Even though Google ’s Froyo 2.2 update for Android was released in the center of 2010 , phones have only just recently go ship with it set up straight out of the loge . Here ’s how to get the most from your Froyo experience .
A fistful of smartphones and tablets are will be update to Froyo by the end of the year , while older devices appear to be at jeopardy of being left in the junk . Every Android exploiter who does n’t have Froyo already surely has it at the top of their Christmas listing , not only for its features , but also its advance in performance .
Froyo is the first reading of Android to make utilization of Google ’s in - house JIT ( Just In Time ) compiling program . Android runs on a Java platform , utilizing the Dalvik Virtual Machine ; in earlier version it had to translate all functions into virtual instruction . A JIT compiler allows for a loanblend of virtual operating instructions and aboriginal machine code , meaning that the parcel of code that are compatible can bypass the translation footstep . All of this technical mumbo - jumbo fundamentally entail Froyo deliver insane performance boosts that sometimes approach 2x gain .
Other upgrades include the browser app software , which has been beefed up with Chrome ’s very own V8 JavaScript railway locomotive for yet another speed encouragement . in the end , Froyo brings documentation for Adobe Flash 10.1 the full interlingual rendition , not the puny little Flash Lite we ’ve seen in previous earphone . lamentably , devices with ARM v6 processor are not compatible with Flash 10.1 ; nonetheless , Flash is n’t the only affair Froyo bring to the Android web web browser .
Optimize the Froyo Experience
All of the above enhancements are just the tip of the iceberg , as Froyo fare with a longsighted tilt of additional characteristic , many of which deliver some very useful single-valued function . We ’re go to show you how to make the most of these new features and make your Android experience better , faster , and stronger than it was before . ( Well maybe not substantial … but you get the drift . )
The New Android Market and Its Apps
The Android Marketplace has a couple of Modern features under Froyo that are soft to overlook if you ’re not paying attention . The first is a ready to hand little “ Allow automatic updating ” option which shows up when you view your download apps . In premature rendering of Android , you ’d often wake up in the morning with a notification saying “ There are [ disco biscuit ] updates useable , ” and you would have to go through each program one at a sentence to initialize the update . The fresh Auto Update feature will instal new updates as they come out , as long as there are no change to the permission of the specific app . Enabling the Auto Update feature film does weaken the security measure of your phone , so it ’s good only to enable it for software program that you trust .
run out of app retention ? Install program to your Mount Rushmore State circuit card instead .
The 2nd feature of speech is n’t really in the securities industry , but the Android Framework itself . Froyo allows app to be installed straight off onto the SD card , which is peachy news for those using devices with just 512 MB of integrated store . This feature film can be accessed through Menu > options > app program > Manage Applications and selecting an diligence . Not all software program bear this feature , but those that do will show a “ Move to South Dakota identity card ” option .
Wireless Tethering
you could quickly and easily rick your Android into a Wi - Fi hotspot .
Wireless tethering permit you to turn your Android phone into a portable Wi - Fi hot spot , and even though some Android phones have had this functionality for some clock time , Froyo now mix it into the stock rendering of the microcode . Because of the potentially high stress it puts on the cellular data web , tether has been a very controversial subject lately . carrier wave desire to lock it down , limit it , and level extra for it . Users want unchained access to the capableness of their Smartphone .
For those whose bearer have n’t off this feature film from their devices , Wireless Tethering is approachable by going to Menu > options > Wireless & Networks > Tethering & Portable Hotspots . Here you should see an choice to start the “ Portable Wi - Fi hot spot . ” Once enable , you’re able to get in touch to your telephone set internet in the same style you ’d connect to any other wireless web .
Keep in intellect that it is extremely easy to eat up up uttermost amounts of information while tether . If you ’re not on an unlimited data subscription , you ’ll desire to keep a very tight center on your data point usance .
Google Voice Search and Voice Commands
Android 2.2 now allows you a wider range of voice commands and vocalization action mechanism .
Froyo also brings some fancy new features to Google Search ( found in the Marketplace if not already installed on your 2.2 twist ) . Not only has Froyo improved the accuracy of Voice to school text transformation , it also allows you to use the Google Search gismo to issue phonation command . There is a fairly farsighted list of commands , but here are a few of the most utile ones :
• “ Call ” – followed by a inter-group communication name or speech sound number
• “ Send Text ” – either by itself to open your default texting app , or follow by “ to [ contact ] , [ message ] ”
• “ pilot to ” – which will open up the Navigation app and point you to your finish
• “ Send Email ” – just like “ charge text ” only in vitamin E - ring mail contour
• “ Go - to ” – followed by a website or search query to launch the web web browser app
Battery Tweaks
Piles and piles of new feature are great , but they can also lead to extra waste pipe on the barrage . Froyo users will notice operation improvements thanks to the novel JIT compiler , which should also bring a nett gain in shelling biography , mostly due to decreased processing overhead . Still , more powerful devices like the Epic 4 G will still come up a little short . There ’s no harm in necessitate the prospicient battery sprightliness possible , apart from the common trick like managing your Wi - Fi , data point , GPS , and Bluetooth configurations .
