not my artical just found it orig web page
androidandmeDOTcom/2010/04/news/android-2-2-is-coming-what-features-do-you-want/
replace dot = .
Android 2.2 is coming. What features do you want?
By Taylor Wimberly on Apr 20267
The majority of Android phones are still running an outdated firmware, but that hasn’t slowed Google from advancing their mobile operating system. Everyone knows the next version of Android (codenamed Froyo) is on the way and the rumors (1, 2) are beginning to pick up that the Nexus One will receive it soon.
Based on the data from our analytics reports it appears Google has already begun testing on their next firmware – Android 2.2. Google engineers have routinely given codenames to future builds of Android (Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, etc.), but they don’t receive a point release till they are finalized and nearing distribution.
We have shared this reporting data before and people are always quick to point out that it can be easily faked, but I have spoke with additional sources familiar with the matter who confirmed Android 2.2 is currently being tested.
The feature set for Android 2.2 was frozen long ago, but it remains mostly unknown. Google decided last year that they would no longer publish public roadmaps for future versions of Android. Based on the information we can gather, it appears Android 2.2 will mainly focus on performance enhancements.
Some of the rumored features for Android 2.2 include:
•JIT compiler
•Free additional RAM
•OpenGL ES 2.0 enhancements
•Flash 10.1 support
•Fixed problem with “crazy screen” / Resolution of cross multitouch
•Activation of Color Trackball
•Enable FM radio
Some of these features are plausible and others we have no clue.
The JIT compiler has already been confirmed by Google and we expect to find out new details during Google I/O. Android engineers will be leading a discussion that informs devs how to test and tune their apps to work with the new compiler.
Additional free RAM should come thanks to the new Linux kernel being used in Froyo. Google is moving from 2.6.29 to the newer 2.6.32 which makes it possible to address the extra RAM. This has already been done in custom ROMs like CyanogenMod so expect this feature for sure.
I’m no expert on OpenGL, but it has long been rumored that Froyo (or a future build) will add new APIs to the Android NDK which will let Java devs have full access to the OpenGL ES 2.0 library.
Flash 10.1 is coming in the first half of the year. It is entirely possible it could be tied to a future Android firmware and be included with an OTA update.
We have already addressed the HTC touch sensor issues. It sounds like a future software update could be used to clean this up a little.
Multicolor trackball notifications are definitely coming. Android hackers like ChainsDD have already unlocked this feature for users of custom ROMs. Google advertised the multicolor trackball during its launch of the Nexus One, but the feature was cut from the final Android 2.1 build.
When it comes to the FM radio, I have no idea. Other HTC phones on a similar Snapdragon platform (Desire and Incredible) include the FM radio so it’s not out of the question that the N1 has it too.
I spoke with Google’s Eric Tseng during CES and he told me there were many secrets left in the Nexus One that we would discover later.
When is it Android 2.2 coming out?
Circle May 19th on your calendar. This is the opening day of Google I/O and I’m anticipating the release of Android 2.2 (and maybe the Flash 10.1 beta) will be tied to this event. Google has provided every developer attending the event a free Droid or Nexus One, so it is possible to see a simultaneous release on both devices.
I’m really curious how first generation devices are going to play with this release. We are expecting most phones to receive Android 2.1 this month, so it will be interesting to see how Froyo fits in. Some of the Android engineers have been talking about Froyo on the Google boards and it is unclear if the HTC Dream and Magic will be able to support it since they only have 192 MB of RAM.
p.s. if in wrong spot please move it im a tootal newb
Related
Okay people so I saw on Googles website they were advertising the Verizon Droid with navigation integrated into the map app. Anybody seen any dumps of this rom. I want that on my phone really bad.
There are several devs working on the Sholes dump... Given the interest level, I suspect that it will likely be big news once someone has 2.0 working....
Most devs are waiting for the official release of 2.0 from Google. The nav app is proprietary to Google so they will likely not be releasing it as part of 2.0. I also suspect that anyone who hacks it onto the base 2.0 will likely get a C&D. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but it is not as simple as just porting a new release to a hardware platform.
