If you have at least a little interest in Google's Android platform, you MUST watch these!

They announced Android 3.1 (Honeycomb). More importantly Android 3.1 is not only for tablets, it is for Google TV as well! Google TV is getting the the Android Market

Today Amazon announced it has launched its own Android App Store! This is very interesting and exciting for all of those who have Android devices. I still think Googlezon is just right around the corner. For those unfamiliar with Googlezon, watch this 8 minutes video, EPIC 2015.

This is copied from: http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.3-highlights.html

The Android 2.3 platform introduces many new and exciting features for users and developers. This document provides a glimpse at some of the new features and technologies in Android 2.3. For detailed information about the new developer APIs, see the Android 2.3 version notes.

New User Features

UI refinements for simplicity and speed

The user interface is refined in many ways across the system, making it easier to learn, faster to use, and more power-efficient. A simplified visual theme of colors against black brings vividness and contrast to the notification bar, menus, and other parts of the UI. Changes in menus and settings make it easier for the user to navigate and control the features of the system and device.

Faster, more intuitive text input

The Android soft keyboard is redesigned and optimized for faster text input and editing. The keys themselves are reshaped and repositioned for improved targeting, making them easier to see and press accurately, even at high speeds. The keyboard also displays the current character and dictionary suggestions in a larger, more vivid style that is easier to read.

The keyboard adds the capability to correct entered words from suggestions in the dictionary. As the user selects a word already entered, the keyboard displays suggestions that the user can choose from, to replace the selection. The user can also switch to voice input mode to replace the selection. Smart suggestions let the user accept a suggestion and then return to correct it later, if needed, from the original set of suggestions.

New multitouch key-chording lets the user quickly enter numbers and symbols by pressing Shift+<letter> and ?123+<symbol>, without needing to manually switch input modes. From certain keys, users can also access a popup menu of accented characters, numbers, and symbols by holding the key and sliding to select a character.

One-touch word selection and copy/paste

When entering text or viewing a web page, the user can quickly select a word by press-hold, then copy to the clipboard and paste. Pressing on a word enters a free-selection mode — the user can adjust the selection area as needed by dragging a set of bounding arrows to new positions, then copy the bounded area by pressing anywhere in the selection area. For text entry, the user can slide-press to enter a cursor mode, then reposition the cursor easily and accurately by dragging the cursor arrow. With both the selection and cursor modes, no use of a trackball is needed.

Improved power management

The Android system takes a more active role in managing apps that are keeping the device awake for too long or that are consuming CPU while running in the background. By managing such apps — closing them if appropriate — the system helps ensure best possible performance and maximum battery life.

The system also gives the user more visibility over the power being consumed by system components and running apps. The Application settings provides an accurate overview of how the battery is being used, with details of the usage and relative power consumed by each component or application.

Control over applications

A shortcut to the Manage Applications control now appears in the Options Menu in the Home screen and Launcher, making it much easier to check and manage application activity. Once the user enters Manage Applications, a new Running tab displays a list of active applications and the storage and memory being used by each. The user can read further details about each application and if necessary stop an application or report feedback to its developer.

New ways of communicating, organizing

An updated set of standard applications lets the user take new approaches to managing information and relationships.

Internet calling

The user can make voice calls over the internet to other users who have SIP accounts. The user can add an internet calling number (a SIP address) to any Contact and can initiate a call from Quick Contact or Dialer. To use internet calling, the user must create an account at the SIP provider of their choice — SIP accounts are not provided as part of the internet calling feature. Additionally, support for the platform's SIP and internet calling features on specific devices is determined by their manufacturers and associated carriers.

Near-field communications

An NFC Reader application lets the user read and interact with near-field communication (NFC) tags. For example, the user can “touch” or “swipe” an NFC tag that might be embedded in a poster, sticker, or advertisement, then act on the data read from the tag. A typical use would be to read a tag at a restaurant, store, or event and then rate or register by jumping to a web site whose URL is included in the tag data. NFC communication relies on wireless technology in the device hardware, so support for the platform's NFC features on specific devices is determined by their manufacturers.

Downloads management

The Downloads application gives the user easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email, or another application. Downloads is built on an completely new download manager facility in the system that any other applications can use, to more easily manage and store their downloads.

Camera

The application now lets the user access multiple cameras on the device, including a front-facing camera, if available.

New Developer Features

Android 2.3 delivers a variety of features and APIs that let developers bring new types of applications to the Android platform.

