to Chrome(super fast), thanks!

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ACGuest 01/29/11 11:51 AM

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In Gingerbread, YAFFS has been replaced by Ext4, but Ext4 doesn’t do
wear leveling. So does Ginger/Honey/etc. have any kind of software
wear leveling functionality built in?

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Android loverGuest 01/29/11 12:07 PM

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ok i know tis is not the most popular question in the world but it is very very important to me and it is does honeycomb or any of the other android releases in the pipe line have any new accessibility features because at this point apple is looking more and more attractive because there accessibility feature are night and day better then android

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FrongyGuest 01/29/11 12:22 PM

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1. Is ice cream sandwich a variation of Honeycomb for phones?

2. Will Honeycomb be mainly for high-end tablets, or could we see it on current mid-range devices?

3. Do you Think Manufactures like HTC, Motorola, and Samsung will still want to force a custom UI on honeycomb devices, or will we see in increase in stock android devices?

4. Do you think Google Experience Devices Similar to The Nexus 1 or Nexus S will ever make their way to CDMA carriers such as Sprint or Verizon?

5. In order to increase the sales of paid apps, do you plan on ever releasing pre-paid gift cards in retail stores? (similar to iTunes gift cards)

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- EricGuest 01/30/11 2:06 PM
  
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  +1 to number 5
  
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bobbyGuest 01/30/11 6:06 AM

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Could you ask about the limit on the apps you can download because of the memory limit. I’d love to download more games but I’ve run out of space.

Is this still the case, not all games can be installed to the SD card.

Thanks

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ZZGuest 01/30/11 11:28 AM

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1. Will Wifi proxy support ever be added to stock Android? If not, how do they expect phones/tablets to ever be adopted in schools/business as the majority of their Wifi networks require proxy settings? Relying on OEMs like Motorola isn’t enough, it should be part of Stock. If they don’t, why even bother creating Honeycomb, when people will just go with the iPad which does support this, and already has a year long headstart?

2. Are they planning any policy change regarding how Android issues are managed? Threads can go unreviewed for years at a time. Even the SMS bug only got looked at because of the online media outburst, which doesn’t bode well for the users sense of support. Just mentioning that it’s been looked at without giving ETA’s would do more to mitigate the sense of hopelessness.

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- ZZGuest 01/31/11 1:15 PM
  
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  3. Any plans on improving Market filtering solution for devs i.e. By processor/GPU? The current system isn’t going far enough, judging by the amount of games which have dozens of reviews stating it runs laggy on their device, and the latent fear by mobile developers about Fragmentation. The upcoming OpenGL-ES Version is almost meaningless, as there are chips which support a version yet have poor performance due to low CPU/GPU.
  
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JoshGuest 01/31/11 1:31 AM

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Will it ever make its way to the g2?

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d3vkitGuest 01/31/11 3:12 AM

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1. They need to start managing what carriers and manufacturer’s do with their OS. This is not a question, it is a demand – it is the single biggest flaw of android, and saying that the market will work itself out is a cop-out. The market will work itself right onto the iPhone.

2. Where is Google Music?

Everything else I want to know I think will be addressed, but I really hope they have some answers to these questions.

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RandyGuest 01/31/11 9:01 AM

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I’d like to know how a Honeycomb Tablet will, if at all, interface with Android Phones. For example, if I use my same google account on both devices, do the apps automatically sync between the two? What about apps that aren’t compatible with a phone? Are they providing functionality so saved data in apps can easily sync between devices (ie. do I have to beat all the Angry Birds levels on both devices)? Will there be a functionality similar to Chrome2Phone between the two?

Basically I see one of the biggest reasons someone would buy an Android tablet is that they already have Android phone, and I just want to see if Google is planning on making the experience seamless or if it’s just like two separate entities.

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Anton SpaansGuest 01/31/11 10:21 AM

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As a developer, i have one major question left for developing apps running on various OS-es and devices:

The new Honeycomb UI introduces ‘fragments’. Fragments can be loaded by activities (one activity has 0 or more fragments). Fragments are a new class introduced in the honeycomb SDK.

My question is:
Can a developer write an application targeted at honeycomb (i.e. make use of honeycomb features), that ‘degrades’ gracefully when run on devices with a lower Android version (target-sdk=honeycomb, min-sdk < honeycomb), without writing Java code twice (two Activity classes for one screen; one for honeycomb, other for previous versions)?

In previous OS versions, 90% of the apps could be written targeted for a higher version of Android but still run great on lower versions of Android without much duplication of Java code (i'm not talking about resource/layout/etc/ files).

Thanks!

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Google to present an in-depth look at Honeycomb next week, send us your Android 3.0 questions

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