Modifying your sparking plug - in options is one surefire way to offer your battery life .
You might find that while standby metre with Froyo are much good than the previous edition of the OS , heavy connection browsing output the opposite effect . This is due for the most part in part to Adobe Flash . Even though it makes an first-class companion for rendering sites in all their stand for glory , it admit a leaden bell on your battery . Fortunately , there is a resolution in the browser app preferences under “ Enable hype - Indiana . ” Generally , the “ On demand ” setting is sufficient for foreclose Flash subject matter from payload .
Under the Hood: Tweak and Boost Performance
Because Android is an open seed platform , it is back by a healthy community of independent developer and modders . The dedicated community at sites like www.cyanogenmod.com and www.xda-developers.com have been difficult at work since Android 1.0 . They ’ve created a little spot of everything , from one - click settle platform to full - flight tradition read-only memory and heart . Here ’s a gracious cheat weather sheet of crown , tactics , and mod you may utilize to raise performance and increase functionality on any Android 2.2 phone .
Rooting for More Freedom
interchangeable to jailbreaking an iPhone , Android phones can be rooted , fall in you terminated control over the entire file system , take into account admittance to features and functions that are normally restrict . The term actually stem from Android ’s Linux - based core where the “ root ” user history has read / publish permission for the whole file system of rules .
If your roving flattop has locked you out of wireless tether , you could root your phone to make it work on .
Apart from letting you edit system files on the fly front , which is both convenient and risky , settle return you access to some single features . Prior to Android 2.2 , wireless tethering was by far the large reason for take root your equipment . It ’s built - in now , however not all Froyo bod include wireless tethering and some bearer even get rid of it . settle allows you to instal apps like Wifi Tether and aNetShare , which permit you to circumvent any newsboy restriction . settle down your Android phone will also allow you to overclock your mainframe ( more on this curtly ) , violence apps to be installed on your South Dakota card , and take screenshots using apps like PicMe and ShootMe .
It ’s not all sunshine and daisy though . Rooting comes with a few risks . For starter , root generally void your manufacturer ’s warrantee ; however , manufacturers will often still honor guarantee as long as the damage is in no way related to the headphone ’s being rooted . It ’s also potential to brick your twist , though it ’s fair hard to accidently brick a smartphone for good . Still , these risks are definitely something to consider before making the decision to root . If you do decide that the benefit overbalance the risks , be sure to research any rooting method thoroughly before attempting it . That being said , it ’s not atrociously hard to accomplish .
Overclocking, Not Just for PCs
As mentioned briefly earlier , many Android equipment can actually be overclocked ( and underclocked ) . Overclocking methods vary from gimmick to gadget , so we wo n’t get into specific , but you will generally need to first root your gadget and run limited scripts or install a customized gist . you’re able to then grapple your clock speeds with an app like SetCPU ( uncommitted for $ 1.99 on the Android Marketplace ) .
Here , we ’re using SetCPU to overclock an HTC Hero from 528MHz to 691MHz
Why overclock a smartphone ? Because you may . Other than push the computer hardware to its demarcation line , there ’s very slight reason to do it . For some of the elder gadget , like the G1 and original Motorola Droid , overclocking can make a departure when using apps design for more modern ironware .
When it comes to fiddle with processor speeds , there are two access : one emphasizing balance and functionality , and the other focusing entirely on speed . Balance and functionality is all about create the fastest experience possible while still maximise electric battery life . Often , this incorporate write new processor governors , which lour the minimum frequency and raise the level best , as well as narrate the processor when to switch between the two . This normally result in relatively modest speed encouragement , but the additional speed usually has no negative encroachment on battery spirit . In some cases , you may really see an increase in electric battery life-time .
The second approach - stark stop number - is all about performance benchmarking and one - upping the overclocking community . Just like overclocking PCs , there are a smattering of benchmarking apps that are pop . Most permit you to directly liken your public presentation results against the world . Here are our favorites :
We care Quadrant because it gauge operation across all organization occasion .
Quadrant : This benchmarking app is one of the favorites by far . Every new speech sound is judged base on its Quadrant scores , and for sound ground . Quadrant benchmarks the CPU , memory , filing cabinet scheme , and 2D/3D artwork , which works well for compare overall performance . However , its result can be misdirect due to the way it weights certain portions of its trial . Using an EXT2 file organization , for instance , can as much as double the overall score liken to EXT3 , even though the CPU and memory are unaltered .
Linpack : This is the Android edition of the popular supercomputer benchmark LINPACK . It is very straightforward , measuring the MFLOPs of your CPU , pure for quantifying those short tweak to C.P.U. speeds .
Neocore : Neocore is an OpenGL benchmark that both demos some of the more in advance rendering feature available in Android and measures your phone ’s performance . It ’s a enceinte app for approximating some of the more demanding real - world scenarios .
Android Apps: Promising Newcomers and Must-Haves
Just like the iPhone , Android is nothing without apps . We consider these five set of applications the most of the essence for magnate users because they permit you to tweak , modify , and make the most of your Android 2.2 headphone .
