Google launches Android 2.2 SDK

Google has launched a software development kit (SDK) for its Android 2.2 operating system, known as Froyo, which supports application installation on external storage devices.

Xavier Ducrohet, Android SDK tech lead, urged developers to update to the new version using the SDK manager.

Support for application installation on external storage devices like the SD card should give users room for more apps on their phones, according to Google engineer Suchi Amalapurapu.

It will also benefit certain categories, like games, that “need huge assets”, he added.

“The ‘Manage Applications’ screen in the Settings app now has an ‘On SD Card’ tab.

The sizes listed in Manage Applications only include the space taken by the application on internal storage,” Amalapurapu added.

The Application Info screen now has either a ‘move to SD card’ or ‘move to phone’ button, but this is often disabled. Copy-protected apps and updates to system apps can’t be moved to the SD card, nor can those which are don’t specify that they work on the SD card.”

Android 2.2, codenamed Froyo, contains a series of improvements over earlier versions, including support for making the handset a portable hotspot and support for Adobe Flash within the browser, according to Google.