Final Android 3.0 SDK Released

teh31337one writes "Google has released the SDK for their tablet OS, Android 3.0 'Honeycomb.' Google states on its developers' blog that the APIs are final, and you can now develop apps targeting this new platform and publish them to Android Market. The new API level is 11." Google has posted here an overview of the new user and developer features.

Re:

[Dayze!Confused]

Conveniently the API level 11 (in decimal) is also the version number 11 (in binary) :)

Re:Ours goes to 11?

[Migala77]

Google uses two version numbers in Android: an API level (Honeycomb is 11), and a platform version (Honeycomb is 3.0). Usually the latter is used.
The API level is a simple increasing number, and the platform version is more traditional hierarchical. For example: platform 2.1 was API level 7, platform 2.3 was level 9, platform 2.3.3 level 10, and now 3.0 is 11.

Re:

[DrXym]

I wonder what happens when 2.4 turns up and this leveling system completely breaks down.

Re:

[meloneg]

Since they've already stated that 2.4 is still gingerbread, it will probably only support API 10.

Honecomb v/s Gingerbread

[Anonymous Coward]

Do any of the Honeycomb features carry over to smart-phones? And if so, are any of them not included in Gingerbread?

Or, is 3.0 exclusive to the smart-phone feature set?

Re:Honecomb v/s Gingerbread

[teh31337one]

Ice Cream will merge the two branches. Some of the features like the new notification bar will remain on tablets only, while others will make an appearance on phones too, like the new, streamlined app switching.

Re:

[witherstaff]

I still wish Google would assign engineers to bugs/features more readily. Something as simple as extending bluetooth discovery to more than 120 seconds has been requested for over a year now. While I know there are a lot of feature requests for a whole OS sometimes it seems like there's a rush for new and not so much demand for upkeep. Oh well maybe in a few more point releases this will get addressed and be a reason to upgrade phones. There just might be a method to their madness, sell more phones.

Re:

[teh31337one]

I assumed bluetooth discovery set to 120 seconds was for battery life, and security.

Re:

[DrXym]

I know it might be unfashionable to point it out, but it is open source. If you have a fix for a bug, you can just go and fix it. I expect they'll take contributions assuming the patch was clean, secure and signed off on.

Re:

[bemymonkey]

Hopefully Google Talk VoIP support (with extremely low bandwidth codecs please!) will be along for the ride...

Re:

[hedwards]

Google seems to be pretty vague on things like that. I'm still wondering when they're going to see fit to release Gingerbread for use on the Nexus One. Given that the Nexus phones are essentially theirs to control, I'm not sure why it's taking so long.

Re:

[dlim]

androiddev just posted on Twitter saying that a Gingerbread update - 2.3.3 is rolling to the Nexus S and Nexus One now. Supposedly, it could take a couple of weeks to hit all the devices.

Re:

[dlim]

Correction: It was posted by googlenexus.

Re:

[Belial6]

This would imply that there is some merit to the suspicions about Google wanting to fix some things before rolling it out to the Nexus Ones.

Re:

[amRadioHed]

Well yeah. There were a lot of conspiracy's about the delay, but that was always the only believable one anyway.

Re:

[Belial6]

That logic would indicate that it was stupid to develope for Windows, Linux, OSX, as well. I hear there are a few companies that do just fine developing sofware for systems that don't require permission to sell your software. In fact, I have spent the last 15 years making a good living developing software for systems that are not locked down by the vendor.

Re:

[DrXym]

Well that's a pretty cretinous statement. The market already provides a perfectly adequate way to control legit copies with the market licensing server [android.com]. Apps can say how long they'll work without calls home and the code enforces it.

Apps outside of market can do whatever they want to protect themselves just like happens in the PC / Mac world.

Finally!

[Americium]

After finally reaching the mythical level of 11 (and I thought only amps went to 11), it is finally time for a movie and retirement.