Android 2.2: Out On Wednesday

Filed in archive Android , Smartphones on May 17, 2010

© Johan Larsson

Last year it was Android 2.0 a.k.a. "Donut."

This year, it's Android 2.2. On Wednesday this week, Google I/O 2010 will launch the next version of its mobile operating system, also known as "FroYo."

No one is officially talking about any of the main features of Android 2.2, but several rumors suggest three important changes in FroYo. First is tethering - allowing Android phone running 2.2 to be used as a USB 3G modem or 3G Wi-Fi hotspot. Second, there is full flash support. Adding Flash 10.1 provides Android users with a full, desktop-style Flash experience. And third is a speed boost of about 450%! The Dalvik virtual machine was tested in Fro Yo using a software called Linpack. The build on Nexus One tested at 6.5 - 7 MFLOPS while an HTC Hero can only hit 2 MFLOPS.

Other features rumored to be included in Android 2.2 are more free RAM, a JIT compiler for higher-speed code execution, improved access to the OpenGL ES 2.0 library, FM Radio support, developer access to color LED in trackball, and improved cross-multitouch resolution.

Just a list of things to check when the Android 2.2 comes out!