October 29th, 2009
Android 2.0 (Eclair) FAQ
The HTC Magic/Sapphire/MyTouch3G/Ion has more internal memory than the G1 so that’s not an issue. It’s up to the carrier, though, whether or not they want to go through the trouble of an over-the-air update.
Luckily with Android you don’t need to wait for Google or T-Mobile or whoever to update your phone - you can do it yourself. If you’re a highly skilled hacker, that is. Or just know one, like Steve Kondik (aka Cyanogen). Modders such as Steve are certain to come out with their own installable images of Android 2.0 just like they did with 1.6 and 1.5 before it.
Q. Does 2.0 come with a terminal emulator?
No, but “There’s an app for that” in the Android Market. More than one, actually. I’ve heard ConnectBot is good but I haven’t tried it. Also, if you’re using the emulator you can find a terminal inside the Dev Tools program.
Q. Are there any books that cover 2.0 yet?
Gimme a break, 2.0 just came out this week. :)
I happen to know there is a new book for Android 1.5 and 1.6, hot off the presses. The changes from 1.6 to 2.0 are much smaller than the changes from 1.1 to 1.5, so aside from a few cosmetic differences like directory names and tweaks to the Eclipse plug-in, any 1.6 book will work just fine for 2.0 development too.
Of course a 1.6 book won’t cover new topics like Sync Adapters and Quick Contacts but you can pick up those things from posts on blogs and newsgroups. As far as I know, there won’t be any 2.0-specific books in print until well into next year. Just before the next Android version is released, no doubt.
Q. Does Google’s new Navigator app require Android 2.0?
In case you missed it in all the other news, Google Maps Navigation is a voice-activated turn-by-turn GPS application that Google is giving away. According to Google, it is “currently only available in the US on phones that run Android 2.0, including the DROID”.
Q. Will there be an iPhone version?
Google says it’s entirely up to Apple. But Apple loved the Google Voice app so much, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind approving the Navigator.
Q. How about a Nokia/Blackberry/Palm/Windows Mobile version?
You do know this is an Android FAQ, right?
Continue reading: Android 2.0 FAQ >
Ed Burnette is a professional developer and author of several articles and books about computing including Hello, Android: Introducing Google's Mobile Development Platform, 2nd Edition. For disclosure of Ed's industry affiliations, click here or to view his full profile click here.
Subscribe to Dev Connection via Email alerts or RSS.
| 10/30/09
