Android 2.2 Boasts Massive Performance Boost

The next version of Google’s mobile operating system is expected to be launched at Google I/O next week, but details of Froyo, as Android 2.2 is known, are emerging early.

Flash support and improved performance

Adobe and Google have already confirmed Android 2.2 supports Flash 10.1, and rumors hold that Froyo will also reduce fragmentation.

It also appears Google Android 2.2 sports a 450 percent performance boost over Android 2.1, according to the Android Police blog. TechCrunch, meanwhile, learned the OS supports tethering and serves as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Android Police said it has been testing Froyo on a Nexus One for a week and put it through the Linpack benchmark test for gauging how fast the phone can operate with the OS compared to other devices.

The testers found Froyo on the Nexus One ran at 37.5 megaflops, or equal to one million floating-point operations per second. That compares to speeds of Android 2.1 on the Nexus One of 6.5 to 7 megaflops for a 450 percent performance boost. See the screenshots here.

Turning phones into mobile computers

Meanwhile, TechCrunch said Froyo will have built-in USB tethering to let users share their data connection with their laptop. The OS will also let users turn their Android device into a Wi-Fi hotspot. See the screenshots here.

These features show Android is capable of turning phones not just into tiny, mobile computers, but mobile computers that can enable some of the functionality offered on today’s laptops and desktops.

These are significant features in the OS, so the looming question is how long before Android 2.2 is featured on smartphones. This is crucial because iPhone 4.0, the next generation of the smartphone that has sold more than 50 million units, is launching next month.