Hands On With Android 2.3.4

Google last month announced an Android OS update to version 2.3.4. It was first rolled out to the Nexus S, and just yesterday became available for Nexus One phones. The update mostly contains a number of bug fixes, but its biggest new feature is support for video and voice chat with Google Talk.

We took a look at Android 2.3.4 on our Nexus One in the PCMag Labs. Unsure whether we'd have to download the update manually, we were pleasantly surprised to see that an over-the-air update was waiting for us when we turned on the phone.

Unfortunately, the update to the Nexus One lacks support for video and voice chat with Google Talk. This is understandable, as the Nexus One doesn't have a front-facing camera, but support for voice chat would have been welcome.

Since this update is mainly about bug fixes, we didn't notice much of a difference between this and the previous version of Android, 2.3.3. According to Google, bug fixes for Nexus One phones are said to include improved battery life, as well as improved GPS location and navigation accuracy for some users who had problems after updating to 2.3.3.

We did notice that a few apps appear to have been updated. The Web Browser and Gmail, for instance, both have new version numbers. We didn't notice any discernible difference in the apps themselves, though, so it is possible that it may just be more bug fixes.

Take a look at the slideshow above to see what's changed. And check back for a hands on look at video and voice chat with Google Talk on the Nexus S as soon as we get our hands on one.