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diff --git a/docs/html/sdk/android-4.0-highlights.jd b/docs/html/sdk/android-4.0-highlights.jd deleted file mode 100644 index 98f467d..0000000 --- a/docs/html/sdk/android-4.0-highlights.jd +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1009 +0,0 @@ -page.title=Android 4.0 Platform Highlights - -@jd:body - - -<style type="text/css"> -#jd-content { - max-width:1024px; -} -#jd-content div.screenshot { - float:left; - clear:left; - padding:15px 30px 15px 0; -} -#jd-content div.video { - float:right; - padding:0 0 40px 60px; - margin-top:-30px; -} -#jd-content table.columns { - margin:0 0 1em 0; -} -#jd-content table.columns td { - padding:0; -} -#jd-content table.columns td+td { - padding:0 2em; -} -#jd-content table.columns td img { - margin:0; -} -#jd-content table.columns td+td>*:first-child { - margin-top:-2em; -} -.green { - color:#8db529; - font-weight:bold; -} -</style> - -<div class="video"> -<iframe width="380" height="223" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-F_ke3rxopc?hd=1" frameborder="0" -allowfullscreen></iframe> -</div> - -<p>Welcome to Android 4.0!</p> - -<p>Android 4.0 delivers a refined, unified UI for phones and tablets and -introduces innovative features for users and developers. This document provides -a glimpse of the many new features and technologies that make Android 4.0 -simple, beautiful, and beyond smart. <!--For technical details about -new developer APIs described below, see the <a -href="{@docRoot}sdk/android-4.0.html">Android 4.0 API Overview</a> -document.--></p> - -<ul> - <li><a href="#UserFeatures">Android 4.0 for Users</a></li> - <li><a href="#DeveloperApis">Android 4.0 for Developers</a></li> -</ul> - -<h2 id="UserFeatures" style="clear:right">Android 4.0 for Users</h2> - -<div style="padding-bottom:0em;"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/home-lg.png" target="_android"><img style="float:right;xborder:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 5px;" src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/home.png" alt="" height="300" width="180" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/lock-lg.png" target="_android"><img style="float:right;border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 5px;" src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/lock.png" alt="" height="300" width="180" /></a> -</div> - - -<h3 id="simple" style="color:#172861">Simple, beautiful, beyond smart</h3> - -<p>Android 4.0 builds on the things people love most about Android — easy -multitasking, rich notifications, customizable home screens, resizable widgets, -and deep interactivity — and adds powerful new ways of communicating and -sharing.</p> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Refined, evolved UI</strong></p> - -<p>Focused on bringing the power of Android to the surface, Android 4.0 makes -<strong>common actions more visible</strong> and lets users navigate with -simple, intuitive gestures. Refined <strong>animations</strong> and feedback -throughout the system make interactions engaging and interesting. An entirely -<strong>new typeface</strong> optimized for high-resolution screens improves -readability and brings a polished, modern feel to the user interface.</p> - -<p>Virtual buttons in the System Bar let users navigate instantly to Back, Home, -and Recent Apps. The <strong>System Bar</strong> and virtual buttons are present -across all apps, but can be dimmed by applications for full-screen viewing. -Users can access each application's contextual options in the <strong>Action -Bar</strong>, displayed at the top (and sometimes also at the bottom) of the -screen.</p> - -<p><strong>Multitasking</strong> is a key strength of Android and it's made even -easier and more visual on Android 4.0. The Recent Apps button lets users jump -instantly from one task to another using the list in the System Bar. The list -pops up to show thumbnail images of apps used recently — tapping a -thumbnail switches to the app.</p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margin-right:.5em;float:left;width:182px;padding-top:.5em;"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/tasks-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/tasks.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;font-size:.9em;padding-right:1em;">The Recent Apps list makes multitasking simple.</div> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/lock-camera-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/lock-camera.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;font-size:.9em;padding-right:1.75em;">Jump to the camera or see notifications without unlocking.</div> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-call-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-call.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;padding:0" /></a> -<!--<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/quick-response-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/quick-responses-new.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a>--> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:.5em;font-size:.9em;padding-right:1.75em;">For incoming calls, you can respond instantly by text.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Rich and interactive <strong>notifications</strong> let users keep in -constant touch with incoming messages, play music tracks, see real-time updates -from apps, and much more. On smaller-screen devices, notifications appear at the -top of the screen, while on larger-screen devices they appear in the System -Bar.</p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margin-right:1em;float:right;margin-left:1em;margin-top:.5em;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0;width:326px"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/allapps-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/allapps.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/calendar-widget-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/calendar-widget.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em"><!--<strong>Figure 3.</strong>-->The All Apps launcher (left) and resizable widgets (right) give you apps and rich content from the home screen.</div> -</div> -</div> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Home screen folders and -favorites tray</strong></p> - -<p>New home screen <strong>folders</strong> offer a new way for users to group -their apps and shortcuts logically, just by dragging one onto another. Also, -in All Apps launcher, users can now simply <strong>drag an app</strong> to get -information about it or immediately uninstall it, or disable a pre-installed app.