[Preserved version] Use up the active "Android 2.2"!

Have you mastered it already ...

Until just a little while ago, smartphones were often thought of as the "iPhone," and the mobile phone situation in Japan is now a thing of the past. I feel that the chances of seeing "Android" users are increasing around me. Even if you're not a geeky-looking user, it's not uncommon to meet people who normally play with your smartphone on the train, and the times really change.

By the way, what is the version used by such Android users? There are many people who say that it is difficult to keep up with the version because it is being upgraded one after another, but the lowest keep line of the US GIZMODO editorial team is, after all, Froyo (frozen yogurt), "Android 2.2. It seems that there is a place where you want to be able to use it until.

To put it the other way around, as long as you are in an environment where you can use Android 2.2 at the moment, or if you have a meditation, it seems that you can secure a situation where you can use Android quite well in the future. Now, let's take a look at the Android 2.2 thorough utilization strategy recommended by the US GIZMODO editorial team! Since it is advice in an English environment, some may not be completely applicable to users in Japan, but it seems to be quite helpful. Let's try ~

Even in Japan, starting with the "Xperia arc" released by NTT DoCoMo at the end of last month, the world is gradually shifting to the era of Android mobile phones called "Android 2.3" called Gingerbread. Even the newly released model is equipped with Android 2.2, and it seems that it is still Android 2.2, which is not outdated at all. By the way, there is a reason why the US GIZMODO editorial team is particular about this version. While there is a big gap between Android 2.1 and Android 2.2, well, there may not be such a decisive factor that you absolutely have to switch between the latest Android 2.3 and Android 2.2. Maybe ...

First of all, the major evolution in Android 2.2 is the performance improvement by the newly implemented JIT (Just In Time) compiler by Google. Anyway, even if you are a beginner user, there is no doubt that you can realize that the execution speed of the application has become faster by switching to Android 2.2. In the first place, it seems that the overhead is reduced by using this JIT compiler for Android applications running on the Java platform "Dalvik" virtual machine, and it seems that you can steadily experience the speedup by that, and it is comfortable to use. It is said that it contributes to the realization of.

Another notable strength of Android 2.2 is the power-up of the browser. It seems that the speeding up of the Internet environment has been well received, as some of them have received a surprising evaluation that they have even won the confrontation with the "iPhone 4" equipped with the latest "iOS 4.3". The main reason for this is that the JavaScript engine implemented in Android 2.2 is "V8", which is also used in Google's "Chrome" browser, and even though it is a mobile environment, "Flash Lite" It would be powerful to have full support for "Adobe Flash 10.1", which is the same as a PC! There may be many users who evaluate this as a merit that is significantly different from the iPhone that does not support Flash at present.

Another point of interest that has evolved in Android 2.2 is the improvement of the "Android Market," which is indispensable for using apps. In the past, after seeing a notification message indicating that there are apps for which updates are often available, it was necessary to manually launch each app and apply the update individually, but it is all automatic. You can now make settings that can be applied in the background at the same time as the release. If you rate this app as reliable, make sure to check the setting to get all its updates automatically.

Another point of interest related to the Android Market is that the previous limitation that could only be installed in the storage space of the main unit has been removed, and the application can now be installed on the SD card as well. If you use it for a long time, the free space of the memory capacity of the main unit will continue to decrease, and you may feel that you have to carefully select the application to install, but with this, you may feel like you have to carefully select the SD card of the external memory. It seems that you can install the application with a mess.

To move an application already installed on the main memory to an SD card, open "Application Management" in the "Applications" corner from the setting screen, and press "Move to SD card" from the information display screen of the selected application. You can move the app by doing so. However, depending on the type of application, this move selection area is grayed out, and it seems that there are still some that allow installation only within the storage space of the main unit ...

By the way, one of the most evaluated functions of Android 2.2 overseas is to make a smartphone equipped with this Android 2.2 a hotspot and connect it from another PC or tablet via Wi-Fi to the Internet communication environment. "Tethering" that provides "Tethering" is mentioned. Until now, there have been cases where the manufacturer has implemented its own tethering function on a specific smartphone, but from now on, it is possible to prepare a wireless environment as standard that allows you to easily connect to the net anywhere with an Android mobile phone. It's a smartphone, isn't it?

However, unfortunately, even if the tethering function is installed as standard on the OS Android 2.2 side, each mobile phone carrier does not allow the use of tethering, and this function is disabled and released. It seems that the current situation in Japan is not small. Well, if everyone tethers, the communication line may get flat due to a large increase in traffic volume. Of course, even if you are lucky enough to be able to use tethering, the amount of packets used will increase explosively at once, so it is essential to subscribe to a rate plan that allows you to use unlimited packets.

By the way, I understand that it has been powered up with a lot of new features, but that means that the battery life of the equal battery has deteriorated, right? It's good that it's powerful, but if you're worried that the battery life will be reduced, don't worry.

For example, it has been confirmed that the improvement of application execution speed by the JIT compiler also leads to the improvement of battery life. It seems that the reduction in overhead directly leads to a decrease in battery usage.

I'm sure Giz readers are paying attention to normal Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth settings, etc. in order to keep the battery as long as possible, but don't forget to do it. One point I want to keep in mind is the plugin settings of the browser. If possible, set the plugin to "on-demand" from the browser's advanced settings screen. By doing this, you can select the support for Flash every time you open the page, and you can avoid the pitfall of consuming a large amount of battery by loading Flash content that is uselessly heavy.