One of the largest problems currently facing Google's Android operating system is the great degree of fragmentation due to the many different products that manufacturers and carriers have brought to the market. As it stands now, there are four different versions of Android software on various handsets: 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, and 2.1. The reason for this can be attributed to the inevitable differences in hardware, third party software (such as HTC's Sense UI), and the carrier or manufacturer's capacity to update their products.
Currently released Android phones ordered by their supported Android version so far include the following:
* 1.5: HTC Hero, T-Mobile Pulse, LG GW620, Motorola Cliq, Motorola Backflip, Samsung Behold, Samsung i7500, Samsung Moment
* 1.6: HTC Dream, HTC Magic, HTC Tattoo, Motorola Devour, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
* 2.0: Motorola XT800
* 2.1: Google Nexus One, HTC Legend, HTC Desire, Motorola Droid, Samsung i5700
This large degree of platform fragmentation finds users and developers unable to take advantage of newer features and bug fixes that the latest release holds. For example, users without Android 2.0 or higher are left without Exchange support and new UI improvements, among other things. Taking note of these critical problems, Google will tackle the issue head on by taking their software into their own hands for their next Android release.
Named "Froyo", Google's next Android version will be detached of the usual set of first party applications and core components that currently populate the OS. Instead of bundling those applications with the operating system, Google will instead make them available through the Android Market for download. This is currently how updates to Google Maps are handled on Android.
This new approach will apply to both Android applications and system components. So for example, if Google brings a new update to the virtual keyboard or email application, all one would have to do is download the update directly from the Market as it instantly becomes available. No longer would users have to wait for their carrier or manufacturer to make it available for download.
Also reported is that Google is finishing up most of the core work required for Android and will soon be shifting development to consumer features and applications. Developers should be getting finalized APIs and frameworks as Froyo arrives, so they can instead focus on making applications faster and easier with greatly matured tools for the OS.
Source - http://www.neowin.net/news/google039s-solution-to-android-fragmentation-coming-in-039froyo039
1. Tweaked UI
It doesn’t sound like the Android UI is getting a complete overhaul till Honeycomb, but Gingerbread will include some small tweaks. The notification bar at the top of the screen has gone from white to black, the launcher buttons are now green instead of translucent, and many of the native app icons have received a makeover.
Most of the existing native apps will also look slightly updated thanks to tweaks with the styling of menus, check boxes, and radio buttons as leaked in the last Google Maps update. Other small tweaks include new animations when you swipe across the desktop and when you power off the display (as reported by Phandroid).
2. Near Field Communications (NFC)
We first reported back in October that Samsung’s Google experience phone would support MasterCard PayPass, and then last week Eric Schmidt confirmed that Gingerbread would support Near Field Communication (NFC).
NFC is a short-range, high frequency wireless communication technology that only operates when two devices are about 4 inches apart. It is basically just another form of electronic identification except the ID is tied to a bank or credit card company. All the user needs to do is just setup their account then tap their phone to a wireless payment pad and complete the transaction.
Eric Schmidt said that in the future your phone could replace your credit card, so you can see how important this is to Google and their partners.
Opponents of NFC say it might fail because it is too complex and big companies will fight over who owns the point of control for the transaction, but if Google is going to make this a standard feature on all future Gingerbread phones then we think that ensures it will at least move the mobile payment standard forward.
MasterCard has not been confirmed as a NFC partner, but I think there is a good chance they are on board in addition to some other payment companies like PayPal.
3. New Motion Control APIs
True 1:1 motion processing is coming to Gingerbread thanks to InvenSense, the company behind the MEMS gyroscope sensor found in the Nintendo Wii MotionPlus controller.
