Google’s all new Android 2.0, also known as Eclair, has just been detailed. There are plans for a slew of new features for the open source OS, including native Exchange support, Facebook integration, better YouTube support and a rejigged Google Maps app.
The Big G itself hasn’t unleashed the details of Android 2.0. The big unveiling’s been done by the gadget fanatics at Boy Genius Report, with the chaps there touting a string of new screens, alongside Google’s masterplan for the next generation of its now ubiquitous operating system.
Native Exchange support should give Android 2.0 the business edge and help Google integrate itself even more into the world of work. For those who’d rather spend their time talking to friends than clients, a rejigged Facebook app is set to sync with your contacts, throwing it up against the likes of Vodafone 360.
Android 2.0 bringing multitouch this year?
Even more exciting, Google Maps in Android 2.0 will offer Layers so you can overlay different searches on one screen. That means anything from traffic info to Wikipedia data in one place. It’s a very sharp move and one we reckon will be a winner.
Two button YouTube uploading from the home screen has also been chucked onboard, and there’s support for haptic feedback too. The latter should help cheaper Android phones, such as the HTC Tattoo, where resistive touchscreens can sometimes fail to register your nudges.
With Android 1.6 Donut only just out, don’t expect Android 2.0 for a while.
