Android to get stereo Bluetooth, video capturing
updated 02:25 pm EST, Thu December 18, 2008
Android Cupcake Update
Google's Android platform is slated to get several major features as part of a major roadmap update. Nicknamed Cupcake, the upgrade will add a video recording mode that also lets users specify how they will share the content and play the video back directly, rather than the streaming-only feature of today. A mention has been made of sharing, though whether Android phones will support uploading to YouTube or other sites isn't mentioned.
The firmware upgrade should also bring A2DP and AVRCP support to Android's Bluetooth to give the G1 and other handsets stereo wireless sound and the ability to control it remotely. Web browsing is equally considered a focus with the additions of limited copy and paste, a new WebKit rendering engine and a port of the SquirrelFish engine for JavaScript from Google's Chrome browser on the desktop.
Developers will also have access to new programming hooks that let them take advantage of features rolled into Android by phone makers or carriers.
When Cupcake will appear isn't known. The update is listed as part of the fall 2008 roadmap but hasn't surfaced with less than two weeks left in the year, pushing it into early 2009. Google as such may roll both this and a planned virtual keyboard feature into similar or closely timed updates. [via MobileCrunch]
