Google released a preview of its Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, the version of the OS targeting tablet devices, “to allow developers to start testing their existing applications on the tablet form-factor and begin getting familiar with the new UI patterns, APIs, and capabilities that will be available in Android 3.0.” Among the features of the new platform are new user interface components, new themes, richer widgets and notifications, drag and drop, and other new features to create “rich and engaging apps for users on larger screen devices.” It also gains a “new property-based animation framework,” a built in GL render that enables developers to request hardware-acceleration of common 2D rendering operations in their apps, and a new 3D graphics engine called “Renderscript.” In order to maximise the enterprise potential of devices, it also includes new administrative policies, such as for encrypted storage and password expiration, to “help enterprise administrators manage devices more effectively.”

According to the Google, Honeycomb is optimised to run on either single or dual-core processors. Other enhancements include new multimedia features such as HTTP Live streaming support, a pluggable DRM framework, and easy media file transfer through through MTP/PTT in order to “give developers new ways to bring rich content to users,” and new APIs for Bluetooth A2DP and HSP to let applications offer audio streaming and headset control. Support for Bluetooth insecure socket connection lets applications connect to simple devices that may not have a user interface.

Google has also updated its software development kit, with improvements to the ADT Plugin for Eclipse which include an improved drag-and-drop editor; and in editor preview of objects animated using the new animation framework; and visualisation of the UI based on any version of the platform.

So far, applications developed with the Android 3.0 Platform Preview cannot be published via the Android Market. The final SDK will be released “in the weeks ahead,” which can be used to build and publish apps for Android 3.0.