Android 2.2 introduces several new user features including an improved home screen with dedicated app shortcuts, password security options, and remote device wiping by Exchange administrators. It also provides new developer services like Cloud to Device Messaging and application error reporting, and APIs such as external app storage and UI customizations.
2. ANDROID 2.2 PLATFORM
HIGHLIGHTS
the Android 2.2 platform introduces many
new and exciting features for users and
developers. This document provides a
glimpse at some of the new user features
and technologies in Android 2.2.
4. New User Features
New Home screen
tips widget
assists new users on how to
configure the home screen with
shortcuts and widgets and how to
make use of multiple home
screens.
The Phone, applications
Launcher, and Browser now have
dedicated shortcuts on the
Home screen, making it easy to
access them from any of the 5
home screen panels
5. with the addition of numeric pin or alpha-
numeric password options to unlock device.
Exchange administrators can enforce
password policy across devices.
Improved security
REMOTE WIPE
Exchange administrators can remotely
reset the device to factory defaults to
secure data in case device is lost or
stolen.
Exchange Calendars are now supported
in the Calendar application.
6. Camera and Gallery
Gallery allows you to peek into
picture stacks using a zoom gesture.
Camera onscreen buttons provide
easy access to a new UI for
controlling zoom, flash, white
balance, geo-tagging, focus and
exposure. .
Camcorder also provides an easy
way to set video size/quality for MMS
and YouTube.
With the LED flash now enabled for
the Camcorder, videos can be shot
at night or in low light settings
7. Portable hotspot
Certain devices like the Nexus One
can be turned into a portable Wi-Fi
hotspot that can be shared with up
to 8 devices.
You can use your Android-powered
phone as a 3G connection for a Windows
or Linux laptop by connecting their phone
to the computer with a USB cable. The
connection is then shared between the
two devices.
8. Voice dialing over Bluetooth
Ability to share contacts with other phones
Support for Bluetooth enabled car and desk
docks
Improved compatibility matrix with car kits and
headsets
New Platform Technologies
9. New Developer Services
Android Cloud to Device
Messaging
Apps can utilize Android Cloud to
Device Messaging to enable
mobile alert, send to phone, and
two-way push sync functionality.
Android Application Error Reports
New bug reporting feature for
Google Play apps enables
developers to receive crash and
freeze reports from their users. The
reports will be available when they
log into their publisher account.
10. New Developer APIs
Apps on external storage
Applications can now
request installation on the
shared external storage
(such as an SD card).
UI framework
New "car mode" and "night
mode" controls and
configurations allow applications
to adjust their UI for these
situations. A scale gesture
detector API provides improved
definition of multi-touch events.
Applications can now customize
the bottom strip of a TabWidget.