</p> - -<p>On smaller-screen devices, the home screen now includes a customizable -<strong>favorites tray</strong> visible from all home screens. Users can drag -apps, shortcuts, folders, and other priority items in or out of the favorites -tray for instant access from any home screen.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Resizable -widgets</strong></p> - -<p>Home screens in Android 4.0 are designed to be content-rich and customizable. -Users can do much more than add shortcuts — they can embed live -application content directly through interactive <strong>widgets</strong>. -Widgets let users check email, flip through a calendar, play music, check social -streams, and more — right from the home screen, without having to launch -apps. Widgets are resizable, so users can expand them to show more content or -shrink them to save space.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>New lock screen -actions</strong></p> - -<p>The lock screens now let users do more without unlocking. From the slide lock -screen, users can <strong>jump directly to the camera</strong> for a picture or -<strong>pull down the notifications window</strong> to check for messages. When -listening to music, users can even manage music tracks and see album art. </p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Quick responses for -incoming calls</strong></p> - -<p>When an incoming call arrives, users can now quickly <strong>respond by text -message</strong>, without needing to pick up the call or unlock the device. On -the incoming call screen, users simply slide a control to see a list of text -responses and then tap to send and end the call. Users can add their own -responses and manage the list from the Settings app.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Swipe to dismiss -notifications, tasks, and browser tabs</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 makes managing notifications, recent apps, and browser tabs even -easier. Users can now dismiss individual notifications, apps from the Recent -Apps list, and browser tabs with a simple swipe of a finger. </p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margin-right:1em;float:right;margin-left:1em;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0;width:200px"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/text-replace-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/text-replace.png" alt="" width="190" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1.25em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em"><!--<strong>Figure 3.</strong>-->A spell-checker lets you find errors and fix them faster. </div> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/tts-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/tts.png" alt="" width="190" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1.25em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em">A powerful voice input engine lets you dictate continously.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Improved text input and -spell-checking</strong></p> - -<p>The soft keyboard in Android 4.0 makes text input even faster and more -accurate. Error correction and word suggestion are improved through a new set of -default dictionaries and more accurate heuristics for handling cases such as -double-typed characters, skipped letters, and omitted spaces. Word suggestion -is also improved and the suggestion strip is simplified to show only three -words at a time.</p> - -<p>To fix misspelled words more easily, Android 4.0 adds a -<strong>spell-checker</strong> that locates and underlines errors and suggests -replacement words. With one tap, users can choose from multiple spelling -suggestions, delete a word, or add it to the dictionary. Users can even tap to -see replacement suggestions for words that are spelled correctly. For -specialized features or additional languages, users can now download and install -third-party dictionaries, spell-checkers, and other text services.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Powerful voice input -engine</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 introduces a powerful new voice input engine that offers a -continuous "open microphone" experience and streaming voice recognition. The new -voice input engine lets users dictate the text they want, for as long as they -want, using the language they want. Users can <strong>speak continously</strong> for a prolonged -time, even pausing for intervals if needed, and dictate punctuation to create -correct sentences. As the voice input engine enters text, it underlines possible -dictation errors in gray. After dictating, users can tap the underlined words to -quickly replace them from a list of suggestions.</p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margsin-right:.8em;float:left;width:350px;padding-top:1em;"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/usage-all-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/usage-all.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/usage-maps-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/usage-maps.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;font-size:.9em;padding-right:1.75em;"><!--<strong>Figure 3.</strong>--> Data usage controls let you monitor total usage by network type and application and then set limits if needed.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Control over network -data</strong></p> - -<p>Mobile devices can make extensive use of network data for streaming content, -synchronizing data, downloading apps, and more. To meet the needs of users with -<strong>tiered or metered data plans</strong>, Android 4.0 adds new controls for -managing network data usage.</p> - -<p>In the Settings app, colorful charts show the total data usage on each -network type (mobile or Wi-Fi), as well as amount of data used by each running -application. Based on their data plans, users can optionally set warning levels -or hard limits on data usage or disable mobile data altogether. Users can also -manage the background data used by individual applications as needed.