Google is working hard today. Shortly after Google eBooks landed on the scene, word hit that the long awaited Gingerbread (Android 2.3) and Nexus S had also been revealed. The Nexus S from Samsung will be the first device on the market to get access to the new features included in Android 2.3, but you can expect many devices, especially higher profile ones like the Droid 2, Droid X and the Galaxy S series of phones to be updated sooner rather than later. Despite the tiny bump in version number, Android 2.3 is packing some impressive new features and noticeable (although not terribly drastic) visual overhaul. In the looks department, you'll find a new, black status bar and new icons to accompany it, as well as a few other tweaked icons throughout the OS. A number of the rounded edges and some of the gloss have been stripped away, making Android a little darker and more serious looking.
On the software side, the Android crew have focused on a few key things, one of which is gaming. Gingerbread is supposedly the fastest version of Android yet, with a number of new features that will greatly improve game performance in particular. If Android really wants to stay competitive with iOS, improving its gaming is going to be key (and even more so when the rumored Android-based PlayStation phone lands sometime next year). Game developers will also be able to take advantage of new sensors, like gyroscopes, for improving motion control in games.
Full Story Link: http://www.switched.com/2010/12/06/android-2-3-gingerbread-better-keyboard-voip/
