Zygote
API 9 · GINGERBREAD

Android 2.3 Gingerbread

NFC support

released
2010-12-06
runtime
Dalvik
design
pre-Holo (Android 2.3 refresh)
status
stable

What shipped

  • NFC support
  • SIP VoIP calling
  • Better copy/paste
  • New UI with dark theme and green accents
  • Gyroscope and barometer support

Platform internals

What changed underneath the APIs. These are the changes this site's architecture modules explain in depth.

  • Concurrent garbage collector added to Dalvik (GC pause reduction)

What developers had to deal with

  • StrictMode
  • New sensor APIs
  • Session-based download manager

Behaviour changes

The full archive has every recorded change with its migration advice.

targetingsecurity

BiometricPrompt replaces FingerprintManager

Apps targeting Android 9 should use BiometricPrompt for a consistent authentication UI.

What to doMigrate to BiometricPrompt and its authentication callbacks.

targetingruntime

Restrictions on non-SDK interfaces

Android 9 restricts hidden API access with greylists and blocklists.

What to doReplace reflection on hidden APIs with supported APIs, checking the greylist first.

Permissions introduced here

  • NFCnormal
  • SET_ALARMnormal
  • USE_SIPdangerous

Where this sits

Release 9 of 37 API levels, by date
Headline features
5
Architecture changes
1
Developer changes
3
Sources cited
2

Kernel

This release shipped on Linux kernel versions 2.6.35. Kernel versions vary by device.