In November 2009, about a year after the G1 premiere, the second version of the Android mobile platform named Eclair was released. This operating system was significant in everything: interesting phones were offered to large operators. It is with this operating system that Motorola Droid is closely related, one of the most popular phones in the history of mobile communications.
Android 2.0
The Eclair platform has become the most significant Android update since its launch. Its name is translated into Russian as "cake". More precisely, the "choux pastry." The changes affected both the appearance and the internal architecture of the mobile OS. With a screen resolution of 854 x 480, the Droid became the most interesting "android" phone of its time.
Support multiple accounts. For the first time, it became possible to use multiple Google accounts on one device. This made it possible to separate office and personal accounts, each of which contained its e-mail and contact list. In addition, support for Exchange accounts has been added.
Eclair allowed third-party developers to integrate their solutions into this stream of accounts. All contacts together displayed in a single address book. Facebook was the first to take advantage of this opportunity. Support for this social network was implemented in the Droid. But disagreements and privileges to synchronize your Facebook account have been revoked.
Navigation with Google Maps. And today this opportunity is one of the most significant advantages of the considered mobile platform. Together with Android 2.0 came full-fledged consistent car navigation via Google Maps. Geographic data maps of the search giant used in the system, reminiscent of the usual car navigator. Supported: 3D-viewing, voice guidance (including street names) and traffic information.
Previously, drivers had to pay a lot of money every month for an additional application for consistent navigation. Early versions contained some flaws that allowed alternative products to retain their appeal. The system required constant access to the Internet and was not capable of caching.
Quick contacts. In Cupcake, Google Talk contact status became available across the platform. Quick Contact panel appeared in Eclair, containing a pop-up toolkit that allowed you to use the same contacts for different ways to contact the subscriber: make a call, write an email or text message, or connect with it in a different way.
Advanced software keyboard. Like the G1, the Droid had a full physical QWERTY keyboard. But Google considered it necessary to pay attention to improving the virtual keyboard. The platform did not yet have full multitouch support. For example, in the browser and maps there was no possibility of magnifying with a pinch. But in Eclair multi-touch data allowed to determine the subsequent pressing of the virtual keys. This increased the promptness of quick entry.
The browser has become better. As noted earlier, the Eclair browser did not support pinching magnification, but this did not mean it remained the same. Android OS 2.0 debuted on a device with a capacious (in its own time) WVGA display. Therefore, the ability of the screen to display complex sites created for large computer monitors acquired particular importance. To this end, Google has implemented support for HTML5, including video (although only in full screen mode). For the first time, the “android” browser has a real address bar. She repeated the traditions established by the Chrome computer browser and also had the functionality of a search line. To mitigate the lack of multitouch support, a double tap increase was added to the new version of the browser, which became an interesting alternative to the increase and decrease buttons.
Android 2.1
Changes affected and other screens Eclair. The pictographs have become simpler and clearer. The resolution of the widgets was aligned with the screen resolution of the Droid. Android 2.0 remained the platform of a single device. It was intended for the Droid and its counterpart for the European market named Milestone. Other phones based on Eclair managed version 2.1 of the operating system. Changes in this version were slightly more significant than simply correcting several defects and adding a small number of new features to the software interface. But this version did not receive the honor of becoming the third, and even did not acquire a “sweet” name separate from its predecessor. It was the same Eclair, the innovations of which deserve separate consideration.
Live wallpaper. This one of the most remarkable features of the platform in question has found application in Android 2.1. A static picture came to replace the desktop background, which could be animated, and the user even got the opportunity to interact with it. Google demonstrated the potential of Live Wallpapers by displaying updates to Google Maps. A map was placed on the home screen, indicating the current location of the phone. Of course, such a decision was more spectacular than practical. The fact is that the constant dynamics negatively reduced the battery life.
Speech-to-text. The user has the opportunity to perform input using speech. He speaks, and the system converts the voice into text. This feature has become an alternative to traditional keyboard input. Instead of a comma button, a microphone appeared. Tapnuv on it, you could fill in the text field dictated by the speech, which is automatically converted into text. The same opportunity appeared in the operating system iOS 5.
New lock screen. Even in Android 2.0, the phone’s battery status information, time and date were displayed directly on the screen saver, and not in a special window. In version 2.1, the fonts gained a high-tech style that reflects the overall concept of Android. To unlock, you should now “slide” your finger along a straight line, and not along a curving path, as in Android 2.0.
Android version 2.1 did not bring significant changes. But along with it, Google introduced its new strategy to the world. The search giant worked directly with HTC, which introduced the flagship Android smartphone to the world. Nexus One appeared as a thin device without a hardware keyboard. It became one of the first devices on the market, in which the first Qualcomm Snapdragon processors with a clock frequency of 1 GHz were used. The resolution of its AMOLED-screen fully complies with WVGA standards. Android 2.1 was the first step to turn the platform into a mass one.
Read continued: Many small things
The contents of the cycle "History of Android":
[1] T-Mobile G1 Autumn Debut: 1.0
[2] 1.x: Sweet Names
[3] 2.0 and 2.1: Digital cake
[4] 2.x: Many small things
[5] 3.x: Honeycomb conquers tablets
[6] 4.0: Ice cream is learning the language
[7] 4.1: First in the Jelly Bean family
[8] 4.2: Care for the visually impaired
[9] 4.3: Modular Philosophy
Based on TheVerge.com
The article is based on materials .
Comments
Post a Comment