Android, Droid, Honeycomb, Froyo, Gingerbread, all these names conjure images of little robots happily playing on nearby green hills as butterflies float by and half eaten applies jealously look on. Maybe not? Either way, Android is on its way to become the world’s number one cellphone software and with that comes talk about the future of the operating system.

As of now, Android is split into two different and distinct software options. Android 2.x is the software that is built for cellphones while Android 3.x is designed and geared for tablets and maybe netbooks in the future.

Even though the core architecture under both operating systems are the same, Android 3.x is one that has more features that are geared for bigger screens and more powerful processors than what you would find in a smartphone. But would such software ever make it to the smartphone?

TechRadar asked Google’s Director of Engineering of Android Dave Burke if the world could ever look to the possibility of 3.x coming to smartphones which would also herald the death of 2.x altogether. According to Burke, “Right now it’s a tablet operating system.” He did say that Google would like to unite both numbering systems which would essentially mean that one software would run on both device form factors, smartphones and tablets.

“I think that coming together is a good idea. What we’re trying to do here is make a base platform that’s so good, that others only need to add native elements in their core areas. We wanted to make the whole UI better – it shouldn’t be necessary to customize the texting widget with the Honeycomb UI. We don’t think one size fits all with Android, but sometimes changes [people make to the UI] miss the point – then again, sometimes it amazes us.”

The much awaited and talked about successor to the Nexus One, the Nexus S is finally available for pre-order in the UK, the release date already being set for late December, with no word on when it will be released in the US (where the first Nexus was released, with not-so enthusiastic user feedback).

The pricing seems pretty normal for a new high-end smartphone that packs in everything you might ever need and looks good to boot. An unlocked, SIM-free unit will cost the potential users 550 pounds, or $870, while the version bound by a 24 months contract will only be 35 pounds per month. The choice is pretty clear: if you want this phone but don’t have the money, go for the contract version, but if you already have a contract with another network company, it may prove difficult and more expensive to do that.

The new Nexus S certainly looks great, with the curved housing and the new Android 2.3 Gingerbread pre-installed, but a lot of people think it’s not worth paying the price when a brand new, unlocked Samsung Galaxy S, which shares the same platform and hardware with the Nexus S, costs only 415 pounds, and has support for HD video filming and an external micro SD card slot (though the lack of the former in the Nexus is probably only a matter of software). Furthermore, it might actually be cheaper to export the phone from the US when it comes out there at 550 US dollars (which is only 345 pounds).

Still, with all the issues, the Nexus S is definitely a phone worth paying attention to, and if you want to have the latest and greatest software, it’s the only choice besides the older Nexus One, as Google markets it as a “fully open” device with no locks or limits (unlike HTC, Motorola, Samsung and other brands, which lock the boot loader and do not allow the users to customize their own ROM).

This is a major turning point for Google: the year that the standards of handsets get pushed forward so much, other phones will undoubtedly be left behind.

If many folks were wondering why the previous Russian sourced rumors about the 3.0 Gingerbread version of the Android OS coming out with hard to believe details –specifically, the part where it would require high end hardware for the new OS to run, it is because some people are starting to see what Google needs to do.

It is unlikely, of course, that Google would cut off the older smart phones that still run the Android operating system. But considering how fragmented the current user base is, they might as well go and do it.

Until now, there are plenty of devices that are still running the older 1.5 Cupcake and 1.6 Donut versions of the Android. It would make sense not to abandon these devices if they could be brought up to date with either version 2.0/2.1 Éclair or 2.2 Froyo. But the fact is, some of these devices are never going to be updated, and the users will be fragmented even more.

The Android 2.1 Éclair currently holds the largest number of users at about 51% of the total count. This is good, but far from the massive majority it needs to bring uniformity to users. At some point, Google will have to announce actually hardware requirements for later versions of the operating system. While it would be nice if they could update all existing Androids to version 3.0, they will still have to cut off the older models as they would not be able to support the newer features of later updates.

Currently, the number of users on the latest version of the OS (version 2.2 Froyo) is just a meager 3% -which is basically the volume of Nexus One users.

Many might remember the classic Disney live action science fiction film Tron, the movie was famous for its (then) high end special effects and the (also then) intense, high speed light cycle matches. While several games over the years have tried to recreate the experience and the intensity of the movie, very few have come close. For the Google Android, an early game by the name of Light Cycle 3D by Battery Powered Games comes pretty close.