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Designed for -accessibility</strong></p> - -<p>A variety of new features greatly enhance the accessibility of Android 4.0 -for blind or visually impaired users. Most important is a new -<strong>explore-by-touch mode</strong> that lets users navigate without having -to see the screen. Touching the screen once triggers audible feedback that -identifies the UI component below; a second touch in the same component -activates it with a full touch event. The new mode is especially important to -support users on new devices that use virtual buttons in the System Bar, rather -than dedicated hardware buttons or trackballs. Also, standard apps are updated -to offer an improved accessibility experience. The <strong>Browser</strong> -supports a script-based screen reader for reading favorite web content and -navigating sites. For improved readability, users can also increase the default -font size used across the system.</p> - -<p>The accessibility experience begins at first setup — a simple -<strong>touch gesture</strong> during setup (clockwise square from upper left) -activates all accessibility features and loads a setup tutorial. Once -accessibility features are active, everything visible on the screen can be -spoken aloud by the standard screen reader.</p> - - -<h3 id="comms" style="color:#172861">Communication and sharing</h3> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margin-right:1em;float:right;margin-left:.5em;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0;width:490px"> -<!--<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-call.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" />--> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-faves-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-faves.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;padding:0" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-connect-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-connect.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;padding:0" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-email-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/contact-email.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;padding:0" /></a> - -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1.25em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em"><!--<strong>Figure 3.</strong>-->Contacts and profiles are integrated across apps and social networks, for a consistent, personal experience everywhere — from incoming calls to emails.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Designed for the way people live, Android 4.0 integrates rich social -communication and sharing touchpoints across the system, making it easy to talk, -email, text, and share.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>People and -profiles</strong></p> - -<p>Throughout the system, a user’s social groups, profiles, and contacts are -linked together and integrated for easy accessibility. At the center is a new -<strong>People app</strong> that offers richer profile information, including a -large profile picture, phone numbers, addresses and accounts, status updates, -events, stream items, and a new button for connecting on integrated social networks. </p> - -<p>The user's own contact information is stored in a new <strong>"Me" -profile</strong>, allowing easier sharing with apps and people. All of the -user's integrated contacts are displayed in an easy to manage list, including -controls over which contacts are shown from any integrated account or social -network. Wherever the user navigates across the system, tapping a profile photo -displays Quick Contacts, with large profile pictures, shortcuts to phone numbers, -text messaging, and more. </p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Unified calendar, visual -voicemail</strong></p> - -<p>To help organize appointments and events, an updated <strong>Calendar -app</strong> brings together personal, work, school, and social agendas. With -user permission, other applications can contribute events to the calendar and -manage reminders, for an integrated view across multiple calendar providers. The -app is redesigned to let users manage events more easily. Calendars are -color-coded and users can <strong>swipe left or right</strong> to change dates -and pinch to zoom in or out agendas. </p> - -<p>In the phone app, a new <strong>visual voicemail</strong> features integrates -incoming messages, voice transcriptions, and audio files from one or more -providers. Third-party applications can integrate with the Phone app to add -their own voice messages, transcriptions, and more to the visual voicemail -inbox. </p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margsin-right:0em;float:left;width:282px;padding-top:1em;"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/camera-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/camera.png" alt="" width="240" height="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/gallery-edit-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/gallery-edit.png" alt="" width="240" height="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/gallery-share-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/gallery-share.png" alt="" width="240" height="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;font-size:.9em;padding-right:2.75em;">Capture the picture you want, edit, and share instantly. </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Rich and versatile camera -capabilities</strong></p> - -<p>The Camera app includes many new features that let users capture special moments -with great photos and videos. After capturing images, they can edit and share -them easily with friends. </p> - -<p>When taking pictures, <strong>continuous focus</strong>, <strong>zero shutter -lag exposure</strong>, and decreased shot-to-shot speed help capture clear, -precise images. <strong>Stabilized image zoom</strong> lets users compose photos -and video in the way they want, including while video is recording. For new -flexibility and convenience while shooting video, users can now take -<strong>snapshots at full video resolution</strong> just by tapping the screen -as video continues to record.</p> - -<p>To make it easier to take great pictures of people, built-in <strong>face -detection</strong> locates faces in the frame and automatically sets focus. For -more control, users can <strong>tap to focus</strong> anywhere in the preview -image. </p> - -<p>For capturing larger scenes, the Camera introduces a <strong>single-motion -panorama</strong> mode. In this mode, the user starts an exposure and then -slowly turns the Camera to encompass as wide a perspective as needed. The Camera -assembles the full range of continuous imagery into a single panoramic -photo.