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.

Originally, the first handset to have the new Froyo OS is the Google Nexus One, and it was expected that the HTC Desire (one of the best Android devices available) would also be getting a patch after a week. This did not push through and it appears that owners of the HTC made smart phone will have to wait for a while before an official 2.2 update gets released.

So far, the tale of the Android updates has been one of constant waiting and delays for many eager and excited users.

In terms of performance and capabilities, it is pretty hard to beat the Nexus One –featuring capabilities and add-ons that would make both casual and hardcore users happy, the Android OS has never been considered as lacking. But as for the release dates, Google has plenty of issues to deal with.

And the fact that when the updates do come out, they still suffer from compatibility issues. Fans would patiently wait for a delayed launch date if it meant that the final build will have fewer issues and no major compatibility problems. With the Android that is not the case.

For those who did not catch the reviews and coverage on the HTC Desire Android smart phone, here is a quick recap of the handset’s specs and figures. The phone comes with a nice big 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen display, a 5 mega pixel camera, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz CPU, and of course, the Android 2.1 Éclair. The OS sports plenty of impressive Google features (such as Google Maps, Google Chat, Google Mail, Google Goggles, Street View, and others); it also uses the HTC Sense user interface.

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.

On the other hand, most people are not too keen on getting the alleged iPhone killer (well, it failed to live up to the hype so it isn’t) are already planning to put their money aside for the launch of the HTC Desire which is apparently the smart phone which the Nexus was based from (HTC manufactured the Nexus One for Google). Since the two devices are quite similar in terms of specifications, it really makes the decision to settle so much easier.

The Desire and the Nexus One are both using 1GHz Snapdragon CPUs and 5 mega pixel cameras. The screens on both devices are 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen displays with multi touch capabilities.

Anyway, even if Vodafone is offering the device to their customers, the closest they will get you to a Nexus One is by redirecting you online to Google’s store. They will however, provide you with a SIM card for your chosen plan.

Aside from the Nexus One, Vodafone is pretty much up to the brim with big name devices from high end manufacturers. The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, HTC Desire and HTC Legend are also coming early in April while the Apple iPad is expected to arrive by late April.

In other Vodafone related news, it turns out that the operator has recently undergone a cost cutting process which saw the closure of 6 stores and the removal of 375 employees due to redundancies. Despite this sad news, the operator is still pushing through with its busiest launches for the year.

Get to know more about Vodafone offering the HTC Nexus One on their official website at Softpedia.

It comes as to no surprise that our lineup of Android smart phones starts out with the HTC Desire. The device was originally considered for a basis for the Nexus One and carried the name Bravo. Sunday saw a new name and a slight new look for the device. The phone continues to carry a 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 5 mega pixel camera with the ability to record videos on 720p D1. Leaked pages from Amazon Germany state that the phone is only 419 Euros.

Another Android smart phone from HTC is the Legend. This device is expected to be the successor to the HTC Hero. The phone will have a 3.2 inch AMOLED touch screen, a 5 mega pixel camera and a Qualcomm 600 MHz processor. The device has been confirmed for Netherlands through the KPN site.

Sony Ericsson has its own Android phones as well. The XPERIA X10 is one of the high end smart phones coming out soon with its 1GHz Snapdragon CPU and 4 inch touch screen. The device will have two follow up phones, the X10 Mini and the X10 Mini Pro. As one might guess from the names, the X10 Mini is a bit sized version of the X10 and the Pro is a second version of the X10 Mini but comes with a physical keyboard.

Get to know more of the major highlights and products showcased at the Mobile World Congress at Pocket Lint.

The settings feature will have a backup overhaul that will keep your profile, ringtones, and other various applications updated.  The noise-cancellation feature should be noted as the microphone concentrates on the voice command rather than the extraneous noises that hinder the ability of the phone to follow user voice commands.  Wind noise and machinery noise will be miniscule, and they are usually the noises that get in the way of call quality and background noises. The phone offers no alternative to the users who like to cradle the phone between their shoulder and neck.  Users who do this will find that the microphone located on the bottom of the phone on the left will be muted on occasions such as this.  Hopefully, Google will create better usability for people who operate a phone without hands in the future.

A car charger via the Nexus One will activate the navigation features that will help you find your way on the road.  The regular charger will make the phone activate the clock feature that will substantially replace alarm clocks.  The phone’s ability to connect to your car and activate the navigation feature makes the Google Nexus One remain the most flawless mobile phone on the market today.

The biggest problem with the phone is the high cost associated with the early termination fees.  If you are planning to buy the phone, be prepared to follow through with the associated fees that are referenced to the plans.  Another problem according to the consumer complaints is the touch screen, which is a pretty vague concept and is undetermined.  Like any phone, there is bound to be complications with some of them, so the downfall is not necessarily unpredicted.  Google will most likely attempt to fix the errors that are concentrated in consumer complaints and be rectified according to the analysis of consumer complaints.  They should focus on the areas that are most complained about.

Even though, the phone is most anticipated, they will have to do something about the fees associated with unlocked and locked phones.  The unlocked version will be available for around €600.  With the T-Mobile plan, the retail is around €250 with a 2-year contract plan.  From this, it is pretty obvious why the complaints are existent when consumers try to weasel their way out of a plan and getting the phone for €200.

Google held a press event on January 5th, 2009 at their headquarters in Mountain View, California. It was an invitation-only press event. However, one night prior to the company’s announcement, several well reputed blogs did release reviews on the phone, including pictures. These were in-depth, factual reviews which matched up with what was released a day later by Google.

Individuals who appreciate Android technology are especially excited about the phone’s release. Almost everyone, Google included, feels like the Nexus One is helping to take Androids to the next level.

The Nexus One looks very similar to the iPhone. It has a number of features which very closely resemble the iPhone as well. This makes sense, considering this is their biggest competition. By and large, people loved the iPhone, so why depart from a proven model? The Nexus One is slim like the iPhone and has a similar shape. It contains a nice sized touchscreen at 3.7 inches, a 5 megapixel camera, GPS, voice recognition and a decent amount of memory.

Google has priced the Nexus pretty high. It is by no means an inexpensive phone. It costs $529 (£331) if purchased directly from Google. Individuals that buy the phone through T-Mobile and who are willing to sign a two year contract with the company qualify for a significant price break. The price falls to $179 (£112).

Weighing only 133g, the Nexus One can be used effortlessly by you to make calls. The high definition screen allows you to watch movies and TV on the go, so you can keep yourself occupied on long journeys or other times you need to pass the time. When making a telephone call, the built in noise reduction technology will help you to have cleaner and less interrupted conversations. Using compression technology, the system filters out sounds which are in the higher frequencies that do not apply to the phone call, in particular line interference and background noise. The Nexus One is available on Vodafone in the United Kingdom, and T Mobile in the United states. Google have said that the phone is a “a point of convergence where the web meets phone and is an example of what is possible on mobile through Android.”.