Posted on 07/30/2010 5:30:37 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Until now, only users of Google's tragically short lived Nexus One had access to Android 2.2 (codenamed Froyo), but according to a communiqué from Verizon, the original Droid will be getting the update next week. This is big news for a large segment of the Android user base as the Droid was a very popular phone.
Android 2.2 brings some useful new features to the platform. For instance, Google's new Jun-in-time compiler speeds up applications dramatically, and the browsers new JavaScript V8 engine makes web pages render much faster. We're going to be very interested to see how Motorola handles the mobile Wi-Fi hotspot functionality that Google added to Froyo. Carriers usually like to charge for the service, but there is no mechanism for that in Froyo. Many believe it will be removed altogether.
No word on updates for the Droid Incredible or Droid X as of yet. Though, with their skinned versions of Android updates are likely to take a little longer. Any Droid users out there jumping with joy?
I want my Droid X and Froyo.
... and Google wants your personal data, plus some shady website in China.
I’m sure something can be worked out.
Cool, I have the Mot Droid and will jump to the X as soon as my contract allows, but this is a great improvement on the OS.
Any comments on your experience with the Droid?
I love it. I’ve used almost everything (use a Blackberry Storm also for work). It is the type of phone for gadget geeks, you can do a lot more on it than an iPhone, it just takes a little more thinking. I don’t even use the GPS in my car any more, it has a Navigation using Google Maps satellite view that works far better.
Froyo Fun: Google Android 2.2 Will Boast Tethering, Wi-Fi Hot Spot
***********************************EXCERPT************************************
Chad Berndtson, CRN
4:51 PM EDT Thu. May. 13, 2010
Google (NSDQ:GOOG) Android 2.2, the next version of Google's Android mobile OS and code-named Froyo, will reportedly include both built-in USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot capability.
Google hasn't officially confirmed details of Froyo, but tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot were the Froyo feedback from TechCrunch's Michael Arrington, who on Thursday reported that Android 2.2 will also include full Flash support and "a whopper of a speed improvement."
Arrington bases his claims on "information we've received," and suggested Froyo will be made available to Google Nexus One phone users during or before next week's Google I/O event for developers at San Francisco's Moscone Center
news ping!
....and there is this thread:
Froyo, that was the Lord of the Rings guy. I remember because that other Hobbit guy kept saying, “you can do this, Froyo.”
Does the X really provide a WiFi hotspot for other computer users in a permeter?
I tried the Navigation app on my Nexus One the week after I got the phone; Before that I was looking at replacing a Garmin Nuvi that had left my life last year. Figured I'd try the Navigation on my phone out since I had it. I wasn't expecting much. Man, it was one pleasant surprise after another.
First I was impressed that the phone successfully decoded my voice "Navigate to..." instruction the first time. Then the turn by turn instructions were clear and well placed (Garmin had much better voice and more accurate street pronunciation) As I approached it told me my destination was on the left. Yep, there it was. I pulled in and was preparing to exit the car when I looked down at my phone and noticed that it had a street level picture of the house itself. Not only that, but when I clicked on an icon I got a 360 degree draggable view of the location, including the sky and street pavement.
A dedicated GPS might have a few more refinements, (nicer voice, I miss optimized multi-point navigation) but the convenience and cost of Google Navigation (free with my phone that I have anyways) tips the scale against me ever buying a GPS again.
Its a feature of Android OS 2.2 (codenamed Froyo) Tried it out on my Nexus One and it worked quite well.
The best defense is a smart, aware user. Trojans will always get through. Telling people they're 100% safe because all apps are screened builds a false sense of security in the best guard there is - you.
Is it Droid or that ever-looming, never materializing Microsoft phone, that uses voice recognition to identify keywords in order to target ads to the user of the phone? Does this not strike you as excessive? It certainly strikes me as excessive.
Frozen yogurt. All Android versions are named after sweets, with cupcake, donut and eclair so far. After froyo is gingerbread (3.0).
And Frodo was the hobbit.
Does Android 2.2 have the capability to encrypt data? (other than using touchdown).
Definitely wanted a Nexus one, but decided to go with a new Iphone. I like you get the updates right away and don’t have to screw around.