</p> - -<p>After taking a picture or video, users can quickly share it by email, text -message, bluetooth, social networks, and more, just by tapping the thumbnail in -the camera controls. </p> - - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margin-right:1em;float:right;margin-left:1em;padding-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;padding-bottom:0;width:160px"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/gallery-widget.png" alt="" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1.25em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em">A Photo Gallery widget on the home screen.</div> -</div> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Redesigned Gallery app -with photo editor</strong></p> - -<p>The Gallery app now makes it easier to manage, show, and share photos and -videos. For managing collections, a <strong>redesigned album layout</strong> -shows many more albums and offers larger thumbnails. There are many ways to sort -albums, including by time, location, people, and tags. To help pictures look -their best, the Gallery now includes a powerful <strong>photo editor</strong>. -Users can crop and rotate pictures, set levels, remove red eyes, add effects, -and much more. After retouching, users can select one or multiple pictures or -videos to share instantly over email, text messaging, bluetooth, social -networks, or other apps.</p> - -<p>An improved <strong>Picture Gallery widget</strong> lets users look at -pictures directly on their home screen. The widget can display pictures from a -selected album, shuffle pictures from all albums, or show a single image. After -adding the widget to the home screen, users can flick through the photo stacks -to locate the image they want, then tap to load it in Gallery. </p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;clear:right;"> -<div style="margin-right:1em;float:right;margin-left:1em;padding-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;padding-bottom:0;width:320px"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/live-effects.png" alt="" width="297" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em">Live Effects let you change backgrounds and use Silly Faces during video.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Live Effects for transforming video</strong></p> - -<p>Live Effects is a collection of graphical transformations that add interest -and fun to videos captured in the Camera app. For example, users can -<strong>change the background</strong> behind them to any stock or custom image, -for just the right setting when shooting videeo. Also available for video is -Silly Faces, a set of morphing effects that use state-of-the-art face -recognition and GPU filters to transform facial features. For example, you can -use effects such as small eyes, big mouth, big nose, face squeeze, and more. -Outside of the Camera app, Live Effects is available during video chat in the -Google Talk app.</p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margsin-right:.8em;float:left;width:186px;padding-top:1em;"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/screenshot-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/screenshot.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1.25em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em"> Snapping a screenshot.</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Sharing with screenshots</strong></p> - -<p>Users can now share what's on their screens more easily by taking -screenshots. Hardware buttons let them snap a <strong>screenshot</strong> and -store it locally. Afterward, they can view, edit, and share the screen shot in -Gallery or a similar app.</p> - - -<h3 id="cloud" style="color:#172861">Cloud-connected experience</h3> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margin-right:1em;float:right;margin-left:1em;padding-top:1em;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0;width:326px"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/browser-tabs-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/browser-tabs.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/browser-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/browser.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1.25em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em"><!--<strong>Figure 3.</strong>-->The Browser tabs menu <em>(left)</em> lets you quickly switch browser tabs. The options menu <em>(right)</em> gives you new ways to manage your browsing experience.</div> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/bbench.png" alt="" width="310" /> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em">Benchmark comparisons of Android Browser.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Android has always been cloud-connected, letting users browse the web and -sync photos, apps, games, email, and contacts — wherever they are and -across all of their devices. Android 4.0 adds new browsing and email -capabilities to let users take even more with them and keep communication -organized.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Powerful web -browsing</strong></p> - -<p>The Android Browser offers an experience that’s as rich and convenient as a -desktop browser. It lets users instantly sync and manage <strong>Google Chrome -bookmarks</strong> from all of their accounts, jump to their favorite content -faster, and even save it for reading later in case there's no network -available.</p> - -<p>To get the most out of web content, users can now request full -<strong>desktop versions</strong> of web sites, rather than their mobile -versions. Users can set their preference for web sites separately for each -<strong>browser tab</strong>. For longer content, users can save a copy for -<strong>offline reading</strong>. To find and open saved pages, users can browse -a visual list that’s included with browser bookmarks and history. For better -readability and accessibility, users can increase the browser’s <strong>zoom -levels</strong> and override the system default <strong>text sizes</strong>.</p> - -<p>Across all types of content, the Android Browser offers dramatically improved -<strong>page rendering performance</strong> through updated versions of the -WebKit core and the V8 Crankshaft compilation engine for JavaScript. In -benchmarks run on a Nexus S device, the Android 4.0 browser showed an -improvement of nearly 220% over the Android 2.3 browser in the V8 Benchmark -Suite and more than 35% in the SunSpider 9.1 JavaScript Benchmark. When run on a -Galaxy Nexus device, the Android 4.0 browser showed improvement of nearly 550% -in the V8 benchmark and nearly 70% in the SunSpider benchmark.