Gyroscope sensors have already appeared in some phones like the Samsung Galaxy S, but Android 2.3 will add new sensor fusion APIs including quaternion, rotation matrix, linear acceleration and gravity. These new tools will open the door to all kinds of motion controls for augmented reality apps, games, navigation systems, and camera improvements like image stabilization.
See our previous post for a video with several real-world demos.
4. Native Video Chat
In his last interview, Andy Rubin hinted that native video chat was coming to the next version of Android. “We support video chat today, with Google Talk Video. It works on the desktop. Whether that can be repurposed and made appropriate for sipping bandwidth for mobile, it’s an exercise that’s underway.”
If Mr. Rubin is willing to admit that it’s underway, that tells me the project could be nearing completion and already in the testing phases.
It looks like all the high-end phones coming in the next few months will include front-facing cameras so this is another sign that Android is ready for a native video sharing app to connect all these devices.
5. New Android Market
Google has been telling us for awhile that a new Android Market was coming and recently said new features could appear in the next few weeks. The Android Market can be updated separately from the operating system, but the timing tells us the new Market could be tied to the release of Gingerbread.
Confirmed features for the new Android Market include YouTube video previews, parental controls, PayPal payments, and new high-res promotion graphics that sound like they will be used on the desktop browser version of the Market.
At the Google I/O Developer Conference we attended back in May, Vic Gundotra demonstrated the browser version of the Market that was being tested. See the video below for an idea of what to expect.
6. Google Music
As you can see from the video above, Google is also working on a music streaming service for Android. They launched a music search service earlier this year and hoped to get their music store opened before Christmas, but the latest reports say it might be delayed till 2011. Apparently the music labels are still negotiating with Google on how their “digital locker” will store purchased music, but maybe they come to an agreement this year.
This is coming sooner or later so if it doesn’t make it into Gingerbread then I expect we will see it early next year when Honeycomb tablets are revealed.
7. Support For More Large Screen Devices
On the Android Device Dashboard there is a report where Google displays the different screen sizes and densities of devices that access the Android Market. The Large category is currently blank, but look for more big screen devices like tablets to be officially supported in Android 2.3. This means we could see more 7-inch tablets like the Galaxy Tab (1024 x 600) get certified and maybe a few other resolutions for the new smartphone displays that are rumored to be coming.
We have also heard that Google might relax the rules of their Compatibility Definition Document and allow non-3G devices to be certified. No WiFi-only devices have been certified to use the Android Market yet, but Android 2.3 should hopefully change that.
In a somewhat related note, I believe this is the reason the WiFi-only Galaxy Tab was delayed till next year so that Samsung could make sure that Google allowed them to ship it with the Android Market.
8. Virtual Keyboard Enhancements
Google recently acquired hot startup BlindType to improve their virtual keyboard and we are hearing the enhancements might be coming as soon as Gingerbread. The old company website is now down, but you can still see a demo of their technology on YouTube.
What is BlindType? It is a revolutionary system that:
Eliminates touch typing frustrations
Allows for super sloppy typing
Helps you type easier and faster
Constantly adjusts to the user’s “perceived” keyboard and typing style
Just type the way you are used to – no gestures, nothing new to learn!
9. Support for WebM and VP8
We know that support for WebM and the VP8 video format are coming to Gingerbread because Google and the WebM team have told us this.
WebM is defined on the official project page as, “An open media file format designed for the web. WebM files consist of video streams compressed with the VP8 video codec and audio streams compressed with the Vorbis audio codec. The WebM file structure is based on the Matroska media container. Though video is also now core to the web experience, there is unfortunately no open and free video format that is on par with the leading commercial choices. To that end, we started the WebM project, a broadly-backed community effort to develop an open web media format.”
YouTube now offers WebM videos as part of its HTML5 player experiment. Logitech and Skype are also working with the format for future video calling services.
10. New YouTube With Broadcasting
As we get near the end of the list some of these possible features might be a stretch, but there are still hints that new YouTube features are coming. Phandroid reported that Gingerbread will have a new YouTube app and we know that they are also testing their new live broadcasting platform.
