The evolution of Android Honeycomb has been both smooth and quick. After launching version 3.0 on March 27th, it took less than two months for the 3.1 update to hit the Motorola Xoom. The next step, Android Honeycomb 3.2, is expected within a matter of days, but it will not be as major and overhaul as 3.1. Instead, its two biggest features will open the flood gates to even more Android tablets.
HTC Flyer owners, prepare to celebrate. The two blockbuster features included in Android 3.2 Honeycomb are support for Qualcomm processors and 7-inch displays. Gone are the days of manufacturers being limited to Tegra 2 processors and 10.1-inch displays. But does this mean we’ll see Snapdragon versions of existing tablets like the Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1?
We don’t imagine it would, though 7-inch versions of either tablet would probably sell quite well to a female audience hoping for a purse-friendly Honeycomb slate. The real winners in Android 3.2 will be the budget (white box) tablet manufacturers. By using Qualcomm chips and smaller displays, the cost of production will plummet, opening the door for even more competition. If you thought there were too many Android tablets at CES 2011, just wait for 2012.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t highlight the remaining improvements contained in Android 3.2 Honeycomb. In addition to the processor support and smaller displays, Google has addressed several bugs and improved hardware acceleration. The Movie Studio, Movies and Music apps will all be updated and the factory widgets will receive a make over. So when can we get our hands on Android 3.2 Honeycomb?
Android 3.0 launched on March 27th, followed by 3.1 in mid-may. Of course, these are the first dates of availability for one version of the Motorola Xoom. Nevertheless, 45 days seems to be the magic number which means we’re now eight days overdue for the roll out. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled to the Twitter feeds of Android’s Honeycomb team.
