Google announced today that they will delay the release of the source code for Google's Honeycomb 3.0 meaning that we will not be seeing it on smartphones for a while as they need to perfect it for non-tablet devices.
This obviously this won't effect the current crop for first generation of Honeycomb tablets, but isn't good news for smartphone makers who want to get the new OS on their new phones as soon as possible.
Android 3.0 Honeycomb has been designed specifically for tablets so it’s no surprise that Google need some time to iron some kinks and getting work perfectly for small screens and smaller devices.
In an emailed statement, a Google spokeswoman said: “While we’re excited to offer these new features to Android tablets, we have more work to do before we can deliver them to other device types including phones.”
The news of Google’s decision to delay Android 3.0 comes on the day that Apple’s Ipad 2 goes on sale in the UK and 24 other countries. For Apple, news of the Android 3.0 delay must be just the cherry on the cake, as they are expected to reveal bumper first weekend sales of its iPad 2 next week.
Google stated that it remains committed to providing Android as an open platform across many device types, adding that it will make Honeycomb available as open-source software as soon as it is ready.
Third-party developers that make games and other applications for the Android operating system also won't be affected because they do not need access to the source code to build their products.