Google launches Android 3.1 and presents Android 3.4 Ice Cream Sandwich

Today’s was the first day of Google IO conference, a place where Google meets developers and presents its plans for future products, including Android. So today we’ve found out about the upcoming Android 3.4 OS codename Ice Cream Sandwich and the launch of Android 3.1 Honeycomb, available already for Verizon Motorola Xoom owners.

But let’s not get that fast through the news and take each announcement apart to see what we can expect from Android devices in the months to come. And there’s lot to expect since Google proudly announced activation levels for new Android devices reached 400.000 a day, total activations now totaling over 100 million devices. All those new users can now download over 200.000 free and paid apps from the Android Marketplace, so the novelties announced today will only make more people switch over to Android.

Android 3.1 Honeycomb

This is the first major update for Honeycomb, one that’s available today for the Verizon 3G version of Motorola Xoom. Other Honeycomb users will have to wait for their update, like it happens every time. So let’s see the improvements brought by Android 3.1:

• Support for resize-able and scroll-able widgets. Developers can transform old widgets into the new format by just adding a few lines of code, so we’ll see them pretty soon.
• USB support for keyboards, mices, peripherals like Xbox and Playstation controllers and even digital cameras
• Enhanced multi tasking support with more efficient memory and running apps management
• Enhanced quick access buttons functionality: you can now scroll the list of recent tasks and launched apps
• Android Open Accessory strategy will allow creation of accessories that will be able to interact with Android devices
• Updated native apps: Browser, Gallery, Calendar, Contacts, Email and extended Enterprise support

As you can see the 3.1 Honeycomb update brings significant updates and improvements to be deemed worthy. No only if Google’s partners hurry to update their tablets. It is about time for Honeycomb to solve existing problems. Hope developers read all negative Honeycomb reviews and are planning updated version for their apps soon or it’s iPad déjà vu all over again.

The new Android 3.1 home screen

Android Ice Cream Sandwich

With a Q4 2011 expected release, the Android 3.4 codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich will bring Android interface unification across all type of devices. After Android 3.0 has split from the ‘traditional’ Android 2.3 UI to get tablet enhancements now with Android 3.4 we’ll see smartphones borrowing the tablet UI completely. I don’t know how practical is for us to have the same UI on a 4 inch smartphone and on a 10 inch tablet (it was a problem last year when Google said Android 2.2 not for tablets), but I guess this has more to do with easing the work of app developers. Probably the low number of Honeycomb apps have raised a flag at Google, who will now try and re-unify Android’s user interface to make app development easier.

One other aspect Android Ice Cream Sandwich will improve upon is the camera app that will get face detection so when you’re video chatting the focus will be on your face, not your t-shirt. I guess Google will tell us more once Ice Cream Sandwich is released in Q4.

Android 3.4 Ice Cream Sandwich logo

Updates guaranteed for 18 months after a device is released

This is one interesting bit of info I feel I have to share with you: Google partnered with a few device manufacturers and carriers to guarantee updates for each new device for up to 18 months since the time of launch. Current partners include AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint carriers in US and HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, and Motorola device manufacturers. Finally Google does something for those who bought an Android device yesterday, not just for those getting one today.

Google also announced the Music Beta and Movie rental services at Google IO, but I’ll talk about them in another post.