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Improved -email</strong></p> - -<p>In Android 4.0, email is easier to send, read, and manage. For composing -email, <strong>improved auto-completion</strong> of recipients helps with -finding and adding frequent contacts more quickly. For easier input of frequent -text, users can now create <strong>quick responses</strong> and store them in -the app, then enter them from a convenient menu when composing. When replying to -a message, users can now toggle the message to Reply All and Forward without -changing screens.</p> - -<p>For easier browsing across accounts and labels, the app adds an -<strong>integrated menu</strong> of accounts and recent labels. To help users -locate and organize IMAP and Exchange email, the Email app now supports -<strong>nested mail subfolders</strong>, each with synchronization rules. Users -can also search across folders on the server, for faster results. </p> - -<p>For <strong>enterprises</strong>, the Email app supports EAS v14. It supports -EAS certificate authentication, provides ABQ strings for device type and mode, -and allows automatic sync to be disabled while roaming. Administrators can also -limit attachment size or disable attachments.</p> - -<p>For keeping track of incoming email more easily, a <strong>resizable Email -widget</strong> lets users flick through recent email right from the home -screen, then jump into the Email app to compose or reply.</p> - - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margsin-right:.8em;float:left;width:186px;padding-top:1em;"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/beam-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/beam.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em;padding-right:1.5em;">Android Beam lets users share what they are using with a single tap.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<h3 id="innovation" style="color:#172861">Innovation</h3> - -<p>Android is continously driving innovation forward, pushing the boundaries of -communication and sharing with new capabilities and interactions.</p> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Android Beam for -NFC-based sharing</strong></p> - -<p>Android Beam is an innovative, convenient feature for sharing across two -NFC-enabled devices, It lets people instantly exchange favorite apps, contacts, -music, videos — almost anything. It’s incredibly simple and convenient to -use — there’s no menu to open, application to launch, or pairing needed. -Just touch one Android-powered phone to another, then tap to send.</p> - -<p>For sharing apps, Android Beam pushes a link to the app's details page in -Google Play. On the other device, the Google Play client app launches and loads the -details page, for easy downloading of the app. Individual apps can build on -Android Beam to add other types of interactions, such as passing game scores, -initiating a multiplayer game or chat, and more.</p> - -<div style="padding-top:0em;"> -<div style="margin-right:1em;float:right;margin-left:1em;margin-top:.5em;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0;width:160px"> -<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/face-unlock-lg.png" target="_android"> -<img src="{@docRoot}sdk/images/4.0/face-unlock.png" alt="" height="240" width="144" style="border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius: 6px;" /></a> -<div style="padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;margin-top:0;padding-top:0;font-size:.9em">Face recognition lets you unlock your phone with your face.</div> -</div> -</div> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Face Unlock</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 introduces a completely new approach to securing a device, making -each person's device even more personal — Face Unlock is a new screen-lock -option that lets users unlock their devices with their faces. It takes advantage -of the device front-facing camera and state-of-the-art facial recognition -technology to register a face during setup and then to recognize it again when -unlocking the device. Users just hold their devices in front of their faces to -unlock, or use a backup PIN or pattern. </p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth HDP</strong></p> - -<p>Support for <strong>Wi-Fi Direct</strong> lets users connect directly to -nearby peer devices over Wi-Fi, for more reliable, higher-speed communication. -No internet connection or tethering is needed. Through third-party apps, users -can connect to compatible devices to take advantage of new features such as -instant sharing of files, photos, or other media; streaming video or audio from -another device; or connecting to compatible printers or other devices.</p> - -<p>Android 4.0 also introduces built-in support for connecting to <strong>Bluetooth Health Device Profile (HDP)</strong> devices. With support from third-party apps, users can connect to wireless medical devices and sensors in hospitals, fitness centers, homes, and elsewhere.</p> - - -<h2 id="DeveloperApis" style="clear:right">New Developer Features</h2> - -<!-- <ul> -<li><a href="#ui-dev">Unified UI framework for phones, tablets, and more</a></li> -<li><a href="#communication-dev">Communication and sharing</a></li> -<li><a href="#media-dev">New media capabilities</a></li> -<li><a href="#connectivity-dev">New types of connectivity</a></li> -<li><a href="#uicomp-dev">New UI components and capabilities</a></li> -<li><a href="input-dev">New input types and text services</a></li> -<li><a href="#accessibility-dev">Enhanced accessibility APIs</a></li> -<li><a href="#data-dev">Efficient network usage</a></li> -<li><a href="#security-dev">Security for apps and content</a></li> -<li><a href="#enterprise-dev">Enhancements for Enterprise</a></li> -</ul>--> - -<h3 id="ui-dev">Unified UI framework for phones, tablets, and more</h3> - -<p>Android 4.0 brings a unified UI framework that lets developers create -elegant, innovative apps for phones, tablets, and more. It includes all of the -familiar Android 3.x interface elements and APIs — fragments, content -loaders, Action Bar, rich notifications, resizable home screen widgets, and more -— as well as new elements and APIs.</p> - -<p>For developers, the unified UI framework in Android 4.0 means new UI tools, -consistent design practices, simplified code and resources, and streamlined -development across the range of Android-powered devices.