• Enhancements for gaming
• New forms of communication
• Rich multimedia

Enhancements for gaming

Performance

Android 2.3 includes a variety of improvements across the system that make common operations faster and more efficient for all applications. Of particular interest to game developers are:

• Concurrent garbage collector — The Dalivik VM introduces a new, concurrent garbage collector that minimizes application pauses, helping to ensure smoother animation and increased responsiveness in games and similar applications.
• Faster event distribution — The plaform now handles touch and keyboard events faster and more efficiently, minimizing CPU utilization during event distribution. The changes improve responsiveness for all applications, but especially benefit games that use touch events in combination with 3D graphics or other CPU-intensive operations.
• Updated video drivers — The platform uses updated third-party video drivers that improve the efficiency of OpenGL ES operations, for faster overall 3D graphics performance.

Native input and sensor events

Applications that use native code can now receive and process input and sensor events directly in their native code, which dramatically improves efficiency and responsiveness.

Native libraries exposed by the platform let applications handle the same types of input events as those available through the framework. Applications can receive events from all supported sensor types and can enable/disable specific sensors and manage event delivery rate and queueing.

Gyroscope and other new sensors, for improved 3D motion processing

Android 2.3 adds API support for several new sensor types, including gyroscope, rotation vector, linear acceleration, gravity, and barometer sensors. Applications can use the new sensors in combination with any other sensors available on the device, to track three-dimensional device motion and orientation change with high precision and accuracy. For example, a game application could use readings from a gyroscope and accelerometer on the device to recognize complex user gestures and motions, such as tilt, spin, thrust, and slice.

Open API for native audio

The platform provides a software implementation of Khronos OpenSL ES, a standard API that gives applications access to powerful audio controls and effects from native code. Applications can use the API to manage audio devices and control audio input, output, and processing directly from native code.

Native graphics management

The platform provides an interface to its Khronos EGL library, which lets applications manage graphics contexts and create and manage OpenGL ES textures and surfaces from native code.

Native access to Activity lifecycle, window management

Native applications can declare a new type of Activity class, NativeActivity whose lifecycle callbacks are implemented directly in native code. TheNativeActivity and its underlying native code run in the system just as do other Activities — they run in the application's system process and execute on the application's main UI thread, and they receive the same lifecycle callbacks as do other Activities.

The platform also exposes native APIs for managing windows, including the ability to lock/unlock the pixel buffer to draw directly into it. Through the API, applications can obtain a native window object associated with a framework Surface object and interact with it directly in native code.

Native access to assets, storage

Applications can now access a native Asset Manager API to retrieve application assets directly from native code without needing to go through JNI. If the assets are compressed, the platform does streaming decompression as the application reads the asset data. There is no longer a limit on the size of compressed .apk assets that can be read.

Additionally, applications can access a native Storage Manager API to work directly with OBB files downloaded and managed by the system. Note that although platform support for OBB is available in Android 2.3, development tools for creating and managing OBB files will not be available until early 2011.

Robust native development environment

The Android NDK (r5 or higher) provides a complete set of tools, toolchains, and libraries for developing applications that use the rich native environment offered by the Android 2.3 platform. For more information or to download the NDK, please see the Android NDK page.

New forms of communication

Internet telephony

Developers can now add SIP-based internet telephony features to their applications. Android 2.3 includes a full SIP protocol stack and integrated call management services that let applications easily set up outgoing and incoming voice calls, without having to manage sessions, transport-level communication, or audio record or playback directly.

Support for the platform's SIP and internet calling features on specific devices is determined by their manufacturers and associated carriers.

Near Field Communications (NFC)

The platform's support for Near Field Communications (NFC) lets developers get started creating a whole new class of applications for Android. Developers can create new applications that offer proximity-based information and services to users, organizations, merchants, and advertisers.

Using the NFC API, applications can respond to NFC tags “discovered” as the user “touches” an NFC-enabled device to elements embedded in stickers, smart posters, and even other devices. When a tag of interest is collected, applications can respond to the tag, read messages from it, and then store the messages, prompting the user as needed.

NFC communication relies on wireless technology in the device hardware, so support for the platform's NFC features on specific devices is determined by their manufacturers.

Rich multimedia

Mixable audio effects

A new audio effects API lets developers easily create rich audio environments by adding equalization, bass boost, headphone virtualization (widened soundstage), and reverb to audio tracks and sounds. Developers can mix multiple audio effects in a local track or apply effects globally, across multiple tracks.

Support for new media formats

The platform now offers built-in support for the VP8 open video compression format and the WebM open container format. The platform also adds support for AAC encoding and AMR wideband encoding (in software), so that applications can capture higher quality audio than narrowband.

