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Android Comes to Life: Mobile OS Sneak Peek

By Scott Loganbill May 29, 2008 Categories: Events, Mobile, Operating Systems, Platforms & APIs, Software & Tools

GoogleIO
Webmonkey got an extended look at some of the newest features of the latest Google Android mobile phone software stack today.

Video of yesterday’s keynote and high-res screenshots follow plenty of buzz surrounding the phone software. Fire marshalls even prohibited entry to some of the overflowing Android sessions held after the keynote.

Android is set for release in the second half of 2008. Specs for the device used in the demo (manufacturer is unkown):

* UMTS handset
* Qualcomm processor “running at 381,” according to Rubin
* 128 MB RAM
* 256 flash memory
* OpenGL hardware acceleration was turned on for the demo, but it’s not required to use the animation-rich UI

Video of the Keynote, given by Google vice president Vic Gondotra, is available on YouTube. The Android walkthrough by Google engineering director Steve Horowitz starts at 21:07.

Google promises YouTube videos of Google I/O Android sessions after the conference ends today. Until then, you can find shaky handheld videos taken by conference attendees on YouTube.

The screenshots below give sneak peeks of the version shown during the keynote yesterday.
GoogleIO
A pic of Android’s homescreen

Android Browser
Android’s browser works on the Webkit rendering engine — the same engine as Safari. Double tap the screen and the browser will magnify a portion of the screen.

Android Street View
Horowitz demonstrated the ability to automatically change direction based on the position of the device

Android Alarm Clock
Cute Android logos mark the time

Android Maps
Google Maps as seen through the system

Tags: android, browser, Google, Mobile
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