During its developer’s conference yesterday, Google showed off the most recent version of its open mobile software platform, Android. Though reportedly brief, the demonstration included some cool features including a compass tool that helps orient map pages to the direction a user is standing; drawing a pattern across the screen to unlock the device; a central notification app that shows new e-mail, missed calls and calendar appointments; and a mobile version of Pac Man.
Although the demonstrated features relied on a touch-based interface, Google said the same features also can be built to work with a tracking ball.
The company has not made any new announcements about when Android handsets will hit the market, sticking to its second-half-of-this-year timetable.
