Google has released a preview of Android 3.0 Honeycomb SDK that enables developers to take advantage of non-final APIs and system image APIs optimized to run existing applications on tablets and the SDK is only for testing purposes. Google also released updates for SDK of Android developer tools: SDK Tools (r9), NDK (r5b), and ADT Plugin for Eclipse (9.0.0).
Android Developer blog states that apps developed with the Honeycomb preview cannot be published on the Android Market. A final Android 3.0 Honeycomb SDK will be released in the coming weeks. Android 3.0 offers developers the flexibility to adapt existing apps to the new UI while maintaining compatibility with earlier platform versions and other form-factors
Major native Android applications like the Browser, Email, Contacts, Camera, and Gallery have received updates optimized to larger tablet-sized screens and similar devices. The Browser comes with a new “incognito” mode for private browsing, Contacts with a new two-pane UI, and the Email app also with a new two-pane UI for organizing messages. The redesigned Camera app with a new UI for large screen supports video chat. Honeycomb also brings with it an improved keyboard that includes a new Tab key and upgraded copy/paste functionality.
Honeycomb 3.0 offers improved multitasking to the recent apps provides rich multimedia experience to users which will allow them to preview applications that are currently running, and check its updates on what actions done on the application when they last viewed it.
Android 3.0 features a UI framework designed for creating apps on tablet-sized screens, a new animation framework, a built-in OpenGL renderer to accelerate 2D processing, a 3D graphics engine called Renderscript, and multicore support.
Features
- UI framework enable developers to use a new UI components, new holographic themes, widgets, notifications, drag and drop, and more
- New animation framework for high-performance 2D and 3D graphics allows developers to move between views swiftly and it adds great visual effects to apps.
- Built-in GL renderer allows developers for GPU acceleration of 2D and 3D visual content, across the entire app or only in specific activities or views.Renderscript allows developers take advantage of a new 3D graphics engine for including rich 3D scenes.
- Multicore processor support allows Android 3.0 to run on single- or dual-core processors for high performance of applications.
- Rich multimedia features with HTTP Live streaming support, a pluggable DRM framework, and a media file transfer via MTP/PTP that developers can leverage for rich user interactive content
- New connectivity options enable to sync media files with a desktop PC or camera with USB support. New APIs for Bluetooth A2DP and HSP enable applications to offer audio streaming and headset control. Support for Bluetooth insecure socket connection lets applications connect to simple devices that may not have a user interface.
- Enterprise feature enhancements with new administrative policies for encrypted storage and password expiration helps enterprises to manage devices effectively
Check out the video below for Android 3.0 Honeycomb preview
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