Android Froyo Not Optimized for Tablets, Google Says
Considering how many tablets are approaching release with the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, it comes as a surprise that Google says Android Froyo is not meant for tablets.
In an interview with TechRadar, Hugo Barra, director of products for mobile at Google, said that the problem isn't the operating system itself but the app store for Android.
"The way Android Market works is it's not going to be available on devices that don't allow applications to run correctly," Barra said. "Which devices do, and which don't will be unit specific, but Froyo is not optimized for use on tablets. If you want Android market on that platform, the apps just wouldn't run, [Froyo] is just not designed for that form factor."
Apps are an enormous part of the iPad's success. The growing Android Market of apps is one of the reasons Android has been chosen by dozens of manufacturer s as the platform for their iPad competitors. But as Barra points out, many of those apps may not work properly because Froyo wasn't originally created for large tablets.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab , the most recent Android tablet that runs Froyo, has been shown to work quite well with apps, but this is attributed to the phone-like connectivity of the device. Other tablets without mobile connectivity will have problems with some apps.
Future versions of Android (next up in the alphabetic sweets naming scheme is Gingerbread followed by Honeycomb), are expected to be more tablet-centric. Samsung has already revealed plans to use Honeycomb in its next generation of tablets. For now, Barra says manufacturers have the responsibility to ensure that their devices allow Froyo to maximize its capabilities in a tablet form.
