For long we have anxiously awaited the tablet optimized Android version from Google, dubbed as Android 3.0 or Honeycomb. This can really prove to be competition for the iPad as we have already seen devices such as the Motorola Xoom at the Consumer Electronics Show 2011 which is set to hit the market running this very version of Android, Honeycomb. To achieve developers’ interest in this tablet optimized Android version, Google has just rolled out the preview version of Android Honeycomb SDK in order to help developers’ fine tune their apps for this particular version.
Some new features of Android 3.0 Honeycomb include:
- New UI design specifically for tablets
- Redesigned soft keyboard
- Improved text selection, copy and paste options
- New connectivity options
- Set of standard apps specifically updated for tablets
- New UI Framework for developers
- High performance 2D and 3D graphics
- HTTP Live Streaming
These are some of the highlights that we have picked from the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Platform Page that Google has set up, more details on these features can be seen by following the link given above.
See the video down below which will give you a sneak peek into the awesome features that Android 3.0 Honeycomb will bring to the next line of Android based tablet devices.
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Developers: You can start tinkering with Honeycomb now as the latest version of Android SDK features an early Android 3.0 system image to be used with Android emulator, a new emulator skin will also make it easier to mirror the new size of potential Android tablets.
Download Android 3.0 Honeycomb SDK