The game itself comes in full 3D, with lighting and graphics that matches the style and feel of the classic movie. While the title itself is not an official Disney product, it still brings plenty of the original spirit that has made Tron quite famous.

The game itself is simple, players steer a light cycle in a grid around a walled arena and blaze a large laser wall in their trail. This trail will stay up for the whole round. The point of the game is to force opponents into a wall while avoiding the walls that the opponents have made.

It is simple and easy at low speeds, but at higher difficulties and faster speeds, Light Racer can prove to be quite a challenge. In terms of controls, all cycles move at a similar speed, which makes the combat more of strategic steering than a race. With the only available controls being to turn left or right, players are made to face the challenging reality of this game early on.

In terms of graphics, this Google Android game is pretty top notch. Even on a low spec G1 handset, Light Ricer 3D runs are a pretty decent space. While having to tap the screen with a finger will obscure your peripheral vision, the overall gameplay is satisfying and fulfilling. According to the developer, version 1.2 of this impressive app is already available on the Android Market.

If there is one thing that is really interesting about the new age of app and game development, it in how much room for experimentation there is.

Before, game developers could not afford to just play around while making games. There are plenty of game producers who had great ideas, but innovation was stifled by high productions costs. During a time when game distribution was limited solely to actually producing floppy disk/CD installers, there was no room for making games that were not certified to make a profit –and even then, there were plenty of games that still flopped.

However, the emergence of the internet, better data transfer speeds and impressive hardware on smart phones have encouraged the growth of a new industry; the app market. Apple and Google are benefitting a lot from this business model, and many small companies are poised to earn plenty by coming up with plenty of downloadable games –thanks to the internet and smart phones, micro-transactions has become the lifeblood of many development companies and individual developers.

Now, developers are able to create games that are more than just money-making programs, there are plenty of developers who are trying out genres that could not be delved into before and surprisingly; there is also money to be made with simple artistic games.

While the hardcore gaming market has also been a strong influence for the demand for the creation of games with artistic value or genuine depth, it is the app markets on smart phones that have provided the financial foundation for this new era of artistic mini-games.

This development has also become a stepping stone for many small game companies. Thanks to app markets, developers can now have their works made and noticed –and some of the best success stories end with tie ups with major developers such as Sony.

There is a new kid in town and it costs as much as an iPhone 3G. You know that tough tablet phone surviving stabs from a screwdriver? Yes, getting the Dell Streak will cost just as much as an iPhone 3G when gotten with a contract from The Carphone Warehouse. By opting for a 25 GBP mobile broadband plan or a 35 GBP voice and unlimited data plan, you will get the 5 inch tablet phone for free.

For those who simply do not want to be tied down in a mobile data plan or contract, then you may opt to get the tablet phone on its own but it will cost you. If you get it off contract, the Dell Streak is priced at 429 GBP, which is the same cost you will be paying if you opt for a 16 GB iPad.

There is no word yet whether O2 UK will be able to give lower tariffs or if it will be a bit more expensive but considering previous trends, it is more likely that they will be a tad bit cheaper.

The tablet phone, powered by Google’s little green robot is definitely an entertainment powerhouse. It carries a super fast 1 GHz Snapdragon processor which lets you connect, browse the internet and fiddle with its multitude of available apps without experiencing even a small hiccup.

Having a 5 inch screen is nothing to scoff at as well. It gives you all the necessary space to read web pages or watch videos at your leisure. You get all the perks of having laptop and mobile phone rolled into one. The best part is that it fits in your jacket pocket so you can always keep it close at hand. The Dell Streak will be out and available for UK consumers on June 4.

According to recent news, it seems that the Google Android operating system will now be able to run many existing Facebook Apps; thanks to the release of the Facebook SDK. With this latest development, many Facebook based applications will be directly available for viewing and access on Android handsets –as well as Facebook itself.

Okay, now that may seem pretty confusing, after all, one can already access Facebook from the Android’s browser. But what the release of the SDK means is that a standalone app for accessing Facebook and all of its features can now be made. Imagine not only being able to access your account to see the latest updates and upload one of your own, but also the ability to instantly manage your friend lists, tags, privacy settings, user profile, change your photo and even play some Facebook apps directly from a specialized app as opposed to manually accessing the features from the web browser.

The difference between the browser and an app lies in the fact that any smart phone browser is simply a lite version of the internet. Compared to a netbook or desktop counterpart, mobile phone’s browser delivers a slower, bite sized version of the website. An app on the other hand, has been designed from scratch to be used on an Android smart phone –making access to features, as well as the user interfaces, an easy thing to handle and use.

