Even though most Android users are still waiting for Android 2.2, details about the next version – Android 3.0, or Gingerbread – are starting to emerge.
Android 3.0 release date is looking like Q4 of this year, possibly around October. And Gingerbread may already be in some testers' hands - Phandroid has shown an unverified photo of a test build of Android 3.0 running in the wild.
As we reported earlier this month, a Russian podcast details how Android 3.0 will be restricted to high-end handsets (and tablets). The podcast explained that Android 3.0 phones will require at least a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 3.5-inch or larger displays.
Confirmed Android 3.0 features include improved copy and paste and support for WebM video playback. The WebM Project confirmed that "WebM support in Android is expected in the Gingerbread release". WebM files are compressed with the VP8 video codec, which Google purchased and open-sourced earlier this year.
It's also rumoured that Android 3.0 will feature a new user interface. TechCrunch reported that "Google is focusing the bulk of its efforts on the user experience for the upcoming Gingerbread release."
This, Google apparently hopes, will deter handset manufacturers from adding in their own Android 3.0 customizations (such as HTC's Sense).
One of the first Android 3.0 handsets could be the Samsung Galaxy S2 if another rumour is to be believed. The leaked details of the Galaxy S I9200 claim a 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720.
We'll bring you more Android 3.0 details as they emerge.
In the meantime, check out Android 3.0: 10 things Google should change.
Your comments (6) Click to add a new comment
glococo
July 29th
6. I will never buy an Android based mobile if they dont support XMPP voice & Video.
Sorry folks. NIce idea, insufficient realization.
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bradavon
July 29th
5. @ si_smith: Agreed. I'd make one alteration. It's Android 1.6 that is the base level. I've seen plenty of apps that require Android 1.6 (the Amazon eBook reader for example). Most apps are happy with 1.5 but enough need 1.6 to make it an absolute minimum. There are a lot of Android 1.5 devices out there but none are remotely recent (i.e - HTC Magic). The only exception being the HTC Hero, which is obviously (slowly) getting Android 2.1 anyway.
Sony's Android phones all run 1.6, Motorola's 2.x. I'm not sure about Samsung but I'd imagine 1.6 or newer. The HTC Tattoo (budget phone released after the Hero) runs Android 1.6 and oddly HTC aren't planning to upgrade it to 2.1, to bring it in-line with the rest of their HTC Android phones (which all run Android 2.1/will run 2.1).
I've seen nothing that requires Android 2.x. Some apps say they "benefit" from it but that's hardly the same thing.
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cowbell
July 29th
4. I have to admit the updates to Android (and the agonizing wait for release dates to various handsets) is really making it difficult for me to make a decision regarding my next phone.
I have the option to upgrade my handset from August with Orange, or wait until my contract expires at the end of November and go with something else entirely, so I'm struggling to decide whether to go for a Desire now or wait until the end of the year for the rumoured 3.0 handsets, that will likely be significantly improved. Confusing.
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romi
July 28th
3. It is anticipated Andriod 2.2 is bringing 720p video recording on the HTC desire and 1080p video recording on Android 3.0 as the hardware is already there on the desire.
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zedthegreat
July 28th
2. As we reported earlier this month, a Russian podcast details how Android 3.0 will only restricted to high-end handsets (and tablets)....which Google then said was rubbish.
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si_smith
July 28th
1. Cue Apple idiot turning up talking about fragmentation...
The reality is most apps are coded for SDK1.5 and will run on Android 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 3.0
Right now it's only really the Google apps and anything more complex that's anything higher than 1.5 target, and then it's usually 1.6
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