Android 3.0 Sample Tablets Available by Dec. '10
If these rumors are to be believed Android 3.0 is all but finished and we'll see tablets running the OS at the beginning of January.
We already know that Android 3.0, AKA Gingerbread, is supposed to hit before the year is out, but other than that, we don't know much else. This week Phandroid changed all that, revealing that users can expect built-in support for video calling; increased speed; a cleaner, greener (in color) UI; improvements to Google Apps, which should make them feel more like an extension of the OS rather than just apps; and the Google Voice app is getting SIP support so you can receive calls to your Google Voice number over WiFi and cellular data.
That all sounds very wonderful, but Phandroid's sources gave no indication as to when we would actually see Gingerbread. However, Digitimes seems to believe Gingerbread samples will hit by December.
The Taiwan-based site today cites sources from notebook vendors who say Google has notified its partners that Android 3.0 will be finished and engineer sample tablets will show up in December. It's with this time frame in mind that several major electronics manufacturers are planning to launch their Android 3.0 tablets at CES 2011, in January. According to Digitimes we'll see Android 3.0 devices from Acer, Asus, MSI, HTC and Motorola. Also expected to make an appearance is an Android 3.0-updated Galaxy Tab from Samsung.
That's all they had to say about Android 3.0, but they also mentioned that Android 4.0 (Ice Cream) would hit in the second half of 2011, something we didn’t know before. Digitimes sources say they think the OS will be able to gradually increase its marketshare in the tablet market once Android 3.0 is launched.
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Good job Android. From the many smartphones ive used, Android has been the best. Blackberry and IOS are a bit too locked down, W6.1 and 6.5 were bad, 7 doesnt look horrid, but havent used it, but android has always been the best, for me atleast. Has been getting the best phones lately too. Really gaining speed in the market.
Sounds good. Are android betas not publicly available?
My only concern is how many of the devices currently running Android now will be able to move to 3.0. Updating the OS regularly is a good thing, but not if a large part of your user-base get's left behind. I am currently running the Nexus One and I would like to think I am covered but there were a number of users who couldn't move to Froyo!
This is good I like to see what other things this version 3.0 can do.
I am thrilled to see Android continuing to grow. I am also wondering if my phone (HTC Magic) will be able to keep up and if the manufacturer will port it to my hardware, or if they're too busy with the new stuff to look back on those who started early on.
Trouble is, I'm an eternal optimist - if they don't explicitly say no, I keep hoping.
My only concern is how many of the devices currently running Android now will be able to move to 3.0. Updating the OS regularly is a good thing, but not if a large part of your user-base get's left behind. I am currently running the Nexus One and I would like to think I am covered but there were a number of users who couldn't move to Froyo!
No! Backwards compatibility isn't a great thing. If they end up supporting devices from 10 generations ago at the end you'll get a huge, bloated pile of crap that eats 20 Gb of memory space just for the OS. Do you want another Windows TM on your mobile device? A mobile device is supposed to be mobile and to work on batteries for a long, long time, a few days at least.
I think it is a great idea - a new major version of a mobile OS should mean - new devices. They are not crappy PCs after all!
Sweet! So I'll upgrade my phone in the 2nd half of 2011. That works for me.
Its quite uncertain but as i have read it seems that Android 3.0 has strict hard ware requirements and most of low end devices might not support the upgrade.
Hope that this doesn't happens and all devices could get upgrade.
The Nexus One needs this on November or sooner.
My only concern is how many of the devices currently running Android now will be able to move to 3.0. Updating the OS regularly is a good thing, but not if a large part of your user-base get's left behind. I am currently running the Nexus One and I would like to think I am covered but there were a number of users who couldn't move to Froyo!
The N1 will get Gingerbread. It's the internal development phone.
Good job Android. From the many smartphones ive used, Android has been the best. Blackberry and IOS are a bit too locked down, W6.1 and 6.5 were bad, 7 doesnt look horrid, but havent used it, but android has always been the best, for me atleast. Has been getting the best phones lately too. Really gaining speed in the market.
Actually WM6.5 isn't bad just underpowered. Albeit I use a custom WM6.5 rom myself. To be honest if I could buy a W7 phone and flash it with custom 6.5 rom that would make me smile.
The key to Android growth is going to be upcoming tablet pricing. Samsung has set their price higher than the iPad, and it will have trouble competing at that price. If someone steps up with a $300 tablet then Android will skyrocket.
The key to Android growth is going to be upcoming tablet pricing. Samsung has set their price higher than the iPad, and it will have trouble competing at that price. If someone steps up with a $300 tablet then Android will skyrocket.
Archo's 10.1 Froyo tablet will start at $300 for the 8GB version and ~$380 for the 16GB one (plus a MircoSD slot).
If the supposed requirements for 3.0 is true, then most (if not all) of the devices won't be upgradable to 3.0. This because I think I saw a requirement for a "1280X720" resolution.
I hope I am wrong though.