What's cooking in Android 2.3's Gingerbread release (photos)
We've got screenshots of some of the feature highlights of Google's new Android 2.3 operating system, code-named Gingerbread.
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Google's long-awaited announcement of Gingerbread puts our speculations to rest as Google details highlights of version 2.3 of its hit Android operating system.
We expected Google to pay attention to the color scheme and usability of the Gingerbread home screen and menu systems, and it did. Android 2.3 pumps up the contrast and rethinks certain menus. Notice the addition of the app manager shortcut on the now-black menu. Android 2.2 on the Nexus One has a light gray menu and no easy access to the manager.
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Text selection
Android 2.3 simplifies text selection. Instead of the Froyo (Android 2.2) method of holding down on a word with your finger to bring up the option to begin highlighting words, Gingerbread lets you press and hold a word to select it. Then it pops up more finger-friendly bookends for easily completing selections.
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Front-facing camera
If your Android smartphone has a front-facing camera, the Gingerbread OS will let you shoot photos and videos from the camera app.
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VoIP Internet calling
Developers can immediately start folding Gingerbread's support for SIP Internet calling technology into their apps. In addition to easily placing (free or cheap)Internet calls, Android 2.3 extends the camera APIs to developers, letting them take advantage of the front-facing camera. That spells expanded support for video chatting.
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Power manager
Android's handling of power and open apps has long been under fire. Back-end adjustments promise to better handle resource-hogging apps, and a refurbished app manager shows the phone owner more details about power consumption. A shortcut (see the first slide) increases the Manager's visibility.
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Near field communications
Near field communications is another Gingerbread foray. With a compatible handset, Android 2.3 can scan objects and items using NFC, near-field communications technology.
