One of the new features we’re really proud of in the Android 1.6 release is Quick Search Box for Android. This is our new system-wide search framework, which makes it possible for users to quickly and easily find what they’re looking for, both on their devices and on the web. It suggests content on your device as you type, like apps, contacts, browser history, and music. It also offers results from the web search suggestions, local business listings, and other info from Google, such as stock quotes, weather, and flight status. All of this is available right from the home screen, by tapping on Quick Search Box (QSB).

This post is largely targeted towards application developers (which now have the 1.6 SDK) who should be seriously considering about integrating their app into the quick search box.

It seems fitting that the Google mobile OS would have a ubiquitous search mechanism like the text bar in Google Chrome, and for that matter, like most people use Google.com.

One additional note – if you are like me, you may have previously heard there were concerns that the faithful G1 early-adopters may not get Android 1.6 in all of it’s donut-y glory because the G1 couldn’t handle it. Thankfully, it appears that may not be the case anymore.

I am happy to let you know that Android 1.6 SDK is available for download. Android 1.6, which is based on the donut branch from the Android Open Source Project, introduces a number of new features and technologies. With support for CDMA and additional screen sizes, your apps can be deployed on even more mobile networks and devices. You will have access to new technologies, including framework-level support for additional screen resolutions, like QVGA and WVGA, new telephony APIs to support CDMA, gesture APIs, a text-to-speech engine, and the ability to integrate with Quick Search Box. What’s new in Android 1.6 provides a more complete overview of this platform update.

As a user, I’m particularly excited about the quick-search support; however as a prospective Android developer, the CDMA support is a big one. That’s a sure sign to me that Android will start showing up everywhere.

The facebook app is a “real” android application (it’s not a wrapper around a web panel), and for that reason alone the interface feels more responsive and natural than some of the others. There are a number of nice features included:

• Rolling notification updates with like/dislike, comments, and user avatars
• Configuration for what notifications you would like to receive, how often, and what kind of notification you’d like from the phone (vibration, ring tone, light blinking, etc).
• Home screen widget showing the latest updates and allowing you to post updates directly from your android ‘desktop’.
• Photo upload integration

And of course, the best news is that the app is free (of both price, and at least as I’ve seen so far, of advertisements as well). Of course, that could always change as many of us recently learned with Useful Switchers (not that I am criticizing him for his choice to charge $0.99 for an excellent app).

I’m pleased to let you know about several updates to Android Market. First, we will soon introduce new features in Android Market for Android 1.6 that will improve the overall experience for users. As part of this change, developers will be able to provide screenshots, promotional icons and descriptions that will better show off applications and games.

We have also added four new sub-categories for applications: sports, health, themes, and comics. Developers can now choose these sub-categories for both new and existing applications via the publisher website. Finally, we have added seller support for developers in Italy. Italian developers can go to the publisher website to upload applications and target any of the countries where paid applications are currently available to users.

To take advantage of the upcoming Android Market refresh, we encourage you to visit the Android Market publisher website and upload additional marketing assets. Check out the video below for some of the highlights.