Android 2.2 features

[bone_dust]

Forgive me if this has been posted elsewhere, but I came across this page listing the new features of Android 2.2, and I was surprised by the fact that I hadn't heard about many of them.

Android 2.2 Platform Highlights

 

[icecold]

Bluetooth


- Voice dialing over Bluetooth


I cannot believe there hasn't been more emphasis on this one... Maybe Google is just trying to slip this one in without drawing attention to the fact it wasn't there in the first place.

 

[PhilosoRaptor]

Bluetooth


- Voice dialing over Bluetooth


I cannot believe there hasn't been more emphasis on this one... Maybe Google is just trying to slip this one in without drawing attention to the fact it wasn't there in the first place.

Wow, awesome and nice catch! This is loooong overdue. It actually should have been on the phone since the launch of friggin Android.

I reeeeally hope Droid gets this in June. No reason it shouldn't. It's a vanilla Android phone so it shouldn't have to wait nearly as long as the HTC phones should.

 

[icecold]

I am going to stay pessimistic on the release date. I will expect it by August. That way, when it does come out that late, I won't be upset...

If it comes out earlier, it will be like an early Christmas...

Oh, and for my New's Year Resolution, I am staying away from the "When is 2.2 Coming to the Droid" threads.

 

[PhilosoRaptor]

I am going to stay pessimistic on the release date. I will expect it by August. That way, when it does come out that late, I won't be upset...

If it comes out earlier, it will be like an early Christmas...

Oh, and for my New's Year Resolution, I am staying away from the "When is 2.2 Coming to the Droid" threads.

So you'll still go into the "When is 2.3/Gingerbread Coming to the Droid" threads, eh? lol

It's not like I'll be "upset" if it's not out in June. I just don't see anything getting in the way of it other than all the red (haha, Verizon's color is red) tape to deal with. The only prob they might have with it is the WiFi hot spot feature. I don't think they'll have a prob with it, IMO though. They didn't care if the Pre+ owners had it, so why should they worry about Droid users? Other than maybe since there's exponentially more Droid users on VZW than there are Pre+ users, hah.

 

[matthew.k.taylor]

nothing mind-blowing...

 

[icecold]

I do think Verizon will try and step it up a little on the release of the OTA update this time, so maybe we can expect it by the end of the July.

nothing mind-blowing...

What else would you want in the update? So android can make you dinner and do your laundry??

Minus overclocking the processor, 2.2 pretty much gives you all the "big" features that rooting and custom roms are allowing currently. App2SD and WiFi hotspot are two of the features most are looking for when they decide to root. I, for one, will probably wait a few more months before deciding to root or not. I have dragged my feet this long...

Not to mention the Exchange support being upgraded to the point where more corporations can start looking at adopting Android, at the very least, as an alternative to BlackBerry.

Also the performance improvements should (from what I have read) give the devices a huge boost in speed.

 

[potatolover1102]

Does anyone know about fm radio? Did the nexus one have it activated? I know it works on the incredible right now.

 

[PhilosoRaptor]

Does anyone know about fm radio? Did the nexus one have it activated? I know it works on the incredible right now.

Good question, I've read a few places too that it was supposed to include/unlock the FM radio. Someone please answer this .

 

[GadgetGeek]

Bluetooth


- Voice dialing over Bluetooth


I cannot believe there hasn't been more emphasis on this one... Maybe Google is just trying to slip this one in without drawing attention to the fact it wasn't there in the first place.

I completely agree with your theory... IMO it would be almost a bit embarrassing for Google to discuss this as a WOW "new feature" to the OS.

 

[connor11493]

Bluetooth


- Voice dialing over Bluetooth


I cannot believe there hasn't been more emphasis on this one... Maybe Google is just trying to slip this one in without drawing attention to the fact it wasn't there in the first place.

I agree, but at the same time, I can't believe that there hasn't been more emphasis on this one:

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.

Five home screen panels?! Why hasn't anyone jumped on this!!?? This is big!! (To me at least, Haha.)

 

[Lock-N-Load]

this is the part I honed in on..

"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. "

I hope they mean an Intel Apple - since it uses a Linux system.. but if so, why would they just not say "Intel Macs".. or is the Mac left in the cold?

 

[Patmos]

One of the most annoying things about the Android is the lack of animated GIF support on web pages. Such as animated radar on weather sites. Basic feature phones support this and I don't see for the life of me why this can't be implemented. Anyone heard anything on this or any reasons?

 

[onefix]

One feature that I'm surprised Google hasn't mentioned is the improved battery life that the JIT compiler should bring. It might not be the same as the 3x or 5x increase in performance, and it will obviously be linked to how much you use the phone, but the more time that the phone is idle, the better your battery life is going to be. I would expect it to improve battery life for most people by at least 10% or 20%.

 

[riffdex]

Bluetooth


- Voice dialing over Bluetooth


I cannot believe there hasn't been more emphasis on this one... Maybe Google is just trying to slip this one in without drawing attention to the fact it wasn't there in the first place.

