Samsung Galaxy S Gets Upgraded To Android 2.2

Samsung Electronics on 15 October unleashed the upgrade to Android 2.2, or Froyo, for its popular Samsung Galaxy S smartphone series.

The Galaxy S, available on UK carriers including Orange, O2, T-Mobile UK, 3 and Vodafone, was launched with Android 2.1 this past summer.

The Android 2.2 upgrade will come first in the Nordic region and roll out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East Asia, North America and Africa, according to this Samsung mobile press release.

Faster performance

Android 2.2, which Google Android creator Andy Rubin launched to open source on 23 June at Verizon Wireless’ Motorola Droid X introduction, sports voice-controlled GPS through Google Maps Navigation and faster performance thanks to a JIT compiler.

Android 2.2 also supports Adobe Flash Player 10.1 and greater enterprise functionality thanks to enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange, as well as the ability to search Google, Translate, Wikipedia and Dictionary within the browser.

A cloud-to-device messaging API lets developers write apps that sync the phone with Google’s servers to help transmit data for browser extensions such as Google Chrome to Phone.

Samsung’s Galaxy S line has shipped more than 5 million units to date, thanks largely to the sleek design, which includes a 4-inch Super Amoled screen to provide quality viewing and access in light or dark environments.

The Samsung Galaxy S line is the last batch of major Android smartphones to get Android 2.2 as Google prepares to launch Android 3.0 to open source soon.

Android 3.0 coming soon

That could come any day; Google has optimised Android 3.0, or Gingerbread, for tablet computers. While tablets from Archos and the Samsung Galaxy Tab are loaded with Android 2.2, they will get the Android 3.0 bump when it is available.

Expect tablets from Dell, Motorola and LG to come with Gingerbread, whose minimum hardware requirements call for a 1 GHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM and displays from 3.5 and higher.

Gingerbread will offer 1280×760 resolution for devices with displays of 4 inches or more.