Access to multiple cameras

The Camera API now lets developers access any cameras that are available on a device, including a front-facing camera. Applications can query the platform for the number of cameras on the device and their types and characteristics, then open the camera needed. For example, a video chat application might want to access a front-facing camera that offers lower-resolution, while a photo application might prefer a back-facing camera that offers higher-resolution.

New Platform Technologies

Media Framework

• New media framework fully replaces OpenCore, maintaining all previous codec/container support for encoding and decoding.
• Integrated support for the VP8 open video compression format and the WebM open container format
• Adds AAC encoding and AMR wideband encoding

Linux Kernel

• Upgraded to 2.6.35

Networking

• SIP stack, configurable by device manufacturer
• Support for Near Field Communications (NFC), configurable by device manufacturer
• Updated BlueZ stack

Dalvik runtime

• Dalvik VM:
  • Concurrent garbage collector (target sub-3ms pauses)
  • Adds further JIT (code-generation) optimizations
  • Improved code verification
  • StrictMode debugging, for identifying performance and memory issues
• Core libraries:
  • Expanded I18N support (full worldwide encodings, more locales)
  • Faster Formatter and number formatting. For example, float formatting is 2.5x faster.
  • HTTP responses are gzipped by default. XML and JSON API response sizes may be reduced by 60% or more.
  • New collections and utilities APIs
  • Improved network APIs
  • Improved file read and write controls
  • Updated JDBC
• Updates from upstream projects:
  • OpenSSL 1.0.0a
  • BouncyCastle 1.45
  • ICU 4.4
  • zlib 1.2.5

For more information about the new developer APIs, see the Android 2.3 version notes and the API Differences Report.

Synapse Phones is now taking pre-orders for completely customizable hardware for your next Android OS phone (Synapse One)!

For the list of customizable options CLICK HERE! You can also stay up-to-date via their Posterous Blog!

I've only had two critiques of Android so far: 1) OS Fragmentation & 2) some tweaks to the UI/UX would be nice.

As Google has a solid history of doing, they are stepping up their game with the next release of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Google is said to be "laser-focused" on improving the UI so carriers don't need custom skins such as: Motoblur, Ninjablur, SenseUI, etc...

Two possible, positive benefits if this pans out: 1) the end of these custom UI's from carriers that slow down the devices and cause so much pain while waiting patiently for them to upgrade, and 2) a better user experience is really welcomed!

The best part, it is rumored that Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) will be coming Q4 of this year, and then after that it will move over to a year;y iteration/release process.

Interesting overall fact about Android I didn't know,

"If this news is true, it means that Google Android has had five variants that has a code name taken from the cake, such as Android 5.1 as 'Cupcake', Android 1.6 'Donut', Android 1.2 'Enclair', Android 2.2 'Froyo' (Fozen Yogurt) and Android 3.2 'Gingerbread '. If the note all the names that have the prefix letter alphabet C, D, E, F and G. An intelligent approach than Google, while the use of a snack/cakes makes this platform so impressed more "sweet" and sound friendly for the user." - via Oki Rosgani

I think this is FREAKING AWESOME! Can't wait to get my hands on one of these!!!

I noticed a link to Apple's HTML5 Showcase and I thought it would be interesting to see what they are demoing, so I took a look... Nice page and initially looks like a good variety of demos...

I quick learned that I couldn't access demos within Google Chrome, Internet Explorer or even Firefox. I had to use Safari... WTF!?!?!?!?

Déjà vu! For a second there I had flashbacks to a few years back, using a Firefox browser and trying to access a site that requires ActiveX and would only run in Internet Explorer. Scary! Don't get me wrong, I completely understand HTML5 is still in development and browser companies are still building HTML5 features as they are established and change, BUT ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME... I have to use frickin' Safari?

Sean Michael Kerner of InternetNews.com said, "...if HTML5 is truly about creating an open web standard for all, shouldn't an HTML5 demo page highlight standard features that work across all HTML5 compliant browsers?"

Correct if I am wrong, but I thought HTML5 was about any content, any device, any where! 

I did try it on Safari just to see the demos. Overall, sure it was pretty cool. Overall there is still a bit of lag with the processing of the JavaScript from time to time. Everything was nice until I got to the HTML5 VR Demo. It said this demo not only requires Safari, but it also requires me to be on an Apple machine!!! Apple has clearly gone past Adobe's requirement for a 3rd party plugin, this is requiring the users to have a certain type of hardware. APPLE THIS DOESN'T BELONG IN AN "OPEN HTML5 DEMO" 

It's like Jason Calacanis put it when talking about Steve Jobs at Wall Street Journal's D8, "Jobs fired away at Adobe over the Flash issue. He discussed how his closed platform is actually open because they support HTML5. He discussed why Google is toast (no one searches anymore, if they want a restaurant they just open the Yelp application)."

