Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablets

The reign of the iPad may end when Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablets are launched

Google’s Android operating system is quite likely turning into the standard platform for smartphones, in the same way that Windows became the standard PC platform. You could say Windows was open – relatively, of course – compared to the Mac OS. And it helped Microsoft rule the personal computer market for decades. A similar battle is going on now between iOS from Apple and Google Android. he key difference between Microsoft and Google, in this regard, is that while Microsoft’s Windows is licenced, Google’s Android is open source and free.

About 160,000 Android-based units are sold daily (mostly mobile phones) and there are at least 60 Android-based smartphones already in the market. Android 2.2 (code-named Froyo) is the latest version of Android. Apart from these point releases of Android, the next thing would Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The still-in-the-works version of Android, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, will probably be out in October 2010. Mostly, what information is available at this point falls in the category of ‘informed rumours’. According to a report in ArsTechnica, it seems that Android 2.3 Gingerbread requires a 1GHz CPU and 512MB RAM to operate.

Android Gingerbread 2.3 supports 1280×760 pixels resolution for displays with a minimum of 4 inches. The obvious thing that comes to mind rightaway are web tablets. Considering the big buzz around tablets post-Ipad launch and blazing success, there is absolutely no way Google will not ensure that Android 2.3 Gingerbread is perfect for touchscreen tablets similar to the iPad.

Chances are that Android 2.x versions will continue for smartphones and other devices with lower-end specs. At least according to Ars, the 2.3 Gingerbread version will be purely for tablets. it is even possible, we think, that the 2.x line will fork off and become a separate OS targeted at what would be low-end smartphones in a year’s time.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread UI differences

Currently, sevaral handset manufacturers who use Android for their mobile phones slap on their own GUI on top if it. HTC’s Sense and Motorola’s Motoblur are examples. This will probably end with the 2.x versions of Android. So future smartphones running Android 2.x will keep those GUIs and their newer versions, while they would vanish from the 2.3 smartphones and touchscreen tablets.

However, it must be kept in mind that Google hasn’t made any announcements about its new operating system, except to inform the public that it’s working on it. That said, many device makers are preparing to launch touchscreen Android tablets using earlier versions of Android and 2.2 Froyo by the end of the year. As Android 2.3 Gingerbread will probably be out by October, we could possibly see a few Android 2.3 tablets too.

Motorola Android Tablet

Among the most anticipated tablet PCs to be launched at the end of the year is being developed by Motorola. The company has so far produced two of the most successful Android devices the Droid and DroidX. To be released in November, the new Motorola tablet will run on Android and is meant to ‘augment the home TV viewing experience’ according to the company, which believes that there is need for a 7 to 10 inch portable home TV substitute.

Motorola Android 2.3 tablet specs

Motorola’s tablet (rumoured to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread) will have a 7 to 10 inch screen that will display resolutions of 1280 x 760 pixels. It will have a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, an ARM processor, and a microSD expandable memory. It will have front and back cameras for taking pictures and video conferencing. Motorola’s new Droid will be Bluetooth enabled, and will connect via WiFi and 3G. This is likely to be the first Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablet to launch.

Motorola Verizon  portable mini TV tablet

Motorola’s FiOS TV tablet will support Adobe Flash, so most web videos will work on it and since Motorola has tied up with Verizon for this tablet, the tablet will incorporate features of Verizon’s FiOS digital pay television service. Motorola incidentally already creates hardware for Verizon.

The deal with Verizon will probably mean that Motorola’s tablet will be bundled with Verizon connections in the USA.

Further, rumour has it that the Motorola tablet will be thinner and lighter than the iPad and that it will act as a wireless hotspot by enabling users to share their paid wireless data connection with devices nearby.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Android tablet (first 2.2, then 2.3)

Samsung too will produce an Android tablet at the end of the year. The Samsung Galaxy Tab as it is named will run Android 2.x though. The Galaxy Tab will have a 1.2 GHz A8 processor with a super active matrix OLED screen, 16 GB of internal storage and 32 GB microSD memory expansion ability. The Galaxy Tab will likely launch with Android 2.2 Froyo, but considering that it is capable of running Android 2.3 Gingerbread the tablet is likely to get an upgrade to 3.0 soon.

LG Optimus Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablet

The LG Optimus is likely to operate on Android 2.3 and will be powered run a 1 GHz processor with at least 512 MB of RAM. These specs are based on rumours, of course.

Asus is another company that will be ready to produce Android 2.3 tablets.

Other Android 2.3 Ginger tablet launches

Other companies that are completely sold on Android, and are waiting for Android 2.3 Gingerbread are Toshiba, Dell, Lenovo and HP. Google, of course, is likely to produce a tablet to show the capabilities of the 2.3 Gingerbread platform – something like it did with the Nexus One mobile phone.

iPad+iOS 4 vs Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablets

Apple, which has sold 3 million iPads in less than six months, is ominously poised to take over the tablet market just as Windows controlled PCs in the absence of a credible Android-based competing product. Remember that Apple’s Retina display, or iOS 4, have not made it to the iPad yet and when that happens, the iPad platform would become even more powerful. Google, with hardware manufactuers producing Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablets, could prove Apple wrong.

Apple’s products always offer a great experience to the user. Also, the company has been on the forefront in innovation where personal consumer electronics are concerned; and this advantage Google is perhaps trying to counter with its unique open source and ubiquitous software ideas.