Well, rumors have been flying all last week about Android 2.3, Gingerbread, and its eventual release to the public. Even Google has tweeted a teaser image of a batch of fresh gingerbread men cookies. We know the large gingerbread man lawn decoration, which follows in the tradition at Google, has already been delivered to Google’s lawn. So, when should we expect it and in what form? With the introduction of Android 2.2 (May 22, 2010), Google updated the SDK first, allowing developers of applications some time to update their apps accordingly if they wanted prior to having Android 2.2 pushed out to any hardware. The first set of hardware to get the update was Google’s flagship development phone, the Nexus One. That happened relatively quickly, about one month after the announcement of Android 2.2. And within days of the Nexus One getting Android 2.2, it was pushed into the public domain via the Android Open Source Project.
However, there are some rumors running around that Android 2.3 may not launch on the Nexus One, but instead may come with a hardware announcement from Samsung, possible the Nexus S, or Nexus Two. Will this be Google’s departure from the Nexus One? If it is announced in partnership with a hardware vendor, it’s a pretty strong change that while that particular hardware may ship with Android 2.3 first, the Nexus One, being that it’s now an official developer’s phone, will be getting Android 2.3 long before any current hardware will get it, at least officially.
Remember the Android Open Source Project will eventually get Android 2.3 pushed into it as well, making way for custom ROM developers, such as Cyanogen, to push it out to all the users of custom ROMs, such as myself.
No matter how it’s coming, it’s coming soon. Keep your eyes peeled.
