Targeting the most appropriate API

Question

Currently, I tend to target all my app development to API 8, so that I can hit the largest number of devices 'out there', basically from Android 2.2 upwards.

Do any experienced Android developers reading this have a perspective on what features, as a developer am I 'missing out' on, and more importantly, what are my users missing out on? In this day and age, what API is the 'best' one for my apps to target? Or is there no such thing, and each app should be targeted for a given API on its merits?

I'm not looking for pointers such as read the android developer docs (I have, or at least what I consider the salient parts), I'm more interested in the views of experienced developers as to how they decide which API to target.

Thanks.

Answer 1

if you set your target and minSdkVersion to 7 and use support (compatibility) library v4, then your app will support nearly 95% of all android phones, and still you are able to use modern features of newer APIs (by using support library).