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| Quite likely fake image |
According to website logs, Google is actively testing Android 2.2. Better known as Froyo (frozen yogurt), the future release is showing up in web logs from those visiting sites.
What 2.2 will entail hasn't been discussed by Google, but it should have a number of important additions despite the small version number. Among the steps may included an attempt to reduce Android fragmentation by making it possible to update some OS components without needing entirely new firmware. It should also provide the necessary underpinnings for Flash 10.1.
Many of the less critical changes should still improve performance and could bring new OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics features, free up RAM and solve problems with the accuracy of the touchscreen on phones like the Nexus One. Many features in the Nexus One may actually be hidden until future Android releases come out, Google's Erick Tseng said at CES.
The most likely release window for Android 2.2 is May 19th, when Google starts its I/O conference. The event in the past has included significant Android news.
Google has been on a relatively aggressive update schedule and has been adding large feature updates even with minor upgrades. The add-ons have been critical to the successes of phones like the Droid but, in the current architecture, has left many Android phones running outdated platforms and being locked out of certain apps.
Chief rival Apple is believed to have benefited from taking direct control of both hardware and software by giving every recent device the same features at the same time. The strategy is known to have spurred on the creation of the Nexus One.
Some of the rumored features for Android 2.2 include:
- JIT compiler
- Free additional RAM
- OpenGL ES 2.0 enhancements
- Flash 10.1 support
- Fixed problem with “crazy screen” / Resolution of cross multitouch
- Activation of Color Trackball
- Enable FM radio in Nexus one
The feature set for Android 2.2 was frozen long ago, but it remains mostly unknown. Google decided last year that they would no longer publish public roadmaps for future versions of Android. Based on the information we can gather, it appears Android 2.2 will mainly focus on performance enhancements.
The JIT compiler has already been confirmed by Google and we expect to find out new details during Google I/O, which starts May 19. Android engineers will be leading a discussion that informs devs how to test and tune their apps to work with the new compiler.
Additional free RAM should come thanks to the new Linux kernel being used in Froyo. Google is moving from 2.6.29 to the newer 2.6.32 which makes it possible to address the extra RAM. This has already been done in custom ROMs like CyanogenMod so expect this feature for sure.
It has long been rumored that Froyo (or a future build) will add new APIs to the Android NDK which will let Java devs have full access to the OpenGL ES 2.0 library.
Flash 10.1 is coming in the first half of the year. It is entirely possible it could be tied to a future Android firmware and be included with an OTA update.
We have already addressed the HTC touch sensor issues. It sounds like a future software update could be used to clean this up a little.
Multicolor trackball notifications are definitely coming. Android hackers like ChainsDD have already unlocked this feature for users of custom ROMs. Google advertised the multicolor trackball during its launch of the Nexus One, but the feature was cut from the final Android 2.1 build.
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