I saw a lot of news stories the other day emphasizing this actually. It doesn't really change anything for me, but I realize how many people have been waiting for this. Maybe google wants to keep the attention off of the fact that they are just now adding a feature that almost all phones have had for years.

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.

ohh sweet
would love to have phone available on the dock. 5 screen? Meh I've had that since day 2 of having my droid

 

[Trident]

Well folks, I have deleted 15 posts from this thread...

Luckily, I am in an extremely good mood this morning so I will not be banning Psychokitty, nor will I be issuing bone_dust an infraction.

With that said, Psychokitty, I highly recommend that you throughly review the Site Rules and Guidelines as well as the Zero Tolerance Policy. Within those both, it is clearly stated that we do not welcome the word f**k (or any other foul language for that matter), nor do we tolerate being rude/inflammatory to new members only because they are a new member.. that's just not right. Don't let it happen again or I will ban you!

And bone_dust, there was no need to call inssane an "angry virgin." That's not a good way to start off here, nor does it make a good first impression. Next time, I'll give you a three day vacation away from the forums. I also assume that since your new around here, you haven't read the Site Rules and Guidelines or the Zero Tolerance Policy yet... Please become familiar with those.

Questions? PM me.

Carry on...

 

[barry99705]

this is the part I honed in on..

"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. "

I hope they mean an Intel Apple - since it uses a Linux system.. but if so, why would they just not say "Intel Macs".. or is the Mac left in the cold?

No, Mac Os isn't a Linux system. It's BSD, and no, they aren't the same. I've had no issues with the current root usb tether app with linux, mac or windows, so it should work the same.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

No, Mac Os isn't a Linux system. It's BSD, and no, they aren't the same. I've had no issues with the current root usb tether app with linux, mac or windows, so it should work the same.

FWIW, then they were not complete in their description and should have said Mac/Apple as there is a video right here in these forums that shows the wifi hotspot used on a mac via airport

 

[OutlawFirebird]

2.2 looks like it will be great. tons of great new use able features. being able to store and run apps for the sd card. now you can have more apps dowloaded with out having to worry about space on the phone. tethering will be a nice feature, and turning your phone into a hotspot for 8 devices. and the 10.1 flash support for the browser. going to be a great update. here is a video from cnet. Videos - Free video downloads and streaming video - CNET TV

 

[Redflea]

One feature that I'm surprised Google hasn't mentioned is the improved battery life that the JIT compiler should bring. It might not be the same as the 3x or 5x increase in performance, and it will obviously be linked to how much you use the phone, but the more time that the phone is idle, the better your battery life is going to be. I would expect it to improve battery life for most people by at least 10% or 20%.

In a word, huh? ;-)

Why will JIT help with battery life?

 

[(G)]

Five home screen panels?! Why hasn't anyone jumped on this!!?? This is big!! (To me at least, Haha.)

So this pretty much "invalidates" Launcher Pro, doesn't it?

Unless you've chosen 7 home screens, or until Launcher Pro is able to customize the permanent shortcuts, that is.

 

[sorceror]

In a word, huh? ;-)

Why will JIT help with battery life?

Because code that runs faster can use the CPU for less time, consuming less power. Say, a task that wakes up every so often, does some work, and goes back to sleep. If it runs faster because of JIT, then it's awake for a shorter time and uses less battery.

Google developer discussing JIT in mostly plain English: Android Developers Blog: Dalvik JIT

 

[Lock-N-Load]

anyone determine/know/read if we would be able to move current internal apps to the SD card, or only newly downloaded apps would allow the choice to go SD or internal?

I have a feeling we will not be able to move apps so if we cannot move current apps, seems we would have to delete them, then redownload them BUT, then what happens to your data for said app, you loose that also during in the uninstall of the app in prep to redownload it to get it to live on the SD card.

 

[OMJ]

anyone determine/know/read if we would be able to move current internal apps to the SD card, or only newly downloaded apps would allow the choice to go SD or internal?

I have a feeling we will not be able to move apps so if we cannot move current apps, seems we would have to delete them, then redownload them BUT, then what happens to your data for said app, you loose that also during in the uninstall of the app in prep to redownload it to get it to live on the SD card.

Im pretty sure you will be able to move current apps. I cant think of any reason that you would be able to move old ones and not new ones. They showed in the I/O keynote that you can manually move apps between sd and internal storage so I think its safe to say we will be fine there.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

Im pretty sure you will be able to move current apps. I cant think of any reason that you would be able to move old ones and not new ones. They showed in the I/O keynote that you can manually move apps between sd and internal storage so I think its safe to say we will be fine there.

thanks. knew we could select the download location of apps about to be downloaded, but I did not watch one of the 45 minute vids to see that we could move existing already loaded apps over.

did they actually show screenshots or something? where is the interface that would allow you to like long press an app and select "move to SD"? that is, how would it be done? I am sure it will not be an option in each app, so there must be some new interface with all your apps listed and you can long press and move... but where, maybe in Settings?

just curious