Task Managers and the Right Way to Use Them
Advanced Task Managers are n’t verboten around here ; use them to target particularly troublesome apps .
Task managers are a fairly controversial subject when it come to Android . Some argue that using a chore coach to kill all fresh apps improves functioning and battery life , while others say that the Android OS already manage resourcefulness optimally on its own . Both sides are technically right . Android does manage its resources passing well , retain dormant apps in store until more retentiveness is demand , and then overwriting memory data point with next to no smasher in performance . The job is that some app developers write loose-fitting code , and/or some apps run a little too aggressively in the background knowledge . These are the apps that make task managers necessary .
You ca n’t just install an automated job cause of death and call it full . An automatise task sea wolf will kill all background program program , which is capital for freeing up storage , but this is completely unneeded and only results in more battery use when the apps are inevitably re - opened . The thaumaturgy to using a labor manager effectively is to target only the apps that you rarely use and/or hog your battery .
Give Your Home Screen a Makeover
weaken the Android abode filmdom ’s storage-battery grid with Launcher Pro .
Froyo may make some significant upgrades to the user interface equate to Android interlingual rendition 1.0 to 1.6 , but it is still trammel to the confines of the original Android port . This is where home replacement apps derive in , which allow you to create a non - standard rendering of the Android interface .
We have two favorite habitation renewal applications : Launcher Pro and ADW Launcher . Both offer the intimate Android layout for shortcuts and doodad , but they also have some very useful innovations . you could thumb through a vast list of alternative to tweak everything from the look of the App Drawer to the item on the Dock Bar . The licensed version of Launcher Pro also include a few of its own specialized widgets and even the potentiality to resize most other widgets to fit your screen however you like .
8Pen
A revolutionary keyboard ? After using 8Pen for a while , we say yes .
pinch projection screen keyboards have fall a farseeing room in term of accuracy and usability with error correction , auto - complete , and anticipation , but the fact remain that they are awkward to use . The problem is that current touch silver screen keyboards are nothing more than clever adaption of the standard two - handed keyboards that we ’re used to , and they just do n’t quite work on such a small weighing machine .
Google Voice
We ’re not sure why Android phone do n’t come pre - installed with Google Voice .
Google Voice is the perfect companion for an Android phone . With a Google Voice account , you get your own dedicated phone number which you could then twin with your home headphone , cell phone , work phone , etc so that people can touch through a single telephone number , no matter of where you are . With the Google Voice Android app , you could ditch your cellular phone bearer ’s voicemail service in place of Google Voice ’s visual voice mail , stark with voice to text transcripts . you could also place call through Google Voice now from your Android handset , and while this feature is n’t peculiarly utile for domestic phone call , international calls loosely have significantly deoxidise rate and can even be free ( for example , call to Canada ) .
Chrome to Phone
chromium-plate to Phone will grown on you – we vouch it .
chromium-plate to Phone is another app at once from the mind of Google . Despite being a relatively dim-witted app , it does require Android interpretation 2.2 or high . Chrome to Phone lets you send liaison and World Wide Web pages from your PC to your phone in just a individual clink . It may not seem particularly useful at first , but take a moment to think about how many times you ’ve download a file to your information processing system just to copy it over to your telephone immediately afterwards or how many time you ’ve struggle to sail to a internet site on your phone that you ’ve antecedently see on your PC . You ’ll find that the more you muck about with your earpiece , the more you ’ll grow to take account Chrome to Phone .
The Future of Android: Version 2.3 Gingerbread
The next looping of Android , reading 2.3 ( codification name Gingerbread ) is just around the corner , though as we ’ve seen in the yesteryear with former update , some equipment will get it sooner than others , and some wo n’t get it at all . While it ’s still uncertain exactly which new features will be included , it appears that one of the core attribute of Gingerbread will be a makeover of Android ’s user interface . advance the descent user interface may tangentially help everyone ; if this incentivizes headset manufacturing business to break off customize their own Android skin and musical theme , we see faster espousal rates for future updates in the future tense .
The grownup and perhaps most anticipated upgrade is integrated video schmoose work up on top of the Google Talk platform . This should be a welcome alternative to the current video chat solution offered by Qik . Integrated TV chat keep will encourage manufacturer to let in front - facing photographic camera on more of their next telephone set . It ’s likely that by this meter next year , front - face cameras will be standard on all smartphones .
Other rumored update include a makeover for various Google applications , improved societal networking features , improved transcript / library paste functionality , backing for near playing area communicating , and upgraded streaming media financial support . Given the release of Google TV , it ’s probable that the 2.3 update will incorporate support for this new Google appliance .
Finally , Gingerbread is also rumored to include additional support for larger display sizes with resolutions up to WXGA ( 1280×800 or 1360×768 ) . This signal that Google hold up the recent moving ridge of interestingness in tablet twist .
AndroidfroyoGoogleHow ToSmartphones
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , skill , and cultivation news in your inbox daily .
tidings from the future , fork up to your present .
You May Also Like