If you look at how important video will be to the upcoming Gingerbread experience, then it is not too hard to imagine that YouTube will allow live broadcasting from your phone similar to Qik or Ustream.
The next generation of superphones will include dual-core processors that support 1080p video streaming and also have speedy 4G connections, so the hardware is definitely going to be there to make it happen.
11. Google Me or Social Gaming Network
Google recently denied the reports they were working on a Facebook competitor called Google Me, but all the signs are there that Google is working on a way to bring together all their social services. TechCrunch reported that Google’s master pitchman Vic Gundotra was being placed in charge of the project, so we expect big things from him.
Andy Rubin hinted that Gingerbread would include improvements for gaming in a previous interview. “I think gaming is an area that I think is underserved right now. If we were to carefully look at what new features and functionalities in the platform that we would need to support all forms of gaming across the entire spectrum, I think that would probably be an interesting thing to pay attention to.”
A number of recent acquisitions and partner agreements might also play a role in this social gaming platform. In the last year Google acquired LabPixies for $25 million (an Israeli startup that made web games), Jambool for $70 million (makers of a virtual currenty platform), Slide for $182 million (Facebook games developer), and invested $100-200 million in Zynga (makers of Farmville).
Apple’s Game Center and platforms like Open Feint have really raised the bar for social gaming, so Google will have to release something soon if they want to catch up.
12. Flagship Phone – Nexus S
Finally, what good is a brand new operating system unless you have a flagship product that can show off all the new features. That device is the Samsung Nexus S which is widely expected to be released alongside Android 2.3. Google’s CEO recently demoed the phone to show off its NFC capabilities, so hopefully we see the device soon.
The Nexus S was originally planned to launch at Best Buy on November 11th, but then TechCrunch reported a serious hardware issue had caused a delay. One of our tipsters said the original Samsung Nexus S was scrapped for a newer dual-core version, which shocked many people because they did not expect Samsung to have a dual-core phone this year, but another trusted source also confirmed that Samsung had such a device in testing.
Conclusion
In the next few weeks we should hopefully get an official list of new Android 2.3 features from Google, but don’t be surprised if Andy Rubin doesn’t announce anything on December 6th.
Google and Samsung already missed the rumored launch date, so they could delay this project till next year in order to iron out all the launch details. Some would say that Samsung has rushed their recent Android products to market without properly testing them (aka GPS issues), so I have no problem with them taking as long as they need.
I would love a taste of Gingerbread for Christmas, but if waiting till next year gets me a fully functional dual-core Nexus S then I’m all for waiting.
How do you think Android 2.3 is shaping up so far? Does this sound like a worthy update, or do you hope that Google is packing in even more exciting features? What other types of improvements would you like to see included with Android 2.3?
If you think I’m leaving off any confirmed features, please leave a comment and I’ll gladly add them to the list.
ANDROID AND ME
You should quote the source:
http://androidandme.com/2010/11/new...at-andy-rubin-might-announce-on-december-6th/
1) Has nothing to do with the X10, since a bunch of those new features are unsupported hardware wise by the phone.
2) NFC for payments is already around, and nearly every new Android phone in Japan includes it, plus Infrared and a TV Tuner.
3) Stock UI is absolute garbage, and from the leaked Nexus S shots, looks to have gotten worse.
iead1 said:
1) Has nothing to do with the X10, since a bunch of those new features are unsupported hardware wise by the phone.
2) NFC for payments is already around, and nearly every new Android phone in Japan includes it, plus Infrared and a TV Tuner.
3) Stock UI is absolute garbage, and from the leaked Nexus S shots, looks to have gotten worse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, Japan has had NFC for many years. NTT's FOMA been promoting it LONG LONG LONG time ago. People in Japan r using it like its something normal for their lives now. Unlike us, where we all are still reluctant whether to use it or not when it comes...
Yeah, I was really sad when I changed to the X10 and lost my abilty to pay for McDonalds and the train via cellphone. At least smartphones are catching up, finally.
