Android 2.0 Screenshots Leak

Author	Gordon Kelly
Published	19th Oct 2009

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Is this the make-over we've all been waiting for?

Android version 2.0 has been much speculated upon, until now nothing concrete had arisen - so an extensive walkthrough hadn't been something we were anticipating. BGR has managed to snag this impressive exclusive however and based on its findings it is an update that can't come soon enough.

Improvements are both cosmetic and feature driven with a more sophisticated new look complimented by native Exchange support (including a unified inbox for multiple email accounts), Facebook contacts integration (webOS-style) and the addition of 'Layers' to Google Maps (Wikipedia, Google Latitude, traffic/transit overlays).

Interestingly, it is also reported that the beginnings of multi-touch finger recognition are starting to appear with two-finger tapping in Maps to zoom out, though gestures still remain absent on Android (unless you have an HTC Hero). The Webkit browser receives attention too with a visual make-over, support for double tapping to zoom in and out and greatly optimised page rendering times.

Other major additions are 'Car Home' (a custom homescreen driving relevant functions like voice search, directions, viewing a map, contacts and search), built-in haptic feedback, text-to-speech and greater Accessibility customisation options. On the downside the music player and gallery seem largely unchanged and improvements have been widely called for.

Wisely BGR does warn this is a very early build so a great deal could still change (for better or worse depending on how ambitious Google gets). That said, it is a hugely promising upgrade and, given its support for multi-tasking, takes Android a sizeable step closer towards becoming the best smartphone OS around...

Link:
via BGR

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farki80 said on 19th October 2009

Am I the only one who thinks Android UI is pretty unintuitive? I have played with Android devices and the UI, while 'flashier', is just as clunky as WinMob. Pretty unimpressed for ... more

Chris said on 19th October 2009

Sense already does most of this, so as long as they're adding full support for all the usual Bluetooth profiles, I'll be happy.

Iiee said on 19th October 2009

@farki
you have obviously never tried to use winmob for long periods of time with your fingers. That's without even talking about trying to go through the settings menu whic... more

Williamn said on 19th October 2009

Android OS does take a bit of figuring out. The following points should help you out:

1) hold down to get options (EG edit, copy/paste)
or 2) press the menu b... more

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