Android 3.0 Honeycomb For Tablet

Well we’re starting to get in depth details on the new Android 3.0 for tablets, and it looks promising. Optimization for the larger screen area and added base functionality look like the main things here.

They’re going for a PC like interface with an “ActionBar” in lieu of a “taskbar” or dock. This of course houses the most used functions that you’ll have. This ActionBar is also used for application management, so it looks like you can flip through apps like tabs on a browser. 

From what we can see (unless you download the SDK and play with it yourself) the bar has an app folder, and a large section available for application tabs, a search bar (using Google I assume), and buttons for menus and settings. I also see two arrowed Android Share button up there so it looks like they’re streamlining social updates; definitely a useful little change what with those two cameras the Xoom will be rocking. On the bottom there’s a clock and navigation arrows. I also see a clock VERY reminiscent of the Arcs clock from Rainmeter. Maybe we’ll get to modify our home page with all those awesome custom Rainmeter skins and widgets like we can on PCs. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one. And of course all these buttons will most likely be able to be moved or removed as you see fit, to keep in line with Android’s high level of customization. Speaking of customization, I wonder if we’ll be able to cruise the Android system files through the tablets themselves and modify them as we please like in Windows, or if we will have to do it through a computer. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.

Another new feature, the Fragment system, makes it easier for developers to create multi panel apps and add some neat little upgrades. It allows interface options, like buttons or links, to be displayed in one panel while information and excerpts are on the other. The demo version is set up to switch to just the list if you flip it to portrait orientation which is a nice change from hoping your web page or app will all fit onto your screen without you having to flip it to make it align correctly. More for the developers is the FragmentManager, which manipulates and keeps track of the various fragments that you interact with during use. It automatically animates fragment switching and keeps a history of what you’ve looked at, so you’ll be able to use the back button in your apps, just like in a browser. There’s also a widget that graphically displays your location in the stack of fragments so you can easily navigate back and forth between fragments (or pages). This could be extremely useful for quick reference when writing or doing some kind of research. We all know proper scientists will be using Android tablets.

All in all, Android 3.0 is looking to be very exciting and the Xoom looks more and more enticing every day. Expect to see me in the midnight release line, if there is one. Yes indeed, Sweet dreams are made of this.

Source from http://www.andro-phones.com/