Hey guys.
Is there any known eta on Android 2.4 for HD2? As it looks like Desire S already has 2.4 pre-installed
http://www.phbeta.com/htc/htc-desire-s-android-smartphone-available-at-three-uk/
I thought 2.4 has been renamed to 2.3.3
- This message is brought to you by TyphooN CM7 for HD2 -
stardust240781 said:
I thought 2.4 has been renamed to 2.3.3
- This message is brought to you by TyphooN CM7 for HD2 -
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if thats the situation then its availible you have many 2.3.3 roms for hd2
EgoMaximus said:
Hey guys.
Is there any known eta on Android 2.4 for HD2? As it looks like Desire S already has 2.4 pre-installed
http://www.phbeta.com/htc/htc-desire-s-android-smartphone-available-at-three-uk/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a Google employee. i will send it to you.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
chrisgto4 said:
I'm a Google employee. i will send it to you.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha omg dont lie people cause HD2 is not a native android phone,al this android bulids are just ports they are not official neither by htc or google so stop lying
metko said:
Hahaha omg dont lie people cause HD2 is not a native android phone,al this android bulids are just ports they are not official neither by htc or google so stop lying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not lie, it's joke and good one too bad 1.april is just a day
Elle a l'air tres belle...
@chrisgto4
good one )))
i found some more info:
(check the link for even more info)
Android 2.3.3 vs Android 2.4 | Gingerbread 2.3.3 vs 2.4 Performance, Speed and Features
Android 2.3.3 and Android 2.4 are two new updates to Android platform. Android 2.3.3 is a revision of Android 2.3 whereas Android 2.4 is a major release. Android 2.4 is a hybrid of Android 2.3.3 (Android 2.3 Gingerbread) and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). Mobile phone manufactures are on the race to make their devices more power packed than the other. They are on an agenda to provide full mobile computing experience on this hand held device. 2011 saw many phones with dual core processors and other high end features. Google to support this hardware is continuously developing the Android platform and Android 2.4 is designed mainly to support multi core architecture.
Android 2.3.3 (Release January 2011)
Android 2.3 is a major release which has many additional features compared to Android 2.2 (FroYo). It was released in December 2010. Some of the important features include Near Field Communication (NFC), support for SIP calls, support multiple cameras, better power management and a new user interface. Android is the first operating system to incorporate NFC feature. Android 2.3.3 is a small upgrade to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), it incorporated few feature improvements and API upgrades for developers. The upgrades are mainly on NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth. NFC is a useful technology in M-commerce that is expected to replace many types of cards we carry for transactions and can be used in ticketing and many other applications as well. The new API level assigned to Android 2.3.3 is 10.
Android 2.4 (Release: April 2011)
As said earlier, Android 2.4 is a hybrid of Android 2.3.3 (Android 2.3 Gingerbread) and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). Android 2.4 is expected to include the following features. Like Honeycomb Android 2.4 will support both single core and multi core architecture and support symmetric multi processing in a multi core environment. It is also be backward compatible, you can use the applications designed for earlier versions on Android 2.4. Further, applications developed for dual core processor can be run on single core devices as well. The other features will include support for rich multimedia applications such as HTTP live streaming, built-in support for Media/Picture Transfer Protocol (MTP/PTP) over USB, and support more types of connectivity.
Viewsonic’s ViewPad 4 and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc are among the phones to get the first experience of Android 2.4.
source: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-android-2-3-3-and-vs-android-2-4/
XthelordinatorX said:
i found some more info:
(check the link for even more info)
Android 2.3.3 vs Android 2.4 | Gingerbread 2.3.3 vs 2.4 Performance, Speed and Features
Android 2.3.3 and Android 2.4 are two new updates to Android platform. Android 2.3.3 is a revision of Android 2.3 whereas Android 2.4 is a major release. Android 2.4 is a hybrid of Android 2.3.3 (Android 2.3 Gingerbread) and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). Mobile phone manufactures are on the race to make their devices more power packed than the other. They are on an agenda to provide full mobile computing experience on this hand held device. 2011 saw many phones with dual core processors and other high end features. Google to support this hardware is continuously developing the Android platform and Android 2.4 is designed mainly to support multi core architecture.