The released version of the SDK is currently an alpha version which means that developers should keep checking for new libraries or even full updates to be released. Still, the initial version already provides a lot of access to Facebook’s key features. This new update also could not have come at a better time; Facebook has recently upgraded its privacy setting pages, making the social networking site more encouraging to use.

If you still have not purchased a Nexus One, now is as great a time as any. There are now a lot of independent retailers that stock the Google branded Android smart phone.

The device was first launched in the US last January 5. The unveiling event at the Googleplex gave the media a chance to see the new handset up close and also for the developers to showcase some of the newest features. However, along with the launch came the announcement that the device would only be available through the Google online store –which many tech reviewers saw a red flag for the success of the Android device.

As expected, the sales of the Nexus One were hardly anywhere near impressive. Google only managed to sell 20,000 units by the first week of sales. The company then took a different approach to the marketing of the Google Phone in the UK, the device would be offered directly by Vodafone and later on, by retailers. That time has already come; retailers now stock the Nexus One on store shelves and also on websites for online orders. In fact many of the best Nexus One deals can be found online.

This Google branded handset has been manufactured by HTC and has a spec sheet that closely resembles that of the HTC Desire (formerly HTC Bravo). Both handsets come with 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screens, 5 mega pixel cameras and 1GHz Snapdragon CPUs.

The new Android 2.2 Froyo is already available for Nexus One (and only for the Nexus One). This OS update makes the mobile platform up to five times faster thanks to the implementation of the new Dalvik VM JIT. It also has a fast web browser by using V8 which allows for better handling of JavaScript. Android owners will also be happy to know that this update will allow the use of the smart phone for USB tethering or even as a WiFi hotspot.

The future of mobile handsets is with cloud computing. The fact of the matter is that at the rate that internet connectivity and processors are evolving, it would reach a point where it would make more sense to simply upload all the data online for cloud processing since the connections will be fast enough to transfer huge chunks of data online.

This is going to be the big ticket item for augmented reality technology. AR has been drifting left and right with desktop computers, laptops and mobile phones. While computers provide plenty of processing power and storage space, the devices lack portability -and considering the nature of AR, this will hamper users from experiencing many of the new applications of augmented reality technology. Mobile phones on the other hand, can only process so much data at a time since there will always be hardware limitations.

Going back to where we are now, cloud computing is still not a good option since even the best WiFi and 3G connections speeds are too slow for the needed  results. For now, AR is being used in conjunction with GPS technology in order to help users with location based AR services as well as better visual search functions (as geophysical locations are also taken into consideration).

Google has announced that they will be opening up the Goggles platform –a very well made augmented reality platform on the Android and we can expect to see some inventive uses of the technology. It is predicted that AR apps would make for perfect tutorials, allowing for the device to be used in order to analyze problems and provide solutions (such as pointing the camera at a flat tire and getting arrows telling you which bolt goes where).

Get to know more about the Google Goggles going open source at Tech Radar.

Google has a sense of humor. Believe it. For years, they have constantly been outdoing themselves when it comes to their April Fool’s Day jokes. Being known to post application requirements for a human settlement on Mars (also known as Virgle) and solving dating problems via search in Google Romance, the guys at Google can definitely dish out some serious funnies.

This year is no exception, because the guys at Google have released a real, downloadable Android app that gives your animal friends a human voice.

The Translate for Animals app caters to a wide variety of animals, from dog, cat rabbit, guinea pig, bird, chicken, hamster, turtle, sheep, horse, pig and donkey. According to the site, Google is not liable for any disappointing conversations you may have with your chosen animals:

“It is not Google’s responsibility if you are offended or disappointed by what your chosen animal may say. Also please note, we do not guarantee stimulating conversation.”

Using the app is very simple. It works. Select the language you want it translated to. Record the animal speaking by stroking its fur gently in order to encourage it to meow, woof, oink or neigh. Wait for it to be processed as it is compared to millions of sounds in the Animal Linguistic Database. After that it will be translated to words. It will also have an audio option if you wish to hear what the animal had to say instead.

The only language option available now is English but in the future, Mongolian, Cantonese, Hindi and Pig-Latin translations will be available.

The fun, silly app is available for download to Android 1.6 devices now. You can grab this amusing app for free so you will be able to make use of your Nexus One to check just what your cat said about lunch.

Check out the hilarious Translate for Animals video at Engadget.