Android Portal

Just some minutes ago google announced the availability of a new BETA Release of the Android SDK.

The new Release is the first big step on the SDK’s road to compatibility with 1.0. Since this is a beta release, applications developed with it may not quite be compatible with devices running the final Android 1.0. The APIs seem to be pretty stable right now and google don’t expect any major changes in till Version 1.0. In the current 0.9 Version the APIs for Bluetooth and GTalk Service were removed. But perhaps they will find the way back in the SDK later with 1.0. Here are some more details about the new SDK 0.9 for Android Phone Development:

• First and most obviously, the new Home screen is included, along with a ton of UI changes for 1.0.
• Some new applications are included: an Alarm Clock, Calculator, Camera, Music player, Picture viewer, and Messaging (for SMS/MMS conversations.)
• Several new development tools were added, such as a graphical preview for XML layouts for users of Eclipse, and a tool for constructing 9-patch images.
• A number of new APIs are fleshed out and improved, and others are now close to their final forms for 1.0.
• Tons of bugs were fixed, of course. (If you had problems with the MediaPlayer, try it now!)