Google tackles Android fragmentation with new developer tool

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) extended its new Fragments API to applications running older versions of its Android mobile operating system, enabling developers to adjust their software interfaces to fit newer Android smartphones and tablets. First introduced in conjunction with the new Android 3.0, the Fragment solution is a self-contained component with its own UI and lifecycle; according to Google, Fragments can be re-used in different parts of an application's user interface depending on the desired flow for a given device or screen size. "This new API, which is part of Honeycomb, does not help developers whose applications target earlier versions of Android," writes Android SDK tech lead Xavier Ducrochet on the Android Developers Blog. "Today we've released a static library that exposes the same Fragments API (as well as the new LoaderManager and a few other classes) so that applications compatible with Android 1.6 or later can use fragments to create tablet-compatible user interfaces." The library--dubbed "Android Compatibility package"--is available for download via the SDK Updater.

Just how fragmented is the Android platform? Android 2.2 now powers 57.6 percent of devices running the mobile OS, according to the Android Developers Device Dashboard. Android 2.1 accounts for 31.4 percent of devices, and Android 2.3 represents 0.8 percent. Just 6.3 percent of Android devices run 1.6, while Android 1.5 represents only 3.9 percent.

Google released its final Android 3.0 SDK late last month, enabling developers to begin creating applications for the new platform and distribute their efforts via Android Market. Designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets, Android 3.0 introduces a holographic UI theme alongside a new interaction model building on signature features like multitasking, notifications and widgets. Developers can leverage new UI components, updated themes, richer widgets and notifications, drag and drop, and additional features--a built-in renderer supports 2D visual effects, while the new Renderscript graphics engine enables 3D animations.

For more:
- read this Android Developers Blog entry

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