Hardware 2.0
Adrian Kingsley-HughesAndroid 3.0 'Honeycomb' - First look
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | January 27, 2011, 7:50am PST
Summary
Google has lifted the lid on the upcoming Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’ tablet operating system - and it sure looks pretty!
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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
Biography
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.
Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.
Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.
Google has lifted the lid on the upcoming Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’ tablet operating system - and it sure looks pretty!
Check out the Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’ gallery here!
So, what’s new?
- New UI designed from the ground up for tablets - Featuring a System bar for global statuses and notifications, an Action Bar for application control, customizable Home Screen and a Recent Apps list.
- Redesigned keyboard - More screen space on a tablet means a better keyboard
- Improved text selection, copy and paste - Yes, copy and paste … people still use it!
- New connectivity options - Whole raft of features to help make connecting your tablet to networks and other devices easier.
- Updated set of standard apps - Browser, camera and gallery, contacts and email are all improved.
- Loads of new developer features -
- New UI framework for creating great tablet apps
- High-performance 2D and 3D graphics
- Support for multicore processor architectures
- Rich multimedia and connectivity
- Enhancements for enterprise
- Compatibility with existing appsHome Screen
Customized Home Screen
Tasks
Text Selection
Browser
Camera
Contacts
Widgets
Looks awesome!
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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.
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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.
Biography
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.
Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.
Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.
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Adrian, the biggest question is battery life with multi-tasking and Flash.
That will make or break Honeycomb tablets. Seeing the Xoom, running with dual core at CES, we know it is the real deal, the performance, UI, etc.
RE: Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' - First look
@DonnieBoy
This will destroy Apple, iPad can't compete with Google...Well, iPad 2 is coming. I expect Android to be a strong number 2 in tablets
but, it might be years before they can overtake Apple in tablets like they did with phones.DonnieBoy01/27/2011 08:49 AMA little over the top, aren't we, Hasam?
@Hasam1991
Can't quite see that "destroy Apple" thing happening.Userama01/27/2011 08:57 AMBut the UI is a mess, and people don't read specs
@DonnieBoy, they buy what looks good.
Unless they change the UI, and fast, people will pass this up for the iPad.IMHO, even the WP7 UI is much, much nicer looking then Honeycomb.
It looks more "Windowsy" than the iPad.
@AllKnowingAllSeeing
For some folks, that's a good thing, I guess.Userama01/27/2011 09:03 AMUserama, you could be right
@AllKnowingAllSeeing
though if you're competing with a PC, yes, make it look like what they have already, but competing with the iPad, they had better make it look more towards a tabletAllKnowingAllSeeing01/27/2011 09:23 AMNo, the UI is not a mess, it has been very well received. Only the Windows
propeller heads have their p-anties in a bunch about this since MS has nothing to show here.DonnieBoy01/27/2011 09:38 AMGreat -- provided you plug in a mouse
These tiny widgets, controls and overlapping windows look unsuitable for a touch device. Adrian, you recently critisiced Win 7 on tablets for fiddly controls, why do you think this is "awesome"?I assume Android tablets will come with a stylus?
RE: Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' - First look
@The Star King
You clearly haven't used an Android device if you think Widgets are a problem. Widgets do what you want them to.The problem is you.
It will, NOT need a stylus, there will be no detailed manipulation of
widgets that require a stylus. It is a touch interface, nothing like Windows. Maybe the clock reminds you of Vista, but that is about the extent of the similarities.RE: Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' - First look
Okay, so I've been surfing the net to see what others are saying about the Honeycomb screenshots and not one single tech blogger or "journalist" has had the wherewithal to ask:What exactly happens to one's kick ass arrangement of widgets when you flip the tablet to PORTRAIT? Does it even have a portrait orientation?
All the screenshots I've come across seem to suggest not.
You will mostly interact in landscape as that is much more natural on a
tablet. For a specific application that works better in portrait, that will of course be possible. The widgets will undoubtedly not work out as well in portrait.RE: Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' - First look
@DonnieBoy"You will most likely..."
I *will*? Speak for yourself please.
If it turns out that there are no portrait orientations while in the home screens, that'll be hilarious.
Pathetic, but hilarious.
Delvardo01/27/2011 09:59 AMIf the first version does not work well in portrait when you are not in an
application that will not be a killer. Google has a very compelling entry, and having to hold it in landscape to get the best experience while navigating menus / widgets, etc, is NOT a big deal.DonnieBoy01/27/2011 10:16 AM
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2011-01-27
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