A Brief Overview of the Android Honeycomb Operating System

A Brief Overview of the Android Honeycomb Operating System Everyone has been wondering how the Android market will hold up now that Apple has released the iPad 2. Honeycomb 3 is the answer Google has responded with and it is now the default operating system on most new Android tablets. Honeycomb 3 includes lots of new tech including the new holographic user interface system. Honeycomb is an extension of the mobile phone Android OS with enhanced multitasking, rich notifications, customizable home screens, widgets, and the list goes on. The interface is a highly interactive 3D experience that creates familiarity while at the same time making it even better. As the new OS becomes more commonplace more applications will be created to specifically take advantage of the extra media potential and powerful graphics capabilities. Honeycomb provides two new bars. The "Systems" and "Action" bar. The "systems bar" will always be shown along the bottom of the display. So if you are running an application the system bar will still be visible giving system information and updates (i.e. incoming mail etc) The "Action bar" presents itself when you are running an application. Being contextual the "action bar" will give you options specific to the application currently running and will be the main focus of supplying application information. Like all things Android you get the usual five home screens which can give you access to everything in Honeycomb. Users can place application shortcuts, widgets and wallpapers using Honeycomb's grid based orientation system. As with iPad and past versions of Android there is an enhanced soft keyboard. Typing is now easier with more keys added for richer text editing such as the tab key. They have also been reshaped and repositioned for better accuracy. Users can touch-hold keys to access menus of special characters and switch text/voice input modes from a button in the System Bar. There are new connectivity options that greatly enhance the usability and convenience of Honeycomb. There is no longer a need to mount a USB hard drive as users can now synchronize there photos and MP3s between a USB connected camera or computer. You can now hook up a full USB keyboard or connect one via Bluetooth if needed. Honeycomb also features a new web browser. The web experience is now easier to navigate and organize with Honeycomb's new browser features. Tabs replace windows and users can browse anonymously with a new 'incognito' mode. Email browsing and organizing is now a more efficient operation with a two-paned email client. The app lets users select one or more messages, then select an action from the Action bar, such as moving them to a folder or deleting them. A new email Widget allows for later viewing of attachments and keeping track of emails. The Camera application has been redesigned to take advantage of a larger screen for quick access to exposure, focus, flash, zoom, front-facing camera, and more. With support for time-lapse video Honeycomb gives users a new and creative way to make videos. A newly updated Gallery application enables users to view their collection in full screen mode while still having quick access to the other albums in their collection. Google Honeycomb now gives the marketplace more vibrancy in regards to the tablet computer but more importantly there is now a choice for consumers. Not only is there now an option other than the iPad but we are also seeing a wide variety of Android tablets coming into the market place that have a different appeal to different users. If you want a smaller tablet that is more portable you have that option. If you need something bigger or something more powerful to play games on or be more productive then that is also available. The author enjoys writing about new technology and how it can benefit everyone. For a review on one of the latest affordable Android tablets that doesn't skimp on features check out his review at Acer Iconia Tablet A500.