A Tour of Android 2.2 (Froyo)

After playing around with a stable build of Froyo on my DROID for a little less than a day, I must say that it is going to be a welcome update for all users running Android 2.1 software. It is mostly full of visual tweaks to the core apps (MMS, Talk, Gmail, Camera), but there are a couple of new things floating around. In addition, this is the FASTEST Android build I have ever used. There are a couple of technical details that allow for this speed improvement, but this is not the thread to discuss them. So, I present to you some screenshots I took this morning that highlight a lot of the changes that users will see in Froyo.




Just the settings screen showing you that I am indeed running Froyo... Bugless Beast by Pete style.


There are new security settings that allow you to unlock the phone with a pattern, numerical PIN, or unique password.


Managing applications got a whole lot easier and more intuitive with a tabbed interface.


One of my favorite new features, the ability to manage the Ringer, Media, Alarm, and Notification volumes all in one place.


Hidden in Accessibility Options is the ability to use the power button to end a call (useful for that rare occasion where your screen doesn't come back on when you pull the phone from your ear).


USB Tethering is built right in.


The 3D app launcher is finally included in the stock Android launcher that we have seen on the Nexus.


Here you can see the new Search widget, as well as the stock Android launcher with dedicated call and browser buttons.


Open up the search widget and you can pick what category to search.


The Market has gotten a facelift with a tabbed interface and the ability to promote comments. You can also allow apps to automatically update, and there is an option to 'update all' apps at once.


The camera has gotten a little facelift. You don't have to pull the settings drawer out anymore to change the most basic settings in the camera (in fact, it is gone for good). Instead, there are intuitive controls available when pressing the screen.


Google Talk has gotten a little bit of a facelift.


When a conversation is opened, you see each person's picture on each chunk of conversation.


The SMS/MMS app has received a similar facelift that Google Talk received.


The conversation view in the SMS/MMS app is identical to the Google Talk interface... very streamlined.


Finally, Gmail has gotten a facelift as well. If you tap in the upper right corner on the account name, you have instant access to all the Gmail accounts that you hold (instead of jumping through menus).


Within an email, there are additional options along the bottom to jump between emails, as well as the inclusion of the sender's picture.

There may be some other items that I failed to touch on, or may have missed. The only one that comes to mind right now is the calendar, which just has a different theme than before, but has no significant functional changes. Overall, this is a wonderful update and I cannot wait until the official one drops!