Google debuts Android 2.3 'Gingerbread', eyes tablets

Android 2.3 'Gingerbread' sports better navigation and YouTube integration

The latest iteration of Google's Android mobile operating system has arrived in version 2.3 – codenamed 'Gingerbread' – with support for larger, tablet-sized screens.

Android is already used by a number of tablet device makers – from Samsung to Telstra and ViewSonic – but the form factor of the display was not optimised as it is with smartphones, particularly with third-party applications from the Android Market.

Gingerbread introduces a new xlargeScreens attribute for the “supports-screens” element, to indicate whether the application supports extra large screen form factors.

There are also new values for the screen orientation attribute and Google has published developer documentation on supporting multiple screen sizes – from two to 10 inches – in Android apps.

Other new features include SIP-based VoIP with a SIP protocol stack and framework API that lets developers build IP telephony apps.

Using the API, applications can offer voice calling features without having to manage sessions, transport-level communication, or audio.

The Android user interface receives a polish in Gingerbread, including improved copy and paste of text.

Gingerbread devices can be used as Wi-Fi hotspots for up to six other devices – a feature already ported to some Android 2.2 'Froyo' handsets.

Near Field Communications (NFC) support has also been added to Android, which can be used for mobile commerce between devices and other NFC phones.

NFC relies on wireless technology in the device hardware, so support for Android's NFC features on specific devices is determined by manufacturers. The NFC API is always present regardless of underlying hardware support.

Android 2.3 also adds support for several new sensor reading types like gyroscope, rotation vector, linear acceleration, gravity, and barometer.

Applications can now make use of multiple cameras on a device for photo or video capture and mixable audio effects have been added to Android's media framework.

A new download manager handles long-running HTTP downloads and apps can request that a URI be downloaded to a particular destination file. The DownloadManager will perform the download in the background, taking care of HTTP interactions and retrying downloads after failures, across connectivity changes or system reboots.

Gingerbread adds official support for devices that do not include SD cards and it provides a virtual SD Card partition, when no physical SD card is available.

The first device to ship with Gingerbread is the co-branded Google, Samsung Nexus S smartphone.

• Bookmark this page
• Share this article
  •  
  • facebook
  • slashdot
  • digg
  • Reddit
  • stumbleupon
  • linkedin
  • twitter
• Got more on this story? Email Computerworld
• Follow Computerworld on twitter

• Share
  Share this article

  •  google+
  • facebookfacebook
  • slashdotslashdot
  • diggdigg
  • RedditReddit
  • stumbleuponstumbleupon
  • linkedinlinkedin
  • twittertwitter
• print
• email
• Bookmark