Android 2.3.3 (Release January 2011)
Android 2.3 is a major release which has many additional features compared to Android 2.2 (FroYo). It was released in December 2010. Some of the important features include Near Field Communication (NFC), support for SIP calls, support multiple cameras, better power management and a new user interface. Android is the first operating system to incorporate NFC feature. Android 2.3.3 is a small upgrade to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), it incorporated few feature improvements and API upgrades for developers. The upgrades are mainly on NFC (Near Field Communication) and Bluetooth. NFC is a useful technology in M-commerce that is expected to replace many types of cards we carry for transactions and can be used in ticketing and many other applications as well. The new API level assigned to Android 2.3.3 is 10.
Android 2.4 (Release: April 2011)
As said earlier, Android 2.4 is a hybrid of Android 2.3.3 (Android 2.3 Gingerbread) and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). Android 2.4 is expected to include the following features. Like Honeycomb Android 2.4 will support both single core and multi core architecture and support symmetric multi processing in a multi core environment. It is also be backward compatible, you can use the applications designed for earlier versions on Android 2.4. Further, applications developed for dual core processor can be run on single core devices as well. The other features will include support for rich multimedia applications such as HTTP live streaming, built-in support for Media/Picture Transfer Protocol (MTP/PTP) over USB, and support more types of connectivity.
Viewsonic’s ViewPad 4 and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc are among the phones to get the first experience of Android 2.4.
source: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-android-2-3-3-and-vs-android-2-4/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for research! Rep.
i dunno guys looks like 2.4 is not here yet...
"There's no such thing as Android 2.4 Gingerbread -- yet, says Google. The latest version of Android, which has already appeared on the Google Nexus S and HTC Desire S, is Android 2.3.3."
source date is april 8...
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/wha...bread-its-233-instead-50003452/#ixzz1IybHhgs6
From the official CM blog:
It’s been awhile since the last update and I just wanted to let everyone know about our progress with CM9. As I mentioned in the previous update, Android 4.0 contains many internal changes that require updated graphics drivers. Unfortunately, these drivers are almost always closed-source and don’t appear until a device or devkit is released with them. For many devices, our hands are tied. Some very clever workarounds have gone into CM9, but we’re still blocked on some subsystems like the camera.
Since Android 4.0 is such a major change from 2.3, we started with a fresh codebase from Google and have been forward-porting features from CM7 with an eye on design and better integration. This is a somewhat time-consuming process, but it allows us to rethink everything. We’ve eliminated the CMParts app, instead choosing to add our custom features directly into the main settings. We are also taking a “just works” approach when it comes to configuration- CM7 had too many options that just weren’t widely used. We hope to achieve a good balance between tweakability and a great out-of-the-box experience. I want your phone or tablet to feel like it should have come with CM9.
Currently, you can compile CM9 for a small number of devices- notably the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Wi-Fi and T-Mobile versions), the HP Touchpad and Motorola Xoom. The next devices to show up will likely be a whole array of Samsung phones (Exynos chipset), with devices based on the Qualcomm MSM8660 and 7×30 chipsets to follow. It’s still unclear if we can provide support for the QSD8x50 family of devices (Nexus One, HTC Evo, etc), but the answer almost always turns out to be “yes” for these kinds of things.
As our hardware support improves, I’ll keep this blog updated. As much as we’d like to stay ahead of the manufacturers, it may be a tie this time Thanks for the continued support, and please consider dropping us a buck or two using the link at the bottom of the page if you enjoy CyanogenMod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While it doesn't say specifically, it looks like we'll be getting official CM9 support!
The day that is released (stable) will mark the day of my first non-stock flash of the Note.