Motorola has been kind enough to post a page containing details on the update to Android 2.1 that is being pushed over the air to users this week. And the details are good. More voice control and integration with the DROID, updated 3D Gallery with pinch-to-zoom functionality. Speaking of which, pinch-to-zoom is not shared in the browser app, gallery and maps. They include a News and Weather app and widget as well as Google Goggles for visually searching. They improved the music app and they did some battery life optimization.
Straight from Motorola’s Page:
After downloading and installing Android 2.1 software release, you will notice:
| Voice Recognition for Virtual Keyboard | Voice Recognition: You can now speak in plain English instead of typing, whenever a text-entry box appears on your Android device. Simply swipe your finger across the virtual keyboard and dictate your phrase.
Virtual Keyboard Enhancements: The fully integrated, enlarged virtual keyboard allows for easier and more accurate manual entries as well. Also included are auto-complete/correct. |
| 3D Gallery | 3D Gallery offers a whole new way to enjoy your phone’s multimedia features. With 3D gallery, all of your photos, videos, album art and images from your Picasa Web albums account online are displayed in three-dimensional stacks that gently move as the phone is tilted. Scrolling through and choosing media has never been easier. With 3D gallery simply use your finger to scroll through thumbnail versions of all your photos, videos and albums – and when you find one you want – simply tap the image to select it for viewing or playback. You can share pics individually or in bulk (by long-pressing a photo) on Facebook, Email, or MMS. |
| Pinch-to-Zoom | Enjoy pinch-to-zoom functionality for web browsing, plus the Gallery and Maps applications |
| News and Weather App and Widget | The News and Weather app pulls information from the web and brings it to your fingertips. Weekly and hourly weather forecast for your area based on your location and it pulls news headlines on the topics you care about most. |
| Google Maps Updates | Sync with desktop: synchronizes starred items between Google Maps on your Android device and maps.google.com.
Personalized suggestions: Google Maps on your Android device suggests (autocompletes) locations based on your personal search history on maps.google.com. Night mode: automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving NOTE: Sync feature requires user to be logged in to myGoogle account while on maps.google.com |
| Enhanced Music Application | New tabs at the top of your music player for easier access and navigation to your favorite artist, songs, albums and playlists. |
| Google Goggles App | Google Goggles App allows you to snap a picture to start a Google search. It can also ”read” photos of business cards and add them to your contacts. Even cooler is its built-in augmented reality feature that displays information about things, like stores and restaurants, around you. |
| Other Enhancements | Security: Prevents unauthorized pattern lock bypass
Yahoo email: Yahoo email new accounts setup optimizations Battery life: ongoing battery life optimization |
UPDATE: Apparently this isn’t happening right now. According to Motorola the announcement of Android 2.1 was a little premature. Luckily, I grabbed the above notes from the Motorola site prior to it being taken down. So, when it does happen, look for the above features.
Here is what you get if you go to the Motorola site now:
Not Helpful