Again, correct if I am wrong, but I thought HTML5 was about any content, any device, any where! 

Apple's HTML5 Showcase on the Google Nexus One... I went ahead and tried it on my Nexus One, just for fun.

• HTML5 Video Demo - Got this message, "This demo contains H.264 video. Windows users can download QuickTime to enable support fro this industry-standard format." - This is a frickin' riot here! Apple bashes Adobe for needing a proprietary plugin to view content and Apple requires the same thing here. Its a freaking double standard here!
• HTML5 Typography Demo - This demo actually worked, BUT definitely not optimized for mobile consumption on the Nexus One. Tried it on my iPhone and it worked well.
• HTML5 Gallery Demo - This actually worked very nice, with the exception that I was not able to select the drop down to change Gallery demo styles.
• HTML5 Transitions Demo - Worked very nicely.
• HTML5 Audio Demo - Worked well.
• HTML5 360 Degree Demo - Kind of worked. Really, really choppy.
• HTML5 VR Demo - Same response as attempting to view in Safari on my PC... I need a Mac product to view.

Apple's HTML5 Showcase = FAIL

Photo Credit: LiuToa

I really wasn't keeping track of the D8 conference until I saw @Jason (Jason Calacanis) wrote,

"Steve Jobs just gave mad shout out to yelp and apps. Says apps are future, and that requires mobile ads--not banners. #d8."

MY PREDICTION... The App Model won't exist in 3 years!!! Yes, I'm saying that the brilliant creator of the iPhone is wrong. Count it... one... two... three years. This isn't a stab at Apple's iTunes (as I previous have... see: Apple's CEO Entered an Insanity Plea as the Reason for Banning Flash on the iPhone), its not a shot at Google's Android Market... I simply think that mobile web applications are the future, not these platform dependent apps, the nasty ego contests, especially the one with fascist curating habits from certain company that is named after a red fruit.

Please don't be confused. I'm not jumping on the HTML5 bandwagon. HTML5 is not the Holy Grail, as so many buzzword-loving tech reporters are saying it will be! As a matter of fact, its not even complete yet and won't be for another couple of years. It is still my belief that HTML5 will have its place for a few unique uses, but it can't and won't replace full RIA frameworks such as Flash, Flex, Silverlight, VB, PHP, etc...

I think the future lies within mobile web applications that run extremely fast, that contains high interactive, media-rich content that looks sexy on whatever screen size, and it will built on highly optimized JavaScript, CSS, HTML & your server-side language of choice (mine just happens to be PHP).

If you are considering an Native App (iPhone or Android) project, go for it! Now its a very hot trend, just don't be shocked if you see a shift coming in the near future.

Fresh off the digital press (or PDF)... download your copy of Flash & Flex Developer Magazine for FREE!!! Also, check out my Special Report section introducing Adobe's AIR for Android!

Don't forget, the AIR for Android beta is now OPEN to developers.

Download here

Download here

Day 1, the big news was the Chrome Web App Store.

Day 2, it was all about the little green dude... Android! The Android OS seems to have finally matured past the point of playing catch up with Apple's iPhone and now seems to be setting its own agenda.

Android 2.2 (FroYo) Developer's Note:

1. Speed - faster VM & JIT compiler 2x-5x faster apps
2. Enterprise - 20 new features including Exchange support
3. Data Backup API
4. Cloud-to-Device Messaging API
5. Tethering and wireless hotspot
6. A better Browser:
   • V8 video. 
   • The Android browsers dusted the iPad browser hands down in decoding JavaScript. 
   • Eventually web apps will be able to access the device hardware such as the camera & accelerometer. 
   • Flash Player 10.1 support within the Browser. 
7. Android Market - Search can search within apps and removable storage. 
8. Apps on SD. 
9. Application can be set to auto-update. 
10. A stack trace reporting feature for developers to better help with debugging. 
11. Android Market account tied to devices. 
12. Devices will be able to download application OTA (Over-The-Air) directly from your computer. 
13. Music is now purchasable on the Android Market!
14. Non-DRMed music purchased on iTunes will be able to play on your Android device.
15. AdSense for Mobile Ads - Google's counter Apple's iAds I'm sure. Expandable ad formats within apps which can use maps and the click-to-call feature.

CNET's Stephen Shankland: "Basically, Google is working to reproduce iTunes abilities with just a browser, no iTunes." 

Google TV: TV meets web. Web meets TV.

