Android NDK hits Release 3, brings OpenGL ES 2.0 access to devs
By Chris Ziegler 
posted March 8th 2010 6:17PM
posted March 8th 2010 6:17PM
We know from a brief spat of iPhone 3GS controversy that OpenGL ES 2.0 brings a new level of immersive realism to 3D gaming on mobile devices, so Android developers (and users, for that matter) should be delighted to hear that a new release of the official Native Development Kit exposes its capabilities to anyone targeting Android 2.0 or higher. As a refresher, the so-called NDK is a bolt-on to the standard Android SDK that gives folks the ability to write and compile critical pieces of functionality in native code, closer to the processor without that pesky Java virtual machine standing in the way -- in other words, it's exactly what gamers and game devs need to make Android a serious gaming platform, and better access to badass 3D capabilities are a fun little piece of the puzzle. The latest NDK's available for download now -- so seriously, hurry up and go wow us with your revolutionary first-person shooter. Git!
@cdf74dc9
There's already MANY games that download all assets to the SD card. The main app is very small comparatively. No problem. For instance, exZeus is using 1.21M internal storage, but it downloaded all game assets to the SD card. Almost 60M exists there.
When google gets official SD support in for apps, it will be a little easier on the devs. but for now it's a good system that saves space to just have you app download assets to SD.
@cdf74dc9 You really dont get that 99 percent of the app is stored on the sd card do you?
@hfm You will still run out if space some time or another check your space without these games and let me know. My droid is almost full and I have barely any games or apps
@angermeans You can have tons of apps/games on your Droid and still have space, do to the fact large portions are saved on the SD card. Then there's the option that's available with SD cards to upgrade to as much storage as you want.
@cdf74dc9
SD card app installation will be available soon (I'd assume in the next major version). And as others have said, apps and games already store the majority of their data on the SD card anyway.
I'm enjoying my iPhone 3GS now, but I'd really like my next phone to be slightly more open. It frustrates me to no end that I can't (officially) develop for my phone because I don't own a Mac.
Stories like this make me think that I might be able to switch platforms for my next phone and not lose much. I'd love to see Google come out with a Nexus Two (or whatever) with a front facing camera and video chat.
The future looks bright, as long as Google can keep platform fragmentation under control.
@Rollins
what's your next phone going to be a nexus 2 or a DROID 2 lol jk
BTW they should regulate screen sizes like 3.1in and 3.7in and 4.3in.
thats just and idea though:)
@Rollins
"now, but I'd really like my next phone to be slightly more open. "
LMFAO... what a load of bs. what does that even mean!!!
@Wesscoast A phone where you can decide what you want on it. No one deciding whether or not a specific app is appropriate for you. You even have the option to download from the web. Amazing. It's almost as if you actually own the phone.
Maybe one day when you grow up, you'll understand. For now, I suggest you stick with the iPhone.
@Alexpeegs Isn't the Nexus Two practically the Droid 2?
@TheGM
By your logic my PS3 acts as if I don't own it either.
@ebgolfin The PS3 was actually one of the most featured and open console systems in history. Everything from replaceable HDDs that aren't proprietary and the ability to install Linux; well at least it used too.
As for my statement, I responded to the troll with a troll post. Don't take it to heart.
Well, now Android isn't so obsolete as it was for quite a while.
@NuShrike
iPhone 4... just a couple months from now...
Nice. Now bring on a good looking Tegra 2 Android PLEASE.
Android is the new win mo, except there are far more different versions out at the same time.
It's eerie how similar the win mo game plan is to Android. Only difference is that MSFT never released their own phone. Otherwise, right from Motorola to HTC as key early backers...it's scary. It was the system of the future...
I even recall walking into an AT&T store in 2007 and being told the AT&T tilt was their best phone and would easily outsell the iPhone. This was very close to the iPhone release. I got the tilt. Next it was an xperia x1 for $699 and finally the htc tilt2. In Jan I finally switched to an iPhone.
Needless to say, the whole product is greater than the sum of it's part. In fact I have a hard time believing anyone who claim they prefer either android or win mo today to the iPhone system. I just don't believe those claims are credible. JMHO.
@jaffreywali Let's say you have a Nexus One. How would it affect you if the nearly 2 year old G1 can't handle Google Earth?
For me it's the other way around. I can't imagine anyone actually proffering the iPhone over Android. I can't imagine sticking with my 3G over Android.
Multi-tasking ,Flash, widgets, background notifications, a more open market, apps available from alternative sources, and even simple customization are all things I can't do with my 3G. Even Jailbreaking only enables workarounds for just some of these features. While the iPhone's simplicity is perfect for my 57 year old uncle and my 7 year old nephew (iPod Touch), I can't imagine anyone with more tech knowledge actually preferring the iPhone, but I guess they exist.
@jaffreywali
Posts like these only work to incite more hatred and narrow-minded opinions.
People choose phones that are better for their lifestyle and their likes and wants. If the iPhone works for you and you enjoy it then have your iPhone and enjoy it to your heart's content. But don't be so shallow and narrow-minded as to think that the iPhone is the only phone that anyone should be using just because you like it.
Some people don't like the iPhone. Some people don't care for its kind of simplicity, its inability to multitask, its inability to be customized, apple's tight control over the OS and the app store, its lack of widgets, etc. Likewise, some people won't like Android's less flashy animations, its hard-hitting approach in contrast to the iphone, its form factor, its UI or that it's less user friendly and not as simple as the iphone.
It's sad that people can't accept that everyone doesn't have to be just like you and do the things you do just because you think it's cool.
Very off topic here, but what's with all the Apple fanboys invading this article?
I noticed after the Nexus One was released, it seems Apple fans care a lot more about Android then previously.
Cool. Can't wait for better Android games. Hopefully Google adds the ability to install to SD card in the next release so games and apps themselves can get better and more full featured.
Android - The platform that keeps on giving.
I love it!
"without that pesky Java virtual machine"
It's not a full JVM running on Android, it is the Dalvik VM, the Java code is compiled to Dalvik bytecode.
maybe i'm just old fashioned, but all this stuff is imo useless flim flam
3d makes a phone game worse, not better - you'll achieve much nicer graphics with good 2d and the playability is much easier to maintain
phone games seem to have come to the place where pc and console games have delved in for a while now; where devs use 90% of their time on the graphics and run out of time and money to create any actual content - making "cool" games that suck ass
you want an fps on a phone? get a grip
Soon all the iPhone fanboys will bend over kiss my feet while I play cool games and stream music from grooveshark straight from the browser ;)
All i know is Adobe Air is going to make it so developers develop for one platform so it dosen't really matter if Android is fragmented because it will be easy to get apps/games onto any OS... except the Iphone. ANdroid +1 FTW!
Quake 3 (go GNU Public License!) build for Android in 5, 4, 3, 2,
Check these out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffNtjKnd8ic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gp2JgYGCKM
Developers need to use this to start incorporating 3d Widgets and 3d animations to user interfaces. This should open up a whole new realm for android aside from just gaming.
Still no hardware floating-point support in ndk for android devices that could support it, which makes porting effort from other platforms considerably more difficult..