Google releases new Android SDK

In case you're not clued into the developer's loop when it comes to all things Android, you might not be aware that there's a brand-spanking-new version of the SDK out right now, replete with new apps, a new skin, and tightened-up functionality. In fact, it's almost like a whole new OS. Keep your eyes on us, as we're whipping up an in-depth gallery so you can get a taste of what's to come from the Google camp.

Take a look at our extensive gallery of pics right here.

[Via Hello Android]

[Kiwi616 @ Feb 13th 2008 3:43PM]

Maybe this will push Apple to release theirs now.

Love competition!

[wiedzmin @ Feb 13th 2008 4:12PM]

Doubt it - Apple's business strategy is not like Google's, they don't provide free stuff.

[vcx @ Feb 13th 2008 4:22PM]

Or maybe apple will release a bootcamp equivalent for iphone to boot android. Yes, in my dreams.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Feb 13th 2008 4:44PM]

Well, the last thing you want Apple to do is rush an unfinished product out the door. Let's hope they take their time and do it right. Apple can't afford to have a lousy SDK for such the highly-touted iPhone. iPhone sales are going to hinge on the SDK being able to create unique applications for a unique platform. It will be the last gasp for the iPhone 1.0 to show the world it's capabilities. As it is, I think the iPhone juggernaut has already run out of steam.

[Skemo @ Feb 13th 2008 3:45PM]

Android keeps looking better and better, can't wait to see the final product!

[Dster @ Feb 13th 2008 3:47PM]

Did you say tighten up the graphics?

http://tightenedmupthegraphics.ytmnd.com/

Oh, functionality. That's easy.

[a @ Feb 13th 2008 3:51PM]

Bout time more development is put into the UI than the hardware... Don't get me wrong, I love new hardware too.

It'd better have access to the chat app in gmail... damn phones / companies ripping us all off with text messages when we're paying for unlimited internet data...

[gibber9583 @ Feb 13th 2008 3:58PM]

There are MANY IM applications, regardless of OS, for mobile phones.....Jivetalk, IM+ to name a couple of multi-client apps. Google and AIM both have official clients for many OS's.

[Jon Shipman @ Feb 13th 2008 4:30PM]

Oh yeah, if you want to PAY for an IM app... I mean I'd gladdly pay for IM+ if it were $5, but it's $40. $40!!! Sorry, I don't have that kind of money to spend on phone apps.

Trust me, IM on mobile phones have a ways to go. Currently on Palringo and even then you have to signup for their service to use. WHY can't there just be a simple AIM app where I don't have my username and pass through another company. I gon't have to sign up for a PIDGIN account to use PIDGIN then why do I need a Palringo account?

The AIM for Mobile developed by AOL doesn't even have a CAB available, So I can't even get it on my WM6 phone without having to set up active sync. Which shouldn't be required when you have no Windows XP to install Active Sync on.

[gibber9583 @ Feb 13th 2008 4:52PM]

There is an older version of the AIM application floating around. If you know where to look you can find it. Check out HoFo or the XDA forums.

You dont need another user/pass to log into IM+ or Jivetalk. You are correct, neither of these arent free(maybe the iphone version is...) (webmessenger on BBerry is free though)

There are free versions of AIM, Gtalk, MSN, and Yahoo available on the blackberry OS. All official clients.


Android will have IM apps, so u dont need to worry about your text charges. Relax people.

[Max @ Feb 14th 2008 5:50PM]

From the release notes:

"The com.google.android.xmppService package has been replaced by the com.google.android.gtalkservice package. This is driven by the fact that the GTalk API is not XMPP compliant, and will be less so going forward. The reason is that XMPP is too verbose and inefficient for mobile network connection, and the GTalk API will be moving to a binary encoding for the protocol between the client and the server. There will also be mobile specific protocols added. For M5, however, XMPP is still used in general, but not 100% compliant."

[FuzzyCat @ Feb 13th 2008 3:55PM]

Opensource yet?

[Matt @ Feb 13th 2008 4:04PM]

Wasn't it always?

[Zach Hobbs @ Feb 13th 2008 4:10PM]

not yet, after the phones start coming out...

[FuzzyCat @ Feb 13th 2008 4:12PM]

No. Some parts have been but there's a truckload which isn't.

[ffnc @ Feb 13th 2008 4:16PM]

The SDK is remaining closed until the phones' launch for two reasons. First, nobody wants their future platform's reputation squashed by bugs that didn't get caught making it out in a premature release by some other company. Secondly, Google understandably wants to get Android out there before derivatives start cropping up.

[nikster @ Feb 14th 2008 12:16AM]

More importantly, once it's open source it's way harder to change the APIs. You don't want to freeze the APIs until the last possible moment.

[Andrew @ Feb 13th 2008 4:20PM]

Released at 13:37. Nice

[Gorillamonk @ Feb 13th 2008 4:24PM]

this is getting tight. If Android lives up to half the hype and all from user abuse...We have a decent OS. And whatever phone it get smacked onto is second. I can hear apple losing customer base now.

[Scott @ Feb 13th 2008 5:39PM]

What you hear is EVERYONE non-Android losing customer base.

I'll sell my iPhone in a second if this turns out to half of what it *could* be. This has the possibility of making ALL other mobile software obsolete...Not that the mobile OS bar has been set very high, thanks to the "lock it all down and
delete anything useful" attitudes of many major carriers and even the
hardware manufacturers in Apple's case.

[nikster @ Feb 14th 2008 12:22AM]

Between the beautiful but locked and tightly-controlled iPhone OS and the utter crap that is Symbian and Win Mobile, Android looks like the way out.

[Rob @ Feb 13th 2008 4:36PM]

I Want that phone (& OS), I know this is open source(so dont pounce and say it will be an every phone), but where can i get that.

[Johan S @ Feb 13th 2008 4:58PM]

got WVGA support?

[chuck @ Feb 13th 2008 5:56PM]

I hope they have a easy to use zoom feature or something similar on their browser. It frames the page well but it is not very readable.

also need this to work with vzw

[Abhinay @ Feb 13th 2008 7:00PM]

ROFL.... the wallpaper is from wikipedia :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)

Well... technically, it belongs to the US Air Force, but I'm sure google didn't go that far :)

[Bart @ Feb 13th 2008 9:35PM]

I have that background image on my comp.

[k3n85 @ Feb 14th 2008 9:18AM]

Ummm whats the keyboard look like?

[Richard @ Feb 14th 2008 11:44AM]

This new GUI is hideous. I'm sorry. It's a huge downgrade from before, in my opinion.

[thl16888 @ Mar 22nd 2008 1:06AM]

Welcome to visit Google Android Forum: http://www.loveandroid.com