Android has been prepping for the long awaited release of Android Gingerbread (Android 2.3) which is now rolling out to various Android handsets in the US. This is the upgrade on Android 2.2 known as Froyo.
However, the HTC T-Mobile G2, one of the front runners in Android cell phones, was not originally on the list of assigned handsets due for the upgrade to Gingerbread. The good news is for T-Mobile G2 users this is about to change. According to HTC the G2 is scheduled for an upgrade anytime between May and June this year.
"So what's all the hype about Gingerbread anyway?"
Faster speed - through increased responsiveness and energy management
Increased battery life (definitely a big issue with most of the Android cell phones) - Gingerbread will monitor apps that are using too much of your phone's energy to make the phone more resourceful with power
Manual ability to manage your apps power consumption - under 'Manage Applications' you can view how much resources each of your active apps are
Improved cut and paste ability - allows you to 'long - press' on text input and web pages to select and then copy to system clipboard
Improved file management
Enhanced camera functionality
New virtual keyboard - increased keyboard functionality that is faster and more intuitive (multi-touch input and 'smart' auto correct function)
Android handsets that have either received Gingerbread or are scheduled to:
HTC Nexus 1 (2/22/2011)
Samsung Galaxy S - in Germany and Holland this phone has received the upgrade to Gingerbread, and it is speculated that it will arrive shortly in other countries including the US. However, Samsung's Facebook and Twitter pages have mentioned that the Galaxy S will receive Gingerbread 2.3.3 (which is only due to come out later in the year). Hence, it might only arrive with the Galaxy S later in the year
Samsung Captivate on At&t, Samsung Epic on Sprint, Samsung Vibrant on T-Mobile, Samsung Fascinate on Verizon have not received the update and in the past have been slow to receive updates, hence, it is thought that these phones will upgrade later in the year
Android phones that are expected to receive the Gingerbread 2.3 upgrade:
T-Mobile G2X - it is expected to upgrade in some European countries in June or July so anytime after that is a fair guess for the US
LG Optimus Black (currently running Froyo)- timing is not known at this stage
LG Optimus One phones will receive the update, though LG hasn't give a specific date as yet. This includes the Optimus S on Sprint, Optimus T on T-Mobile, the LG Vortex on Verizon, Optimus M on MetroPCS
HTC Droid Incredible from Verizon
HTC EVO 4G for Sprint - somewhere in the second quarter
HTC G2 for T-Mobile - sometime in the second quarter
HTC Incredible S for Verizon - in the near future
HTC MyTouch 4G for T-Mobile - sometime in the Summer
HTC Thunderbolt - second quarter
Motorola Atrix 4G for At&t - near future
Motorola Droid 2 for Verizon - no official dates set
Motorola Droid X for Verizon - no official dates set
However, the HTC T-Mobile G2, one of the front runners in Android cell phones, was not originally on the list of assigned handsets due for the upgrade to Gingerbread. The good news is for T-Mobile G2 users this is about to change. According to HTC the G2 is scheduled for an upgrade anytime between May and June this year.
"So what's all the hype about Gingerbread anyway?"
Faster speed - through increased responsiveness and energy management
Increased battery life (definitely a big issue with most of the Android cell phones) - Gingerbread will monitor apps that are using too much of your phone's energy to make the phone more resourceful with power
Manual ability to manage your apps power consumption - under 'Manage Applications' you can view how much resources each of your active apps are
Improved cut and paste ability - allows you to 'long - press' on text input and web pages to select and then copy to system clipboard
Improved file management
Enhanced camera functionality
New virtual keyboard - increased keyboard functionality that is faster and more intuitive (multi-touch input and 'smart' auto correct function)
Android handsets that have either received Gingerbread or are scheduled to:
HTC Nexus 1 (2/22/2011)
Samsung Galaxy S - in Germany and Holland this phone has received the upgrade to Gingerbread, and it is speculated that it will arrive shortly in other countries including the US. However, Samsung's Facebook and Twitter pages have mentioned that the Galaxy S will receive Gingerbread 2.3.3 (which is only due to come out later in the year). Hence, it might only arrive with the Galaxy S later in the year
Samsung Captivate on At&t, Samsung Epic on Sprint, Samsung Vibrant on T-Mobile, Samsung Fascinate on Verizon have not received the update and in the past have been slow to receive updates, hence, it is thought that these phones will upgrade later in the year
Android phones that are expected to receive the Gingerbread 2.3 upgrade:
T-Mobile G2X - it is expected to upgrade in some European countries in June or July so anytime after that is a fair guess for the US
LG Optimus Black (currently running Froyo)- timing is not known at this stage
LG Optimus One phones will receive the update, though LG hasn't give a specific date as yet. This includes the Optimus S on Sprint, Optimus T on T-Mobile, the LG Vortex on Verizon, Optimus M on MetroPCS
HTC Droid Incredible from Verizon
HTC EVO 4G for Sprint - somewhere in the second quarter
HTC G2 for T-Mobile - sometime in the second quarter
HTC Incredible S for Verizon - in the near future
HTC MyTouch 4G for T-Mobile - sometime in the Summer
HTC Thunderbolt - second quarter
Motorola Atrix 4G for At&t - near future
Motorola Droid 2 for Verizon - no official dates set
Motorola Droid X for Verizon - no official dates set