</p> - -<div class="sidebox-wrapper"> -<div class="sidebox" style="border-left:1px solid #22a5ca;background-color:#fff;"> - <h3>Key Android 3.x developer features, <br>now for phones too</h3> - -<p>Core UI</p> -<ul> -<li>Fragments and content loaders</li> -<li>Resizeable home screen widgets</li> -<li>Rich notifications</li> -<li>Multi-selection, drag-drop, clipboard</li> -<li>Improved screen-support API</li> -<li>Hardware-accelerated 2D graphics</li> -</ul> - -<p>Graphics and animation</p> -<ul> -<li>Property-based animation</li> -<li>Renderscript 3D graphics</li> -</ul> - -<p>Media and connectivity</p> -<ul> -<li>HTTP Live streaming</li> -<li>Bluetooth A2DP and HSP devices</li> -<li>Support for RTP</li> -<li>MTP/PTP file transfer</li> -<li>DRM framework</li> -<li>Input from keyboard, mouse, gamepad, joystick</li> -</ul> - -<p>Enterprise</p> -<ul> -<li>Full device encryption</li> -<li>DPM policies for encrypted storage and passwords</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> - -<h3 id="communication-dev">Communication and sharing</h3> - -<p>Android 4.0 extends social and sharing features to any application on the -device. Applications can integrate contacts, profile data, stream items, -and calendar events from any of the user’s activities or social networks.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Social API</strong></p> - -<p>A shared social provider and API provide a new unified store for contacts, -profile data, stream items, and photos. Any app or social network with user -permission can contribute raw contacts and make them accessible to other apps -and networks. Applications with user permission can also read profile data from -the provider and display it in their applications.</p> - -<p>The social API lets applications store standard contact data as well as new -types of content for any given contact, including large profile photos, stream -items, and recent activity feedback. Recent activity feedback is a standard way for -applications to “tag” a contact with common activity, such as when the user -calls the contact or sends an email or SMS message. The social provider uses the -recent activity feedback as a new signal in ranking, such as for name -auto-complete, to keep the most relevant contacts ranked closest to the top.</p> - -<p>Applications can also let users set up a social connection to a contact from -the People app. When the user touches Add Connection in a contact, the app -sends a public intent that other apps can handle, displaying any UI needed -to create the social connection.</p> - -<p>Building on the social API, developers can add powerful new interactions that -span multiple social networks and contacts sources.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Calendar API</strong></p> - -<p>A shared calendar content provider and framework API make it easier for -developers to add calendar services to their apps.</p> - -<p>With user permission, any application can add events to the shared database -and manage dates, attendees, alerts, and reminders. Applications can also read -entries from the database, including events contributed by other applications, -and handle the display of event alerts and reminders. Using the calendar -provider, applications can take advantage of event data sourced from a variety -of apps and protocols, to offer innovative ways of viewing and managing a user’s -events. Apps can also use calendar data to improve the relevance of their -other content.</p> - -<p>For lighter-weight access to calendar services, the Calendar app defines a -set of public Intents for creating, viewing, and editing events. Rather than -needing to implement a calendar UI and integrate directly with the calendar -provider, applications can simply broadcast calendar Intents. When the Calendar -app receives the Intents, it launches the appropriate UI and stores any event -data entered. Using calendar Intents, for example, apps can let users add events -directly from lists, dialogs, or home screen widgets, such as for making -restaurant reservations or booking time with friends.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Visual voicemail -API</strong></p> - -<p>A shared Voicemail provider and API allow developers to build applications -that contribute to a unified voicemail store. Voicemails are displayed and -played in the call log tab of the platform’s Phone app.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Android Beam</strong></p> - -<p>Android Beam is an NFC-based feature that lets users instantly share -information about the apps they are using, just by touching two NFC-enabled -phones together. When the devices are in range — within a few centimeters -— the system sets up an NFC connection and displays a sharing UI. To share -whatever they are viewing with the other device, users just touch the screen. -</p> - -<p>For developers, Android Beam is a new way of triggering almost any type of -proximity-based interaction. For example, it can let users instantly exchange -contacts, set up multiplayer gaming, join a chat or video call, share a photo or -video, and more. The system provides the low-level NFC support and the sharing -UI, while the foreground app provides lightweight data to transfer to the other -device. Developers have complete control over the data that is shared and how it -is handled, so almost any interaction is possible. For larger payloads, -developers can even use Android Beam to initiate a connection and transfer the -data over Bluetooth, without the need for user-visible pairing.</p> - -<p>Even if developers do not add custom interactions based on Android Beam they -can still benefit from it being deeply integrated into Android. By default the -system shares the app’s Google Play URL, so it’s easy for the user to -download or purchase the app right away.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Modular sharing -widget</strong></p> - -<p>The UI framework includes a new widget, ShareActionProvider, that lets -developers quickly embed standard share functionality and UI in the Action Bar -of their applications. Developers simply add ShareActionProvider to the menu and -set an intent that describes the desired sharing action. The system handles the -rest, building up the list of applications that can handle the share intent and -dispatching the intent when the user chooses from the menu.</p> - - -<h3 id="media-dev">New media capabilities</h3> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Low-level streaming -multimedia</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 provides a direct, efficient path for low-level streaming -multimedia. The new path is ideal for applications that need to maintain -complete control over media data before passing it to the platform for -presentation. For example, media applications can now retrieve data from any -source, apply proprietary encryption/decryption, and then send the data to the -platform for display.