The Google Android 1.5 SDK launches two weeks after developers were given an early look at the open-source mobile operating system. Although initially designed for use in smartphones, Android seems poised to become a major presence as an OS for mininotebooks, aka netbooks. Rumor has it that Microsoft will also compete in that same netbook space with a stripped-down version of its upcoming Windows 7.
Google
Android 1.5 SDK Release 1 is now available.
The new SDK, released to developers on April 27 and available for
download here, is
based on the "Cupcake" branch of the Android Open Source project, and
includes APIs for new and improved features such as home screen widgets, home
screen framework, media framework, input method framework and speech
recognition framework.
It also features a refinement of core user interface elements,
accelerometer-based application rotations and a UI polish for an in-call
experience, among other details.
On April 14, Google rolled out an early look at the Google Android 1.5 SDK
for developers. The platform offered tools such as faster Gmail conversation
list scrolling and UI refinements to the browser and other elements.
Given that the SDK features a different component structure than earlier
Android SDK releases, older Eclipse plug-ins (ADT 0.8) are not compatible. The
big change, however, is that with this rollout, tools and documentation for the
new SDK are complete.
Android made its debut in August 2008 and, while originally intended as a
smartphone OS, it seems on the verge of making a leap to more widespread use in
mininotebooks, aka netbooks, and other computing devices. According to
predictions, Android will be running on about 12 percent of global smartphone
shipments by 2012.
Google
CEO Eric Schmidt, in a quarterly earnings call on April 16, predicted that
Android would have a "very, very strong year" in 2009, adding,
"We are already aware of many, many uses of Android, which as [you] know
is open source ... the open-source part of the strategy is working."
Schmidt also hinted at Android's future netbook expansion. "On the
netbook side, there are a number of people who have actually taken Android and
ported it over to netbook or netbook-similar devices," he said.
"We're excited that that investment is occurring."
Companies such as T-Mobile, Acer, Dell and Hewlett-Packard have been
planning laptop-focused applications for the Android OS. Google faces
competition in the netbook operating system arena later in 2009, however,
should
Microsoft
make good on rumors that a version of Windows 7 with a smaller OS footprint for
netbooks will be rolling out this year.
IDC estimated that netbook shipments will grow from 11.4
million in 2008 to 22 million in 2009.
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