Need to know – Android Froyo

Yesterday, Google rolled back the screens and gave us our first proper taste of what’s coming in its new mobile OS edition – Android 2.2, codename Froyo. If you’re a bit shaky on what to expect from this new iteration of the world’s number two mobile platform, we’ve dug around to bring you this comprehensive guide.

Why Froyo?

If you were Californian, you’d know that Froyo was short for frozen yoghurt (and the pronounciation would make sense). Why not something more inclusive? Well, it had to begin with ‘F’, to follow Google’s hurricane-style alphabetised naming system, and it had to be confection-based. So far, we have Cupcake, Donut, Éclair, Froyo and forthcoming Gingerbread. And after that? We’re gunning for Humbug.

What’s new?

If you’ve been using Android 2.1, the surface changes won’t be a massive surprise. There have been some graphical tweaks (see that new homescreen widget?) but it’s not a radical departure from the UIs of previous versions. That’s a good thing. Behind the scenes, new features include USB tethering, Flash 10.1 support, over-the-air updates and app downloads and iTunes streaming.

Is it good?

You read the last bit, right? All of those are Good Things. If you need further persuasion, it’s also five times faster than version 2.1. Better still, Google says Froyo has the world’s speediest mobile browser. On your marks…

Who’s getting it?

We’ll start seeing new phones running Froyo out of the box pretty soon (nothing firmer than that, sadly). If you plumped for Google’s Nexus One over an HTC Desire, there’s good news – you’ve been promised a ride on the first-round update. Androiders running other recent handsets – including that gorgeous Samsung Galaxy S we got our mitts on – should also get the new version. Expect updates to roll out over the next few months.

More Android stories on Stuff.tv

– By numbers – Android vs iPhone

– Froyo to get 3G tethering, act as Wi-Fi hotspot

– Android Gingerbread coming in late 2010

– New Dell handsets to run Froyo

– Samsung Galaxy S unboxing

– Review – Google Nexus One

– Review – HTC Desire

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.