</p> - -<p>Applications can now send processed data to the platform as a multiplexed -stream of audio/video content in MPEG-2 transport stream format. The platform -de-muxes, decodes, and renders the content. The audio track is rendered to the -active audio device, while the video track is rendered to either a Surface or a -SurfaceTexture. When rendering to a SurfaceTexture, the application can apply -subsequent graphics effects to each frame using OpenGL.</p> - -<p>To support this low-level streaming, the platform introduces a new native API -based on <a href="http://www.khronos.org/openmax/al/" target="_top">Khronos -OpenMAX AL 1.0.1</a>. The API is implemented on the same underlying services as -the platform’s existing OpenSL ES API, so developers can make use of both APIs -together if needed. Tools support for low-level streaming multimedia will be -available in an upcoming release of the Android NDK.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>New camera -capabilities</strong></p> - -<p>Developers can take advantage of a variety of new camera features in Android -4.0. ZSL exposure, continuous focus, and image zoom let apps capture better -still and video images, including during video capture. Apps can even capture -full-resolution snapshots while shooting video. Apps can now set custom metering -regions in a camera preview, then manage white balance and exposure dynamically -for those regions. For easier focusing and image processing, a face-detection -service identifies and tracks faces in a preview and returns their screen -coordinates.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Media effects for -transforming images and video</strong></p> - -<p>A set of high-performance transformation filters let developers apply rich -effects to any image passed as an OpenGL ES 2.0 texture. Developers can adjust -color levels and brightness, change backgrounds, sharpen, crop, rotate, add lens -distortion, and apply other effects. The transformations are processed by the -GPU, so they are fast enough for processing image frames loaded from disk, -camera, or video stream.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Audio remote -controls</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 adds a new audio remote control API that lets media applications -integrate with playback controls that are displayed in a remote view. Media -applications can integrate with a remote music playback control that’s built -into in the platform’s lock screen, allowing users to control song selection and -playback without having to unlock and navigate to the music app.</p> - -<p>Using the audio remote control API, any music or media app can register to -receive media button events from the remote control and then manage play state -accordingly. The application can also supply metadata to the remote control, -such as album art or image, play state, track number and description, duration, -genre, and more.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>New media codecs and -containers</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 adds support for additional media types and containers to give -developers access to the formats they need. For high-quality compressed images, -the media framework adds support for WebP content. For video, the framework now -supports streaming VP8 content. For streaming multimedia, the framework supports -HTTP Live streaming protocol version 3 and encoding of ADTS-contained AAC -content. Additionally, developers can now use Matroska containers for Vorbis and -VP8 content.</p> - - -<h3 id="connectivity-dev">New types of connectivity</h3> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Wi-Fi Direct</strong></p> - -<p>Developers can use a framework API to discover and connect directly to nearby -devices over a high-performance, secure Wi-Fi Direct connection. No internet -connection or hotspot is needed.</p> - -<p>Wi-Fi Direct opens new opportunities for developers to add innovative -features to their applications. Applications can use Wi-Fi Direct to share -files, photos, or other media between devices or between a desktop computer and -an Android-powered device. Applications could also use Wi-Fi Direct to stream -media content from a peer device such as a digital television or audio player, -connect a group of users for gaming, print files, and more.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Bluetooth Health Device -Profile (HDP)</strong></p> - -<p>Developers can now build powerful medical applications that use Bluetooth to -communicate with wireless devices and sensors in hospitals, fitness centers, -homes, and elsewhere. Applications can collect and manage data from HDP source -devices and transmit it to backend medical applications such as records systems, -data analysis services, and others.</p> - -<p>Using a framework API, applications can use Bluetooth to discover nearby -devices, establish reliable or streaming data channels, and manage data -transmission. Applications can supply any IEEE 11073 Manager to retrieve and -interpret health data from Continua-certified devices such as heart-rate -monitors, blood meters, thermometers, and scales. </p> - - -<h3 id="uicomp-dev">New UI components and capabilities</h3> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Layout -enhancements</strong></p> - -<p>A new layout, GridLayout, improves the performance of Android applications by -supporting flatter view hierarchies that are faster to layout and render. -Because hierarchies are flatter, developers can also manage alignments between -components that are visually related to each other even when they are not -logically related, for precise control over application UI. GridLayout is also -specifically designed to be configured by drag-and-drop design tools such as the -ADT Plug-in for Eclipse.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>OpenGL ES texture -views</strong></p> - -<p>A new TextureView object lets developers directly integrate OpenGL ES -textures as rendering targets in a UI hierarchy. The object lets developers -display and manipulate OpenGL ES rendering just as they would a normal view -object in the hierarchy, including moving, transforming, and animating the view -as needed. The TextureView object makes it easy for developers to embed camera -preview, decoded video, OpenGL game scenes, and more. TextureView can be viewed -as a more powerful version of the existing SurfaceView object, since it offers -the same benefits of access to a GL rendering surface, with the added advantage -of having that surface participate fully in the normal view hierarchy.