14 DAY TRIAL // Search engine-company Google has just released the SDK for its latest mobile operating system flavor, Android 2.0. Also known as Eclair, the new platform version is expected to make an appearance today on the first handset that will be powered by it, namely Motorola Droid, to be included in Verizon Wireless' offering. The new OS variant has made the headlines quite a few times before, yet now we have some more official details on the goodies it is set to deliver.
“The Android 2.0 platform introduces many new and exciting features for users and developers,” is what the Android Developers Team says on its blog, and this is something that one should agree with. For instance, the touchscreen features have been improved considerably, and not only that the virtual keyboard is now easier to use, but the platform also comes with support for multi-touch. In addition, the OS flavor also comes with improvements in the Contacts and accounts, Email, Messaging, Camera, Browser and Calendar areas.
What users should expect to see in the new platform release includes the possibility to add multiple contacts to the device, namely email; contact synchronization; Quick Contact for Android, with instant access to the information of a contact and communication modes; Exchange support; a combined inbox; search within saved SMS and MMS messages; Built-in flash support for the camera; Digital zoom; Bookmarks with web page thumbnails for the browser, along with double-tap zoom support, HTML5 support, and a refreshed UI; and infinite scrolling in calendar agenda, or the possibility to invite new guests to events.
The platform also comes with new technologies, including revamped graphics architecture, enhanced support for Bluetooth 2.1 and new BT profiles, such as Object Push Profile (OPP) and Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP), as well as with several new developer APIs. When it comes to developers, the Android team says the following: “the Android 2.0 platform is available as a downloadable component for the Android SDK. The downloadable platform includes a fully compliant Android library and system image, as well as a set of emulator skins, sample applications, and more. The downloadable platform is fully compliant and includes no external libraries.”
The Android Developers Team already provided a series of screenshots with the platform, as well as an introductory video, yet a much more extensive screenshot gallery can be seen here. In case you would like to learn more on the newly released Android SDK or to download it, you can check this post.