Google releases final Android SDK

25 Sep 2008 10:43

The new software-development kit can be used to produce software for T-Mobile's G1 and other upcoming Android phones

Google has released version 1.0 of the Android software-development kit.

The software-development kit (SDK) lets programmers create applications that will run on Android phones, even before T-Mobile starts selling the first Android-powered G1 on 22 October in the US.

The biggest difference from the previous Android SDK 0.9 is that software built with version 1.0 will actually, not just probably, work on those real-world phones, according to the SDK release notes.

Google hopes its Android operating-system project will help spur the mobile-phone industry into a more enthusiastic embrace of internet technology. Google profits from ads next to search results, and Google Maps opens up other advertising possibilities that are more closely tied to a phone user's physical location.

A major part of the Android effort is Google's attempt to woo outside programmers into writing their own applications for Android phones, because Google hopes to bring the easier innovation of the PC market to the relatively closed mobile-phone industry.

The SDK is a key part of that effort, as is a forthcoming application-download site called 'Android Market'. That market won't necessarily let people sell Android applications at first, however.

Also in the SDK release notes, Google pointed out some specific changes, such as some new abilities to make use of Android phone sensors, handle audio files and use Wi-Fi networks. Programmers can look at Google's catalogue of API (application programming interface) differences.

Google added a little humour to the release notes: "We regret to inform developers that Android 1.0 will not include support for dot-matrix printers."

Story URL: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39493737,00.htm