14 DAY TRIAL // Google announced recently that the next iteration of its mobile operating system, Android 1.6 (aka Donut), would become available on handsets in October, following the release of Android 1.6 SDK, and one device has already seen the update, namely the Android Dev Phone 1, also known as Google Ion. A ROM with the new Android flavor is available for download from HTC's website.
Interestingly enough, it didn't take long for a video with Android 1.6 to emerge into the wild too. Donut hasn't been installed on an Android Dev Phone 1, but on a T-Mobile myTouch 3G, and the video that you can spot at the bottom of this article shows about all that one would like to learn when it comes to the upcoming OS version.
The Android 1.6 iteration comes around with a great deal of improvements, we learn, yet they are mainly aimed at deeper levels of the platform, which means that the end user should not expect to see major changes when it comes to the visual area. However, the performance of the OS has been enhanced, and scrolling through applications should prove just that.
For the time being, there are no details on when the platform will become available for users on the market. While Android Dev Phone 1 owners can already enjoy the update, others will have to wait a little longer before they can also put it on their devices. At the same time, it should also be noted that Android-based phones that are to come to the market in the near future might include the new OS flavor right from the start.
Until that will happen, those interested in learning more about Android 1.6 should take a look at the video below. Those who have an Android Dev Phone 1 might want to check with this page from HTC's website to grab the latest update for their devices.
The Android 1.6 SDK is available for download for Windows, Linux and Mac computers.