I’ve been waiting on this announcement for a while. To say I’m drooling over it is an understatement. The Nexus One is a GREAT Smartphone; but right now, with Android 2.1update1, its a bit crippled. The device is slow, processes hang up occasionally and the device appears to freeze; and it could be so much more than it is, with just the right kind of frozen desert… I’m just sayin’.

FroYo – Android never tasted so good!

Thankfully, Google IO included a big announcement today.  Google announced the release of Android 2.2, codenamed FroYo.  Google is building FroYo on 5 pillars.  In no particular order, they are:

1. Performance & Speed
   The new Dalvik JIT compiler in Android 2.2 delivers between a 2-5X performance improvement in CPU-bound code vs. Android 2.1 according to various benchmarks.
2. New Enterprise Capabilities
   We’ve added Exchange capabilities such as account auto-discovery and calendar sync. Device policy management APIs allow developers to write applications that can control security features of the device such as the remote wipe, minimum password, lock screen timeout etc.
3. Faster, More Powerful Browser
   We have brought the V8 JavaScript engine to the Android browser as part of 2.2. This has resulted in a 2-3X improvement in JavaScript performance vs. 2.1.
4. Rich Set of New APIs and Services
   New data backup APIs enable apps to participate in data backup and restore, allowing an application’s last data to be restored when installed on a new or a reset device. Apps can utilize Android Cloud to Device Messaging to enable mobile alert, send to phone, and two-way push sync functionality. Developers can now declare whether their app should be installed on internal memory or an SD card. They can also let the system automatically determine the install location. On the native side, a new API now gives access to Skia bitmaps.
5. Additions to Android Market
   Android Market provides Android Application Error Reports, a new bug reporting feature, giving developers access to crash and freeze reports from users. Developers will be able to access these reports via their account on the Android Market publisher website.

The user interface also has a lot of interesting enhancements.  Engadget has a lot of cool Éclair and FroYo comparison pics. The FroYo pics are on the right side of the comparison. No release date for the OS has been shared yet (that I can find).  However, rest assured that as soon as it does hit my Nexus One (or other JAMM Android user’s device), we’ll have an in-depth article on it up ASAP.

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