How’s the battery life? Heard mixed things
You can root a Droid X but no ROMs available yet. Rooting will not brick the phone. Before root methods were discovered; it would just go back to stock android OS - not brick.
http://www.androidcentral.com/droid-x-root-achieved
http://www.androidcentral.com/droid-x-root-easy
Too many rumors (myths) about android phones.....
How’s the battery life? Heard mixed things
Few things there. First, while I really, really like my Nexus for a lot of reasons, I don't know that I would recommend it to someone in that cost a lot of loot. $529 for the unlocked version that I needed to run on AT&T. And now that Google stopped selling it online (due to the failure of the buy-before-touching model) the only way to get it (currently, may change) is pay $25 or so to register as an Android developer, which makes it even more expensive. For that amount of money (or less if you're willing to enter a contract) you can get another Android phone that has even more features.
OTOH, the Nexus One has a great form factor for its feature set, more pocketable than any other comperable phone that I know of. And as you said it gets the new updates right away (probably only a guarantee for the next version, 3.0) and it has good battery life for its competition. So the buyer needs to consider what his priorities are.
Speaking of your second question, I get about a full sunrise to sunset day of use from my Nexus before it starts getting really empty. That's with moderate data (including wi-fi) and screen use, and light phone use. Pandora radio to and from work can not be discounted as a factor here. I've gotten used to plugging it into my car charger and work computer to keep it topped off, just because, but short answer, you'll get about a day, no more. I understand that the Evo is not as good, probably due to more hardware to run (keyboard) and its bigger screen.
For most Android phones, including the Nexus and Evo, you can buy a higher capacity battery that can be swapped out for the standard one. They run around $40-$45.
Yep
How rootable is it?
Oh wait, scratch that part, I was confusing the Evo body with the Droid body... sorry.
Very, although it isn't the most un-technical process in the world. Previously the method required that you first unlocked the bootloader, which would void HTC's warranty. Plus once unlocked, the boatloader couldn't be re-locked if you wanted to send it in for service. Notably, there are reports (grain of salt) that HTC still honored the warranties on hardware defects as long as the defect wasn't caused by a root related activity (overclocking the CPU too much, burning out the flash with flashlight app)
More recently there is supposed to be a method out that allows rooting without unlocking the Nexus' bootloader. I haven't looked it over in any detail yet.
Correct. And that's not just limited to Google.
Is it Droid or that ever-looming, never materializing Microsoft phone, that uses voice recognition to identify keywords in order to target ads to the user of the phone?
It's not just Google or Microsoft; Apple does it as well. And all are looking to profit on ad deliveries, inside AND outside of the apps themselves.
As far as never materializing, I spent an hour or so using a Win Phone 7 device on Wednesday, a rather nice, refreshing take on a UI. The phone is coming, they'll be out around September/October of this year.
Does this not strike you as excessive? It certainly strikes me as excessive.
Yes it does. Which is why I still have a WinMo 6.5 phone. No ads, it does exactly what I want, it has a slick UI (courtesy of SPB's Mobile Shell), and is fully programmable/extensible via 3rd party tools or tools I decide to write myself. No restrictions on what is "allowed".
Ads will be with us; Google will probably do their normal thing which is make them as unobtrusive as possible. Present, but not "in your face". And of course, because it's legal to root the phone, you can do so and edit your HOSTS file to completely block AdMob altogether. Meaning ads are at the control of the user, not the provider.
Microsoft has already stated that Win Phone 7 will have ads, but that the user can turn them off (meaning you can shut off all ad content). Much like Android, but it sounds like it's a simple configuration switch easily available for the user.
Apple is pushing rich media (popovers/popunders/audio) ads that are solely at the control of the app developer. User has no ability to control the presence or absence of the ads.
The first two are annoyances, but at least they can be stopped. The third? Well, it's illegal to root your phone so if you even want to try to stop ads, you are already breaking the law. And that's if there IS a way to stop them...
No MeeGo phones yet. (Nokia N900 doesn't count and is a year outdated.)
Keat is typing this post on his new Droid x (actually swyping it, which is pretty cool).
Looking forward to 2.2 update though now I hear it may not be coming out as soon as this article indicates.
Yes it does
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