Google has said today that
Froyo, the Android OS headed to tablets such as the Galaxy Tab, is not built for tablet devices. Hugo Barra, Google’s director of mobile products, warned that the Android Marketplace might not function or might not be present on some devices, and apps might not run correctly on tablets running
Froyo
Barra said that although tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab will be running Froyo, the Android Froyo OS “is not optimised for tablets”. He said that if Google were to run Froyo as a tablet OS, it would be a “disservice to users”, because apps bought through the Android Market might not function properly.
Barra said that the way the Android Market works means it won’t be available on tablets that don’t allow devices and applications to run correctly. Android apps built for the Android Market and compatible with Froyo are built for smartphones, and while the hint was that the Galaxy Tab is safe (because it’s pitched as filling a form gap between a smartphone and tablet), other devices may cause problems, and apps might not work on Android tablets, or the Android Market might not be available.
When talking about where an incompatibility might lie, Barra said: “It could be anything. From the form factor, or the screen resolution, to the APIs the developer expects to access.”
What do you think? Is this paving the way for Gingerbread: the tablet platform
