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Google I/O: Android Keynote Highlights

Google's Android Keynote has just finished and here's the highlights, hot off the press:

Android Growth

  • 100 million android devices have been activated in total.
  • Over 300 different android devices
  • 400,000 android devices are being activated every day
  • 200,000 Apps in the Android Market

Honeycomb 3.1 announced

  • Rolling out for some Tablets today
  • Recent tasks list can now scroll
  • Widgets can now be resized, both horizontally and vertically, on the fly
  • USB Host mode - you can now plug in all manner of USB devices, such as keyboards, mice, controllers, digital cameras, etc.
  • Honeycomb 3.1 is coming to Google TV
  • Google TV is getting the Android Market, will run honeycomb optimised apps
     

Ice Cream Sandwich

  • Next Version of Android after Honeycomb
  • Will unify Android versions - will run on all Android devices, phones, Tablets and more. Addresses fragmentation woes. 
  • More advanced technology - real time head tracking possible

Movie Rentals via Android Market

  • Can now rent full films directly from the Android Market
  • Variable Pricing
  • Playable on your PC or Android
  • 30 Day rental period
  • High-definition
  • "pinning" system allows you to download to your device for when streaming isn't possible
  • Movies app for tablets rolling out as Android 3.1
  • Phone app coming out later for 2.2+ devices

Music Beta

  • Currently US only
  • Store your music collection in the cloud
  • PC/MAC application can sync with your existing music collection
  • Create playlists and store them on your device for offline playing
  • Launching in beta - invitation only to US users
  • Store up to 20,000 songs
  • Free (at least while in beta)
  • First invites go out to all those attending Google I/O
  • Updated music app is on the market NOW - for Android 2.2 and above

New Guidelines for Android Devices

  • Partnership to ensure timely updates to new android devices
  • Founding partners: Verizon, HTC, Samsung, Sprint, Sony Ericsson, LG, T-mobile, Vodafone, Motorola, AT&T
  • All future devices from these partners will be updated for at least 18 months, hardware permitting

Android Open Accessories

  • Platform to build accessories for Android devices
  • Helps integrate devices, making them compatible with all android devices
  • Taking Android beyond Phones and Tablets, android support everywhere, such as the example they used whereby an android phone was connected to an exercise bike
  • Supports Honeycomb and Gingerbread
  • Supports USB, will support Bluetooth in the future
  • Reference Hardware and Software for Android Accessory Development Kit (ADK) available today
  • Google created a giant tilting labyrinth as an example - controlled by tilting an android device
  • No approval process or NDA required!

Android at Home

  • New Wireless communication protocol
  • Android devices can communicate with potentially every appliance in your home
  • Android Tablet can, for example, turn lights on and off remotely
  • Google Partnering with various "industry players" to create a vast array of appliances for your home
  • "Project tungsten" android 'Hub' - Android@home devices you can place around your house, such as a speaker system to play music with, or an NFC device that can add music to your music beta collection just be tapping a cd against it

Android Market Announcements tomorrow.

Plus, everyone in attendance got a brand spankin' new Galaxy Tab 10.1.

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