Google update Nexus One to Android 2.2 "Froyo"

Google's Nexus One smartphone.
Source: Google Google has announced that, starting today, users of its Nexus One smartphone will begin receiving the latest 2.2 version of the open source Android mobile operating system, code-named "Froyo". This is the first official installable release of the new version of Android 2.2; the source code for "Froyo" was released last week. The latest update to Android adds a number of new features to Google's smartphone, including the ability to turn their phones into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot that can be shared with up to 8 devices, USB tethering and multiple, easily switched, keyboard languages. Google say that while all users won't immediately receive the Android 2.2 over-the-air (OTA) update today, most users should receive an update notification by the end of the week.

Android 2.2 features a new Dalvik JIT compiler that improves overall CPU-bound code performance by two to five times compared to the previous release and the addition of several new APIs and services, such as a new data backup APIs that can be used to, for example, back up and restore applications. Support for enterprise capabilities like Exchange account auto-discovery and calendar sync, remote wipe and global address lists look-up have also been added. Other changes include support for Adobe Flash 10.1, a "faster, more powerful" web browser that includes the V8 JavaScript engine, resulting in a 3 times improvement in JavaScript performance, and the ability to send Android Application Error reports via the Android Market that developers will be able to access.

Following a number of delays, HTC has also released a major software update for its former HTC Hero flagship Android device. The latest OTA firmware upgrade updates the device from its original Android 1.5 OS to version 2.1 with the company's Sense user interface (UI). HTC advises all users to first back up their data before applying the update as it will restore it to factory default settings.

See also:

• Google release Android 2.2 "Froyo" source code, a report from The H.
• Google I/O: Android 2.2 "Froyo" announced, a report from The H.

(crve)