It’s been a couple of days since Android 2.0 has been officially released. To help those out there who are trying to catch up in regards to the upgrade from the previous version or even more fundamentally, what it actually is, watch the Android 2.0 video below. I’ll admit it’s more geared towards developers but you’ll see the major improvements and UI of Google’s latest iteration of its mobile OS platform.

Here’s the list of New User Features for Android 2.0:

Contacts and accounts

• Multiple accounts can be added to a device for email and contact synchronization, including Exchange accounts. (Handset manufacturers can choose whether to include Exchange support in their devices.)
• Developers can create sync adapters that provide synchronization with additional data sources.
• Quick Contact for Android provides instant access to a contact’s information and communication modes. For example, a user can tap a contact photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person. Other applications such as Email, Messaging, and Calendar can also reveal the Quick Contact widget when you touch a contact photo or status icon.

• Sync support for contacts from multiple data sources including Exchange. Handset manufacturers can choose whether or not to include Exchange support in their devices.
• New way to hover on a person to see more info and select communication mode (for example, phone, SMS, email).

Email

• Exchange support.
• Combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page.

Messaging

• Search functionality for all saved SMS and MMS messages.
• Auto delete the oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is reached.

Camera

• Built-in flash support
• Digital zoom
• Scene mode
• White balance
• Color effect
• Macro focus

Android virtual keyboard

• An improved keyboard layout to makes it easier to hit the correct characters and improve typing speed.
• The framework’s multi-touch support ensures that key presses aren’t missed while typing rapidly with two fingers.
• A smarter dictionary learns from word usage and automatically includes contact names as suggestions.

Browser

• Refreshed UI with actionable browser URL bar enables users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation.
• Bookmarks with web page thumbnails.
• Support for double-tap zoom.
• Support for HTML5:
  • Database API support, for client-side databases using SQL.
  • Application cache support, for offline applications.
  • Geolocation API support, to provide location information about the device.
  • <video> tag support in fullscreen mode.

Calendar

• Agenda view provides infinite scrolling.
• Events indicate the attending status for each invitee.
• Invite new guests to events.

Read more at the Android Site

Microsoft and Apple should be paying close attention to the Google Android OS as it’s shaping up to be a formidable competitor, especially with the changes that have been spotted in these screenshots that have been shared by the BoyGeneiusReport team. Some of the major changes are unified mailbox, map enhancements, car-mode, better Facebook integration and overall improved stability. Click on the BGR link below to see a whole swag of shots of the new (unofficial) OS.

But is it worth upgrading, updating or moving to? In short, the BGR guys seem to think so:

We’re loving it. And it could help that it’s running on a pretty bad ass piece of machinery, but hey, that’s for another day.

I can smell some more mobile gadget news in the air!

Via Boy Genius Report