Date: January 2010
API Level: 7

Android 2.1 is a minor platform release deployable to Android-powered handsets starting in January 2010. This release includes new API changes and bug fixes. For information on changes, see the Framework API section.

For developers, the Android 2.1 platform is available as a downloadable component for the Android SDK. The downloadable platform includes a fully compliant Android library and system image, as well as a set of emulator skins, sample applications, and more. The downloadable platform includes no external libraries.

To get started developing or testing against the Android 2.1 platform, use the Android SDK and AVD Manager tool to download the platform into your Android SDK. For more information, see Adding SDK Components.

Platform Highlights

Android 2.1 does not add significant user features, see the Android 2.0 Platform Highlights document for the latest user features.

Framework API

The sections below provide information about changes made to the application framework API provided by the Android 2.1 platform.

API level

The Android 2.1 platform delivers an updated version of the framework API. The Android 2.1 API is assigned an integer identifier — 7 — that is stored in the system itself. This identifier, called the "API Level", allows the system to correctly determine whether an application is compatible with the system, prior to installing the application.

To use APIs introduced in Android 2.1 in your application, you need to set the proper value, "7", in the attributes of the element in your application's manifest.

For more information about how to use API Level, see the API Levels document.

API changes summary

The following is a summary of some notable changes to the framework APIs.

Live Wallpapers

The following additions provide APIs for you to develop animated wallpapers:

• New android.service.wallpaper package.
• New WallpaperInfo class.
• Updated WallpaperManager.

Telephony

• New SignalStrength class provides information about the device's current network signal. This can be acquired from the new onSignalStrengthsChanged(SignalStrength) callback.
• New onDataConnectionStateChanged(int, int) callback.

Views

• New View methods isOpaque() and onDrawScrollBars(Canvas).
• New RemoteViews methods addView(int, RemoteViews) and removeAllViews(int).
• New ViewGroup methods isChildrenDrawingOrderEnabled() and setChildrenDrawingOrderEnabled(boolean).

WebKit

• New WebStorage methods to manipulate web storage databases.
• New GeolocationPermissions methods to get Geolocation permissions from, and set them on the WebView.
• New WebSettings methods to manage settings for app cache, web storage, and zooming based on screen density.
• New WebChromeClient methods for handling video, browsing history, custom Views, app cache limits, and more.

API differences report

For a detailed view of all API changes in Android 2.1 (API Level 7), as compared to API Level 6, see the API Differences Report.