Android 3.0 has apparently been detailed in a Russian podcast, highlighting how it will only be used for high-end handsets in the future.
Noted mobile phone journalist Eldar Murtazin has stated that he has information on the new Android 3.0 build, to be codenamed Gingerbread, and it's not good news for some current handset owners.
Clearly aimed at the higher end of the smartphone market, Android 3.0 phones will have to have a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 3.5-inch or larger displays.
According to Murtazin, any phones sporting a screen over four inches (the Galaxy S may just squeak under the threshold) will have to have a 1280x760 resolution minimum, showing that Android tablets are on the way.
Sense U-O-No!
If you're a fan of HTC's Sense UI, then you should probably look away now - Google seems to want to kill it, by creating a whole new 3D interface for Android 3.0, so skins (which mask the OS) will be unnecessary/impossible.
This means that the days of fragmentation will be with us seemingly forever, with the lower end, cheaper phones all using Android 2.2 and the high end versions taking on Android 3.0 and upwards.
We're assuming some of today's phones will be able to make use of the functionality, seeing as the likes of the HTC Desire qualify as powerful enough for the next generation of Android - but there could still be a sting in the tail if this is shown to be true.
Via Unwired View
Your comments (5) Click to add a new comment
bradavon
July 2nd 2010
5. Google have come back to say all this recent Android 3.0 news is made up:
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/news5954.html
In other words Android 2.2 is the latest confirmed release.
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ciw1973
July 1st 2010
4. You need to remember that in a year or so, what we currently consider to be higher end smart phones will be the norm. in terms of power and features, and with the cost of key components ever decreasing, your Android v3 phone/tablet may well cost less than you paid last month for your sexy smartphone running v2.1.
A 3D interface for the next major release is highly likely and will almost certainly be based on BumpTop which Google bought recently, and which has a good deal of potential on touchscreen devices. Controlled via keyboard/mouse it was little more than a curiosity.
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mralimcb
July 1st 2010
3. I think that as long as old and lower end Android phones get at least 2.2 and are reliable enough in terms on performance and usability (on top of the ability to use Flash 10.1 mmmm) budget users like me will be extremely happy.
Just don't stop support for those stuck in the older versions of Android now will you Google, not everyone can afford high end 1Ghz Snapdraggon phones!
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bradavon
July 1st 2010
2. "If you're a fan of HTC's Sense UI, then you should probably look away now - Google seems to want to kill it, by creating a whole new 3D interface for Android 3.0, so skins (which mask the OS) will be unnecessary/impossible"
Unnecessary or Impossible, which is it?
I'm edging my bets on unnecessary. I really cannot see HTC dropping Sense on any of their phones. It's been the making of them.
Finally a decent native UI for Android can only be a good thing but not if it forces HTC to stop using the fantastic HTC Sense.
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tonymontana
July 1st 2010
1. I think this is a good idea.
Android 2.2 for lower end smart phones and Android 3.0 for higher end smartphones.
I think this will improve fragmentation though not make it worse. The problem at the moment is a lot of apps are created for the lower tier of Android phones. Wen you put them on a more powerful Android phone they suck and look upressed and jaggie, its a nightmare.
On the other hand if they split the low and high end phones you wont have to see apps designed to work at 320x240 on a screen that runs 1280x720.
It will create some fragmentation but the situation is so bad right now I'm about to give up on the platform. There really isn't anything they could do to make it any worse so hopes up this works.
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