Android 3.0 Could Be the Platform for the Verizon, Google Tablet

Google's Android 2.2 operating system has just been pushed to the Google Nexus One smartphone but Internet sleuths have already uncovered vital information about Android 3.0, codenamed Gingerbread.

The platform, which Google had said would launch in the fourth quarter this year, is expected to appear by mid-October, according to Mobile-review.com's Eldar Murtazin.

The Russian blogger said in a June 30 podcast that Android 3.0 handsets will appear in November and December to boost holiday sales. The podcast was conducted in Russian, but Unwired View blogger and fellow Russian Stasys Bielinis summarized them here.

Bielinis, by way of Murtazin, said Android 3.0 will feature a new user interface with a great deal of animation. Minimum hardware requirements Android 3.0 will call for a 1 GHZ CPU, 512 MB of RAM and displays from 3.5 and higher.

The standout detail is that Gingerbread will offer 1280×760 resolution for devices with displays of 4 inches or more, paving the way for tablets based on Android. In fact, it is quite possible Android 3.0 will be the platform for the Android tablet Verizon and Google are building together.

Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam spilled news about the company's tablet plans May 11. Verizon spokespeople confirmed the plans then and as recently as last week declined to say who is making the machine, when the machine will appear or what it will feature.

Google chimed in: "The Android smartphone platform was designed from the beginning to scale downward to feature phones and upward to MID and netbook-style devices. We look forward to seeing what contributions are made and how an open platform spurs innovation, but we have nothing to announce at this time."

When Google says it has nothing to announce at this time on a news item, it eventually announces something. Now that it is known the Android 3.0 resolution scales adequately for tablets, it seems a safe bet that tablet built by Verizon and Google would

With 3 million-plus Apple iPads sold and counting, Verizon and Google don't want to fall too far behind Apple the way they did in the smartphone space.

Launching a tablet in time for 2010 Christmas is imperative for the companies if they want to remain within eyeshot of Apple's rearview mirror.

Moreover, Android tablets are working their way into the market.

Adobe tested an Android 2.1-based tablet with Flash and Air in May, but Android 2.1 isn't the optimal OS for scaling on a tablet. As Ars Technica noted, the default home screen for Android 2.x support landscape orientation when the phone is rotated.

Dell's Streak is part tablet, part smartphone. Even Cisco Systems, not exactly known as a computer maker, will offer the video collaboration-centric Cius.