YosemiteSam
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While an official announcement has yet to be made, the internet is full of rumours that Google's Android developers have completed the next version of its popular open source mobile operating system. Android 3.0, code-named "Gingerbread", is expected to be released before the end of the year and may require extra hardware compared to older versions. Devices that don't meet the new minimum hardware requirements will likely remain on either version 2.1 or 2.2 of Android
The online buzz is the result of a YouTube video on the Android Developer's Channel. The video, entitled "We've been baking something", shows a massive Gingerbread man being delivered to the Google Campus. The same thing happened just before the arrival of previous versions of Android, including Froyo, Eclair, Donut and Cupcake. Exact details of the Android 3.0 release have yet to be confirmed, but the giant lawn decoration is ready when Google is.
Complete Story
[youtube]vskBjYc745g[/youtube]
(Here is some more info I've found about Android 3. LINK to Content)
The online buzz is the result of a YouTube video on the Android Developer's Channel. The video, entitled "We've been baking something", shows a massive Gingerbread man being delivered to the Google Campus. The same thing happened just before the arrival of previous versions of Android, including Froyo, Eclair, Donut and Cupcake. Exact details of the Android 3.0 release have yet to be confirmed, but the giant lawn decoration is ready when Google is.
Complete Story
[youtube]vskBjYc745g[/youtube]
(Here is some more info I've found about Android 3. LINK to Content)
- Android 3.0 Gingerbread will be released in mid- October (around 15 -16th), 2010. First handsets shipping in November/December – for the Holiday Season.
- Minimum hardware requirements for Android 3.0 devices are: 1GHZ CPU, 512MB or RAM, displays from 3.5” and higher. (We all, of course, heard that Android handsets with 2GHz CPU’s are coming)
- New 1280×760 resolution available for the devices with displays of 4” and higher. (Anyone thinking about Android tablets now? )
- Completely revamped user interface. If you want to get a feeling of what Android 3.0 Gingerbread UX is like, check out the Gallery App on Nexus One. The same overall feel, light animated transitions,etc. Natively, through all the UI.
- Android’s split into 2 branches becomes official. 3.0 for top of the line/high end devices. Cheap, low-end mass market handsets will keep Android 2.1/2.2
Eldar also confirmed my musings about the death of third party User Interface shells like HTC Sense, MotoBlur, etc;. Android 3.0 basically kills the need for them.
Still, there’s some hope for third party vendors here – while Google takes over the UI on the high end, vendors get to keep their UI shells/improvements on mass market Android smartphones, running Eclair or Froyo.
Update: I posted an update to this post, where I address Dan Morrill’s tweet, and do some corrections/clarifications regarding the upcoming Android update number issues, “minimum” specs – thay are actually only “recommended”, and the the split between high end Android 3 – low end Android 2.2 devices – it’s not an official Google policy, but it is happening nonetheless.
Still, there’s some hope for third party vendors here – while Google takes over the UI on the high end, vendors get to keep their UI shells/improvements on mass market Android smartphones, running Eclair or Froyo.
Update: I posted an update to this post, where I address Dan Morrill’s tweet, and do some corrections/clarifications regarding the upcoming Android update number issues, “minimum” specs – thay are actually only “recommended”, and the the split between high end Android 3 – low end Android 2.2 devices – it’s not an official Google policy, but it is happening nonetheless.
