Android 2.1 SDK Released!
We were promised that once the Android 2.1 SDK was Open Sourced we would start to see existing devices get updgraded and guess what just happened? The Android Development Team just announced the release of the Android 2.1 SDK!
If you didn’t know, Android 2.1 is the build running on the Nexus One, currently the only device running this version of Android. Hopefully not for long!
Date: January 2010
API Level: 7Android 2.1 is a minor platform release deployable to Android-powered handsets starting in January 2010. This release includes new API changes and bug fixes. For information on changes, see the Framework API section.
For developers, the Android 2.1 platform is available as a downloadable component for the Android SDK. The downloadable platform includes a fully compliant Android library and system image, as well as a set of emulator skins, sample applications, and more. The downloadable platform includes no external libraries.
To get started developing or testing against the Android 2.1 platform, use the Android SDK and AVD Manager tool to download the platform into your Android SDK. For more information, see Adding SDK Components.
There are a few new API updates and two of them are rather interesting:
- Live Wallpapers got 2 new APIs and an updated Wallpaper Manager
- New “Signal Strength” class that helps show information about a device’s signal strength. Could this have something to do with the 3G issues? I doubt it – it’s more likely this is made accessible to developers who have their apps make dynamic decisions based on network strength – for example, waiting to download/upload until a better signal is available. Possible though.
If you want a blow-by-blow list of the updates and additions, hit up the changelog!
PS: I know the image above is of Steve Jobs and the iPhone 2.1 update. I can’t wait to see how many people see the image and leap right to the comments to give me a piece of their mind about how stupid/foolish/careless I am. GOTCHYA – YOU’VE BEEN ZAPPED!