Android Honeycomb features: smartphone apps will work on tablets without modification, built-in video chat

At Google's live Android event, Andy Rubin has just announced some exciting new features present in Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Most notably, all apps built for Android phones will work on Android tablets without being modified.

Details of other features:

• Multitasking is a primary feature, with easy access to all open- and recently open- apps from the home screen.
• Widgets can now be based on collections of data -- so it's like having apps in little windows, on your home screen. There are different kinds of widgets, too -- stacks, grids, scrollers.
• Honeycomb also has a new notifications system, which pops up Growl-like toast windows in the bottom right corner. Notifications can contain a lot of data, including profile photos if a friend is IMing you -- and they can be used for quick access to running apps, like media players.
• Hardware acceleration -- by simply adding a single line of code, 2D hardware acceleration can be added to existing Android apps.
• Renderscript -- Honeycomb has a new engine for powering 3D graphics, and looking at the demonstrations by War Drum Studios, it's seriously slick.
• Built-in video chat -- with a front-facing camera, Honeycomb supports video calls off the bat (using Google Talk).

There are pictures of the interface, video calling, Cee-Lo Green, 3D games -- and more! -- after the break.

Tags: android, google, mobile, multitasking