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Friday, January 14, 2011

Android 2.3 is here and what does it bring?

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) has been released on the 6th of December 2010. While it is still a minor release, Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) would probably bring greater surprises. Atleast I am hoping that there would be the "Wow" factor with it.

Here are a few features of the Gingerbread version:
  • Updated user interface design
  • Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher)
  • Native support for SIP VoIP telephony
  • Support for WebM/VP8 video playback, and AAC audio encoding
  • New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost
  • Support for Near Field Communication
  • System-wide copy–paste functionalities
  • Redesigned multi-touch software keyboard
  • Enhanced support for native code development
  • Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers
  • Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance
  • Native support for more sensors (such as gyroscopes and barometers)
  • A download manager for long running downloads
  • Improved power management and application control
  • Native support for multiple cameras
  • Switched from YAFFS to the ext4 filesystem
  • An Integrated task Manager
Alongside the new platform, Google is also releasing updates to the Software Development Kit (SDK) tools (r8), Native Development Kit (NDK) and Android Development Tools (ADT) plug-in for Eclipse (8.0.0).
    The new features are simplified debug builds, integrated ProGaurd support, HierarchyViewer improvements and a preview of new UI Builder.  For a few of the reviews you can go here: