Google recently released a pre 1.0 beta version of the Android SDK.
“This is the first release of the Android SDK that is formally on the path to Android 1.0.”
This let assume at first handset devices are comming soon.
As Google clarifies this is the first serious version of on the way to Android 1.0. Previous releases were considered very early looks at the SDK. This release should be fully compatible with Android 1.0 and all applications build with this release should run on final Android 1.0 devices.
The differences between this release an the final release are expected to be small and no major API changes are planned.
This beta SDK contains a large number of bug fixes and improvements form the early SDKs.
Some important changes include:
* new standard applications like arlam, calculator, camera, music, photo and messages where added.
* inprovements of the developer tools, e.g., preview of the XML layout.
* changes and impreovements withing the API
* new “Home” screen.
The relase notes, change overview and API Delta Report give a complete overview about all changes and extenstion of the SDK.
Now some issues from these documents related to “GEO”:
Location (Geo)
* The android.hardware.Sensors class has been replaced by android.hardware.SensorManager and android.hardware.SensorListener.
* The SensorManager class now notifies SensorListener objects of sensor changes, rather than firing Intents. The registerListener and unregisterListener methods are used to add and remove listeners.
* There is a new constant SensorManager.STANDARD_GRAVITY that may be useful to interpret accelerometer values.
* A method LocationManager.getProviderNames() has been added that
* returns the names of all providers, including ones for which the caller lacks permissions.
* The LocationManager class now notifies LocationListener objects of location and status changes, rather than firing Intents.
* The requestUpdates method has been renamed to requestLocationUpdates and now takes a LocationListener object rather than an Intent.
* A new requestStatusUpdates method has been added, also taking a LocationListener object.
* The removeUpdates method now takes a LocationListener object.
* The LocationManager.request*Updates methods must be called from a Looper thread, such as the main thread of an Activity. Additional method variants have been added that take an explicit Looper argument to allow for use outside of a main thread.
* A number of constants have been added to the LocationManager class.
* The LocationProviderImpl class has been removed.
* The Address class has several addtional fields and accessors in or order to better describe real locations. Several incorrectly named methods have been renamed.
* The Geocoder class contructor now requires a Context parameter.
* The Location class now includes information on the estimated accuracy of a fix. It has new reset() and set() methods.
MapView
* New required MapView attribute: android:apiKey. Just like the traditional Google Maps API, you will be required to provide an authentic API key for your Android application. For now, the value of this can be an arbitrary string, like “myapikey,” but will need to be changed in order to work on actual devices. A process for acquiring a key is coming soon.
* MapView.toggle* replaced with set*. DeviceType removed from all Overlay methods.
* OverlayController removed, replaced with direct access to the Overlay List, with MapView.getOverlays(). The recommended practice is to use the new ItemizedOverlay class to manage map Overlays.
* Adds support for “map pin” child view that marks a given geo-location on the map. Such a view would stay in the correct place as the map is scrolled and zoomed:
* MapView child views can now be positioned relative to the Map or to the View.
* MapView child views can now be aligned relative to their position point.
* MapView no longer has a showMyLocation attribute; all methods referring to location are removed from MapActivity, MapView, and MapController. The new way to display location on the map is by creating a new MyLocationOverlay, enabling it, and adding it through the OverlayController.OverlayController.doZoom() is removed.
* MapController.setFollowMyLocation() no longer accepts a zoom.
* MapView.PixelCalculator was moved out into its own class PixelConverter, and its methods were renamed and changed to
* use android.graphics.Point objects instead of int arrays.
* Point renamed to GeoPoint
Google Maps
* New Maps menu alphabetic shortcuts This adds four invisible menu items:
menu+I – zoom in
menu+O – zoom out
menu+J – previous result
menu+K – next result
* Add a new style attribute to enable/disable MapView’s My Location feature. By default it’s disable meaning no extra location based permissions are required for developers wanting to write a Maps based app.
* Move Overlay.PixelCalculator -> MapView.PixelCalculator and added a MapView.getPixelCalculator.
* A new GestureDetector to help detect common gestures.
* The OverlayController, MyLocationOverlay and MapController classes are changed to final
Release Notes
http://code.google.com/android/RELEASENOTES.html
Overview of Changes, m5 to Android 0.9 SDK
http://code.google.com/android/migrating/m5-0.9/changes-overview.html
