New rumours have emerged about Google's next major revision to its Android mobile operating system - 3.0, codenamed Gingerbread.
First reported in a Russian podcast by blogger Eldar Murtazin, the widely re-reported rumours suggest that Gingerbread will become available this October, with the first compatible handsets being shipped before Christmas.
According to Murtazin, Android 3.0 will require at least a 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, and will support a screen resolution of 1,280 x 760 for devices with viewable displays measuring 4 inches or more. These high minimum specs and larger screen support strongly suggest that Android isn't just targeting phones, but tablet devices as well.
It's not that surprising, given that current high-end smartphones already have 1GHz CPUs and 512MB RAM, and that firms such as MSI have been talking about Android tablets for some time.
More controversially, Google is revamping its user interface with 3.0, which would likely reduce the need for third-party UI customisations such as HTC's Sense and Motorola's MotoBlur.
It was also suggested that Android 3.0 will not be a direct replacement for versions 2.1 or 2.2, and that Google will continue to support these versions on lower-end devices - much like Android 1.6 is still used on cheaper smartphones today, with 2.1 on premium models.
There's been no official confirmation from Google on these details, and of course, many manufacturers - and networks - have yet to push upgrades to 2.2 live. Harry is still livid that his Hero is stuck on 1.6 until Orange sorts out the upgrade. Are you excited by the possibility of running Android on a tablet PC? Do you think Android 3.0 will enable Google to launch a serious competitor to the iPad? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
First reported in a Russian podcast by blogger Eldar Murtazin, the widely re-reported rumours suggest that Gingerbread will become available this October, with the first compatible handsets being shipped before Christmas.
According to Murtazin, Android 3.0 will require at least a 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, and will support a screen resolution of 1,280 x 760 for devices with viewable displays measuring 4 inches or more. These high minimum specs and larger screen support strongly suggest that Android isn't just targeting phones, but tablet devices as well.
It's not that surprising, given that current high-end smartphones already have 1GHz CPUs and 512MB RAM, and that firms such as MSI have been talking about Android tablets for some time.
More controversially, Google is revamping its user interface with 3.0, which would likely reduce the need for third-party UI customisations such as HTC's Sense and Motorola's MotoBlur.
It was also suggested that Android 3.0 will not be a direct replacement for versions 2.1 or 2.2, and that Google will continue to support these versions on lower-end devices - much like Android 1.6 is still used on cheaper smartphones today, with 2.1 on premium models.
There's been no official confirmation from Google on these details, and of course, many manufacturers - and networks - have yet to push upgrades to 2.2 live. Harry is still livid that his Hero is stuck on 1.6 until Orange sorts out the upgrade. Are you excited by the possibility of running Android on a tablet PC? Do you think Android 3.0 will enable Google to launch a serious competitor to the iPad? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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