Honeycomb The Newest Addition To Android: Expected First Quarter 2011

Android is an open-source software stack for mobile devices, and a corresponding open-source project led by Google. We created Android in response to our own experiences launching mobile apps. We wanted to make sure that there was no central point of failure, so that no industry player can restrict or control the innovations of any other. That�s why we created Android, and made its source code open.

Every Application Runs Its Own Process

Every Android application runs in its own process, with its own instance of the Dalvik virtual machine. Dalvik has been written so that a device can run multiple VMs efficiently. The Dalvik VM executes files in the Dalvik Executable (.dex) format which is optimized for minimal memory footprint. The VM is register-based, and runs classes compiled by a Java language compiler that have been transformed into the .dex format by the included "dx" tool.

Nokia

Nokia likely isn�t happy about this. The Finnish phone giant has been the subject of constant speculation regarding a move to the Android operating system. Their defense has been that using Android would make them just another countless Android manufacturer in a sea of them. But, if you�re wondering what Android would be like on Nokia hardware, now you�ve got your chance.

Honeycomb

They�re looking, of course, toward Honeycomb � the next major stop on Google�s Android development track. All signs point to Honeycomb bringing some significant changes to the Android OS; if everything goes as expected, it�ll be the first version of Android to be fully optimized for tablets. And if a report published this week is correct, it�ll make its way into the world in March.

First Quarter

That said, Google has confirmed that Honeycomb�s coming in 2011, and an arrival sometime within the first quarter seems like a fairly safe bet. Marketing�s already underway for an upcoming Motorola Android tablet, and the promotional materials make it quite clear that Honeycomb will be part of the equation. Motorola says the tablet will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January; there�s no telling, however, when it�ll actually go on sale.

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