1.4.1. Android 2.2 (Froyo)

Android 2.2 (also called Froyo, released in May 2010) introduced external storage, allowing you to store apps on an external memory device rather than just in the Android device’s internal memory. It also introduced the Android Cloud to Device Messaging (C2DM) service. Cloud computing allows you to use software and data stored in the “cloud”—i.e., accessed on remote computers (or servers) via the Internet and available on demand—rather than having it stored on your desktop, notebook computer or mobile device. Cloud computing gives you the flexibility to increase or decrease computing resources to meet your resource needs at any given time, making it more cost effective than purchasing expensive hardware to ensure that you have enough storage and processing power for occasional peak levels. Android C2DM allows app developers to send data from their servers to their apps installed on Android devices, even when the apps are not currently running. The server notifies the apps to contact it directly to receive updated app or user data.⁶ C2DM is now deprecated in favor of Google Cloud Messaging.

6. http://code.google.com/android/c2dm/.

For information about additional Android 2.2 features—OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics capabilities, the media framework and more—visit http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-2.2-highlights.html.