By the way, while paying attention to the new functions implemented from Android 2.2, I have continued to introduce the settings that I want to keep in mind, but this time I will list the must-have apps that are indispensable for using them. Let's decide to do it.

Among them, "Advanced Task Manager" is the recommended app for the US GIZMODO editorial team. When it comes to task management, it is often mentioned that the apps that are running are closed all at once to refresh them, but Advanced Task Manager can be closed all at once, but it has a high degree of freedom in selecting and ending, so it is easy to use. Is it not? The complete termination process looks convenient, and in the end it consumes battery power and repeats unnecessary steps to restart the required application. You can also use it by putting a check mark in the application that you want to continue using.

In addition to task management apps, home screen customization apps are also very popular, aren't they? If you are a user from the time of Android 1.x series in the old days, you may think that the recent Android 2.x series home screen is really easy to use even if it is standard, but it is still itchy if you keep the standard setting. You may not be able to deny the impression that you can't reach it enough.

The GIZMODO editorial team in the US recommends you the "Launcher Pro" app, which has a high degree of freedom in customization. Not only can you increase the number of home screens and jump from the reduced display index, but also the number of apps placed on the home screen and the width of the dock where frequently used apps are registered will not be disappointing once you use it. !! The paid version also has original widgets unique to Launcher Pro, so it seems to be highly evaluated. The function to resize the widget and make it easy to see even on the home screen seems to be useful.

By the way, seeing is believing, but you may not realize the awesomeness of this app until you actually use it. After all, the problem with smartphones and tablets is that they can't beat the comfortable typing input environment of PCs equipped with keyboards, and various measures have been taken to overcome this situation. However, I think it's not so easy to find another new input method that is as bold and ultimate as the "8Pen" mentioned here.

Well, 8Pen, which has alphabets arranged along the line around the shape of × that this is a keyboard, actually slides your finger in each direction from ○ to × in the center and turns it clockwise or counterclockwise. There are compliments on the unique pattern of selecting characters and repeating input, and it seems that once you get used to it, you will be able to input very quickly and comfortably! It may not be that much attention yet, but I think it's a dramatic revolution in smartphone keyboards. I want you to come out with full support for Japanese input.

The feature of this app is that it makes use of the strengths of Android 2.2. By utilizing the newly implemented Android C2DM (Cloud to Device Messaging), the Chrome browser used on the computer incorporates the extension "Chrome to Phone Extension" extension, a dedicated button is displayed, and the URL From YouTube videos to texts and phone numbers that you want to copy to the clipboard, everything can be instantly wirelessly transferred and displayed on Android! It seems to have a great reputation for comfort that you can't get rid of if you use it.

After all, it seems that there are more excellent Android apps in the English environment in North America than in Japan. I hope that from now on, even in a bang-bang and Japanese environment, an app that shines with wonderful ideas unique to the new features installed in Android 2.2 or later will be announced ...

By the way, the last thing I'll cover from here is Android rooting (acquisition of root authority), which is similar to the words such as jailbreak and jailbreak on the iPhone.

The reason why I'm going to take the trouble to get the root authority to cross the dangerous bridge is that this rooting makes it possible to get deeper into all the secrets of Android 2.2 that were actually hidden. !!

For example, as already mentioned above, tethering a new feature of Android 2.2, which is welcomed overseas but unexpectedly hidden and disabled in Japan, is a good example. prize. Even smartphones with models that normally cannot use tethering can be made compatible with tethering while installing apps such as "Wifi Tether" and "aNetShare" by yourself by acquiring root authority. Or even apps that normally have restrictions that can't be installed on the SD card can be successfully moved from the internal memory to the SD card. You can also use an app that allows you to take screenshots more easily.

Of course, just like the jailbreak of the iPhone, the acquisition of root authority for Android cannot be recommended by the editorial staff. There is a danger that it will fail and break down, or in the worst case, your favorite machine will become a fool. It will not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. However, it seems that the manufacturers are open-minded overseas, and in the case of a failure that is clearly not caused by the acquisition of root authority, they will continue to take care of it within the scope of the warranty ...

However, there are various ways to enjoy Android freely, and if you can be sure that this is a big advantage even if you take risks, it may be worth trying, especially for advanced users. There may be many cases that seem to be absent.

The first merit of acquiring the root authority is the usage scene where you can enjoy Android overclocking as if you were enjoying your own DIY on your computer. Actually, it seems that many Android mobile phones can support customization of CPU clock speed, for example, the above picture uses an application called "SetCPU" to clock up the CPU speed of "HTC Hero" from 528MHz to 691MHz. It looks like it has been done. Somehow this may be intriguing ~

It's a smartphone that I'm using so much, so for those who want to fully use up the hardware and enjoy it to the fullest, this is a truly attractive overclocking customization. By the way, the impressions of many strong users who actually clocked up and used it are quite popular, such as the fact that the execution speed of the application becomes faster and the battery life does not decrease unexpectedly. It seems that there are many opinions.

It's interesting, and there are various benchmark apps that are useful for people who want to master this path. The app "Quadrant" in the photo above allows you to objectively see how far your favorite machine, which has been powered up in this way, has become popular in the world from a comprehensive score evaluation. I will. Nuo, if you get drunk that you got so close to the latest model at once with overclocking, will you not be able to return to the original world anymore?

By the way, I have proceeded mainly from the viewpoint of introducing the strategy of using Android 2.2 in North America, but I'm sure that even in Japan, advanced users have already tuned up and used it so far. I'm sure there are many. If you don't mind, let me borrow your wisdom from the comments section!

[MaximumPC]

Paul Escallier (US version / Shingo Yugi)