So Honeycomb is just another launcher?

[ponyo]

http://m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/android-honeycomb-has-hidden-gingerbread-interface-enabled-by-h/&category=classic&icid=eng_latest_art

That would explain why Google is refusing to release the source code.

 

[Oyeve]

Why am I not surprised?

 

[Fear No Evil]

Yes, I am SURE this is why Google isn't releasing the source code. Its some mass conspiracy to cover this up.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I'm not sure how you got that conclusion. It just says that Honeycomb has Gingerbread's interface as well.

Something that was already known since Google said Android's (launcher) interface will change depending on the resolution of the display.


The article just shows how it can be demonstrated by adjusting the virtual resolution of the display.

 

[alent1234]

it's a conspiracy. every new OS version every company dumps all existing code in the garbage and writes all brand new code

 

[tfinch2]

it's a conspiracy. every new OS version every company dumps all existing code in the garbage and writes all brand new code

lulz, this

 

[poofyhairguy]

Already knew this from playing with Honeycomb. The "secret" is that in "phone mode" Honeycomb is screwed up and things don't work right. That is why the code got held back.

 

[Deeko]

I'm pretty sure this is old news - but anyway, its really not a big deal, basically they didn't completely strip out the standard launcher, and why should they?

 

[hanoverphist]

especially if they have thoughts of making a unified OS for both tablets and phones. that is pretty good planning for two different resolution schemes.

 

[destrekor]

So, Google includes two launchers in the code, and somehow such a discovery means the only difference with Honeycomb is the inclusion of said second launcher.

Google/Android holding back the release of the Honeycomb source code obviously has nothing to do with the upcoming release of Ice Cream Sandwich, which is based upon both the Honeycomb source and the previous phone-specific code. The delay with the code release can only mean Google doesn't want everybody to know Honeycomb's only new feature is a new interface... and they especially want to make sure as few people as possible know that you can even access the original launcher interface.

 

[shortylickens]

I think the shocker here is that they were claiming it was a whole new OS specifically for powerful tablets and its really not.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I think the shocker here is that they were claiming it was a whole new OS specifically for powerful tablets and its really not.

It's hardly shocking that Honeycomb isn't a completely new OS, companies almost always reuse some amount of code from previous OS releases in new versions

 

[Deeko]

I think the shocker here is that they were claiming it was a whole new OS specifically for powerful tablets and its really not.

Of course its not a whole new OS - why would it be? There was nothing in the core OS that was preventing Android from being a solid tablet OS - it was the UI. By building a new launcher and some tablet-optimized versions of the core apps that run on it, along with tablet-centric APIs in the SDK, that's really all you need.

 

[YoungGun21]

http://m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/android-honeycomb-has-hidden-gingerbread-interface-enabled-by-h/&category=classic&icid=eng_latest_art

That would explain why Google is refusing to release the source code.

I bet Apple redid everything from the ground up for the iPad didn't they?

 

[shortylickens]

I think the shocker here is that they were claiming it was a whole new OS specifically for powerful tablets and its really not.

Hello?

 

[Deeko]

Source citing "they", whomever that is, claiming its a "whole new OS"? Hell, Android wasn't even a "whole new OS", it was a Linux varient.

 

[vshah]

http://m.engadget.com/default/artic...ed-by-h/&category=classic&icid=eng_latest_art

That would explain why Google is refusing to release the source code.

or you could, you know, actually look at the SDK and see all the new APIs and things that have changed under the hood.

also from a mass consumer perspective, an entirely new UI = an entirely new OS. they don't care that it runs on the same/similar framework underneath

 

[YoungGun21]

I bet Microsoft rebuilt every single one of their OS from ground up too.