Android 3.0

for tablet PCshint: click the Android

Android is an open source operating system developed to allow manufacturers to modify the system as they see fit in order to gain full functionality of every part of their device. For instance, product manufacturers can modify the system to work specifically for their camera, wireless device, or applications. This also allows for developers to modify the system to quickly enable use for new versions of products – like the newest version of USB or a new edition of Bluetooth.

Seen right is a base install of the Android OS.

This provides a great base for your favorite applications to run, as well as integrate tools for you to be able to browse the internet and even make phone call (who’d of thought?)

Though many started the movement toward an open source operating system, Google took the lead and holds Android’s license.

Intended for mobile devices, many companies have devices specifically for Android OS – for instance the Motorola Droid from Verizon.

The Android OS serves as a multimedia tool, allowing you to browse the internet, check your e-mail, play many games, or even watch videos from YouTube, seen left.

Do you need to see, or even edit, a word document, you can do so on-the-go with your Android equipped device.

hint: When rounding third base, where do you run?

Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) has been optimized for tablet PCs and now includes options to customize each of your home screens.

Each home screen can be modified to include information about a different topic. For example, your main screen may include a clock widget, while your left may contain Facebook and Twitter widgets, and your right may contain Mail and Text Message widgets.

Multitasking has been made easy with visual representations of your Apps. Cached images of your Apps are saved with an icon of that program in the corner, so finding the resource you’re looking for is easier, and more aesthetically pleasing, than ever.

Selecting, copying, and pasting text is now easier to see and easier to use. Instead of text just being highlighted upon selection, it is now placed in moveable brackets to make it easier to select more, or less, text.

Your browser has been redesigned and optimized for your larger screen on your tablet PC. Multi-touch, Flash animations, and JavaScript are all completely supported.

The camera and gallery have also been optimized for larger screens. The user interfaces more accurately reflect that of traditional camera devices.

hint: E.T. Phone . . .

Developers can write code and see how it would appear on a device, real-time.This is a big time saver as your code won’t need to be compiled

then run on a device to check your work.

With support for multiple core processors, developers can create Apps that take advantage of more cores so the phone won’t get bogged down with multiple applications or widgets in operation.

hint: Macaulay Culkin (Kevin McCallister) was "Alone" in his . . .