Imagine your computer, mobile phone and TV viewing experiences all being blurred together. This is exactly what Google is doing! Its a fact a large quantity of people spend hours of time watching YouTube on their computers and mobiles, now imagine watching that on your 1080p HD TV. Lets take it one step further, how about watching that YouTube clip and then sharing it with your buddy from your TV. Its no longer a dream, its coming later this year (Fall 2010) to a BestBuy near you. 

What you need to know about Google TV:

• Running the Android OS + Chrome Browser
• Will be integrated with with Sony TVs that are coming out.
• Will be available as a standalone box (thanks to Logitech) and will work with your current TV. Will require a keyboard & pointing device. 
• Better searchability of the program you like. 
• More interactivity with your favorite programs. 
• Allows your to record future episodes of your favorite shows and ties directly to Amazon Video so you can purchase previous episodes. 
• Access to Android Apps! You will be able to login to your Android Market account, buy an app on your phone or computer & have it automatically downloaded to your Google TV.
• You can watch YouTube directly on your Google TV.
• Will be able to interact with Facebook, Pandora, Flickr, etc...
• NOTE: your Android phone can be used as a remote control.
• You will be able to login to your Android Market account, buy an app & have it automatically to your Google TV.
  
• Watch & listen to your podcasts directly on you Google TV. Podcast via Google Listen (http://listen.googlelabs.com/). 
  
• Notably: the NBA.com has create a Google TV site that allows for more interactivity while you consume sport. This is the future!
  

Google TV Developer's Note:

• Developers will be able to build both Android apps as well as Web apps and access them on Google TV.
• Google TV currently runs on Android 2.1 & has the Google Chrome browser & Flash Player 10.1.
• The SDK will be released early 2011.
• Best part... its all OPEN SOURCE! This will happen late 2011.

Adobe AIR for Android Developer's Note: its nice having a little green guy and Google as friends! 

1. You can develop Android apps using AIR for Android which is now in beta (developer access only). SIGN UP HERE!
2. As a Flash Developer, you can develop Flash Apps and content (720p & 1080p videos) for Google TV. READ MORE HERE...
3. AIR for Android will work on Google TV eventually. Top priority is optimizing AIR for Android on mobiles.
4. General tips for designing websites to work on Google TV

Today, much to my delight, Adobe has launched a classy advertising campaign, "We HEART Choice" to counter Steve Jobs' missive, "Thoughts on Flash". The message is simple, Adobe still likes Apple, they want to set the record straight, and they just want to let developers to choose what tools they want to build with.

Anyone that it out of the loop can grab all of the details that have led up to this point by read, Apple's CEO Entered an Insanity Plea as the Reason for Banning Flash on the iPhone

Lets first take a look at "The Truth about Flash"...

Read the entire article "The Truth about Flash"...

The Co-Founders of Adobe wrote a nice letter about the internet and openness...

They really have a fabulous point...

"If the web fragments into closed systems, if companies put content and applications behind walls, some indeed may thrive — but their success will come at the expense of the very creativity and innovation that has made the Internet a revolutionary force."

Read the entire letter "Our thoughts on open markets"...

Future of Flash...

Flash is not only available on the computer, but shortly it will available on Android mobiles & tablets and TVs as well. I'm a part of both beta testing for AIR for Android and Flash Player 10.1 for Android and its really exciting to see a mobile device handle Flash & Adobe AIR apps so well!

Check out a few exciting videos about FP 10.1 & AIR for Android:

• Adobe demonstrates Flash and Air on Android tablet
• Great AIR for Android Example – Easy and Speedy
• A breath of fresh AIR: AIR on Android
• Flash Works On Touch-Based Devices (Video)
• Android Apps developers are starting to create with Flash CS5 & Adobe AIR for Android

There is no unified way to update the Android OS & users are getting frustrated with these carrier-customized Android Operation Systems. Version 2.1 was released officially January 12, 2010 and Sprint still doesn’t have their act together. I know Verizon had similar issues when they were trying to update the Droid.

http://phandroid.com/2010/05/07/sprint-hoped-youd-get-your-2-1-update-by-now-but-youll-have-to-wait-longer/

I think this is probably going to be the largest issue with people adopting to Android when they compare it to iPhone. Granted I’m sure Google will do these updates in a timely fashion for my Google Nexus One, but Sprint & Verizon are falling way behind.

This is where Apple does have the upper hand and its a serious selling point. 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m really digging Android. I took my SIM out of my iPhone and I’m using the Nexus One daily. Its kickass! I stated everything above as just a heads up into possible future issues.

QUESTION: Should Google intervene? If so, what are their options?

Today, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, publically entered a plea of insanity on Apple.com as to why Apple is banning Flash from the iPhone.