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Hardware-accelerated 2D -drawing</strong></p> - -<p>All Android-powered devices running Android 4.0 are required to support -hardware-accelerated 2D drawing. Developers can take advantage of this to add -great UI effects while maintaining optimal performance on high-resolution -screens, even on phones. For example, developers can rely on accelerated -scaling, rotation, and other 2D operations, as well as accelerated UI components -such as TextureView and compositing modes such as filtering, blending, and -opacity.</p> - - -<h3 id="input-dev">New input types and text services</h3> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Stylus input, button -support, hover events</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 includes full support for stylus input events, including tilt and -distance axes, pressure, and related motion event properties. To help -applications distinguish motion events from different sources, the platform adds -distinct tool types for stylus, finger, mouse, and eraser. For improved input -from multi-button pointing devices, the platform now provides distinct primary, -secondary, and tertiary buttons, as well as back and forward buttons. -Hover-enter and hover-exit events are also added, for improved navigation and -accessibility. Developers can build on these new input features to add powerful -interactions to their apps, such as precise drawing and gesturing, handwriting -and shape recognition, improved mouse input, and others.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Text services API for -integrating spelling checkers</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 lets applications query available text services such as -dictionaries and spell checkers for word suggestions, corrections, and similar -data. The text services are external to the active IME, so developers can create -and distribute dictionaries and suggestion engines that plug into the platform. -When an application receives results from a text service — for example, -word suggestions — it can display them in a dedicated suggestion popup -window directly inside the text view, rather than relying on the IME to display -them. </p> - - -<h3 id="accessibility-dev">Enhanced accessibility APIs</h3> - -<p>Android 4.0 adds new accessibility features and an enhanced API to let -developers improve the user experience in their apps, especially on devices that -don’t have hardware buttons. For accessibility services such as screen readers -in particular, the platform offers new APIs to query window content, for easier -navigation, better feedback, and richer user interfaces.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Accessibility -API</strong></p> - -<p>To let applications manage interactions more effectively when accessibility -features are enabled, the platform adds accessibility events for -explore-by-touch mode, scrolling, and text selection. For these and other -events, the platform can attach a new object called an accessibility record that -provides extra information about the event context.</p> - -<p>Using the accessibility record and related APIs, applications can now access -the view hierarchy associated with an event. Applications can query for key -properties such as parent and child nodes, available states, supported actions, -screen position, and more. Applications can also request changes to certain -properties to help manage focus and selected state. For example, an -accessibility service could use these new capabilities to add convenient -features such as screen-search by text. </p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Text-to-speech -API</strong></p> - -<p>A new framework API lets developers write text-to-speech engines and make -them available to any app requesting TTS capabilities.</p> - - -<h3 id="data-dev">Efficient network usage</h3> - -<p>In Android 4.0, users can see how much network data their running apps are -using. They can also set limits on data usage by network type and disable -background data usage for specific applications. In this context, developers -need to design their apps to run efficiently and follow best practices for -checking the network connection. Android 4.0 provides network APIs to let -applications meet those goals.</p> - -<p>As users move between networks or set limits on network data, the platform -lets applications query for connection type and availability. Developers can use -this information to dynamically manage network requests to ensure the best -experience for users. Developers can also build custom network and data-usage -options into their apps, then expose them to users directly from Settings by -means of a new system Intent.</p> - - -<h3 id="security-dev">Security for apps and content</h3> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Secure management of -credentials</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 makes it easier for applications to manage authentication and -secure sessions. A new keychain API and underlying encrypted storage let -applications store and retrieve private keys and their corresponding certificate -chains. Any application can use the keychain API to install and store user -certificates and CAs securely.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Address Space Layout -Randomization</strong></p> - -<p>Android 4.0 now provides address space layout randomization (ASLR) to help -protect system and third party applications from exploitation due to -memory-management issues.</p> - - -<h3 id="enterprise-dev">Enhancements for Enterprise</h3> - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>VPN client -API</strong></p> - -<p>Developers can now build or extend their own VPN solutions on the platform -using a new VPN API and underlying secure credential storage. With user -permission, applications can configure addresses and routing rules, process -outgoing and incoming packets, and establish secure tunnels to a remote server. -Enterprises can also take advantage of a standard VPN client built into the -platform that provides access to L2TP and IPSec protocols.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.75em;"><strong>Device policy management -for camera</strong></p> - -<p>The platform adds a new policy control for administrators who manage devices -using an installed Device Policy Manager. Administrators can now remotely -disable the camera on a managed device for users working in sensitive -environments.</p> - - - - - |