What Is The Android 1.6 Cupcake Patch Update & Changes

The Android 1.6 Donut update was released in September, 2009 and made available as an over the air upgrade to T-Mobile MyTouch G3 and T-Mobile G1 users in early October 2009. The upgrade is considered to be a minor one, but includes some very nice user interface upgrades, improved search functions and expanded support for CDMA and different sized screens to reflect the expansion of the Android operating system to other devices as well as other wireless networks and new mobile phones.

Some of the highlights to the Android 1.6 upgrade include:

• Quick Search Bar with the ability to search the cellular phone and web at the same time from the home screen. It responds to vocal commands.
• A new and improved camera interface integrating the camera, camcorder and gallery
• Battery usage indicator
• A new look and added functionality for the Android Marketplace
• Multilingual text-to-speech function allowing Android applications to speak strings of text
• Expanded Support for different sized screen densities and resolutions

New Features For Android Users

Quick Search Bar and Voice Search

The new Quick Search bar allows users to search their phone as well as the web simultaneously across multiple sources, including contacts, bookmarks, and web searches all from the home screen. The search bar learns what the most relevant search results are through use over time, and these bubble up to the top for quick access. Quick Search also responds to a user's voice commands for placing calls as well as searching for contact numbers and previous calls.

Camera Interface

Previously, there were two separate icons for the camera and video camera. Now these two have been integrated, along with the Gallery, into one interface. A user can easily and quickly toggle between the camcorder and still camera

The camera experience is also much faster in Android 1.6. The camera launches at a rate of 39% faster, and going from one shot to the next is 28% faster.

Battery Usage Indicator

Another feature new to the Android 1.6 Donut upgrade is a battery usage indicator. Users can now see which of their services and apps are consuming the most battery power. Settings can be adjusted to help save battery power, and applications can be stopped or uninstalled.

New Upgrades to the Android Marketplace

The Android Marketplace has a new face lift and upgrades now make it a lot easier for users to find new games and apps from developers. The home screen shows Downloads, Games and Apps. Within each category a user can search using Just In, Top Free and Top Paid. Screenshots can also be viewed along with user reviews for individual titles.

New Developer Features

Text-To-Speech Engine

Developers now have access to and support for a multilingual text-to-speech engine name Pico that allows Android applications to speak strings of text. The language supported by the engine include both American and British English, Spanish, German, Italian and French.

Expanded Support for Screen Densities and Resolutions

With display scaling now available, the user interface that is currently used with Android cell phones can be applied to larger devices.

CDMA Support

By providing CDMA support, the Android 1.6 Donut update paves the way for Sprint and Verizon supported phones to use the Android operating system. Sprint has introduced the HTC Hero, becoming the second wireless carrier after T-Mobile to offer Android phones with others expected to follow.

Summary

The Android 1.6 Donut update is a minor but important update that provides users with several improved interfaces, enhanced searchabilty and other user friendly features. The Marketplace has been given a new look that makes it easier for users to find apps, games and downloads, and for developers to make their applications more searchable. Developers have also been provided with additional tools and support to enhance applications and expand the use of Android to new devices, cell phones and wireless networks. The interest for Android has definitely gained momentum and its use is becoming more widespread as this open source operating system continues to be improved and offered for a wider variety of devices and networks.