

The latest giant lawn decoration at the Google Campus is of a Gingerbread man.

Speaking at the Web 2.0 Summit currently taking place in San Francisco until the 17th of November, Google CEO and Chairman of the Board Eric Schmidt confirmed that version 2.3 of the company's open source mobile operating system code named "Gingerbread", previously thought to be Android 3.0, will be launching "in the next few weeks". Gingerbread will be the next major update to Android and a number of application developers have already started to release Gingerbread compatible updates for their apps, such as version 2.5.1 of Adobe Air for Android.

Following leaked images and details about a new Nexus device, dubbed the "Nexus S", that appeared late last week, Schmidt showed off the new device running on US GSM carrier T-Mobile. The CEO revealed that the device would contain Near Field Communication (NFC) chips – a technology that Schmidt believes will in future replace credit cards – for fast, short range wireless transmissions, but called it an "unannounced phone" from an "unannounced manufacturer". Engadget notes that the device logo was taped over. The current Nexus One is produced by HTC while the Nexus S is reportedly manufactured by Samsung.

In other Android related news, Dell has started to roll out its Android 2.2 update including the new Stage UI for unlocked versions of the Dell Streak tablet. Code named "Froyo" (for frozen yoghurt) 2.2 is the latest stable version of Android. It was released at this year's Google I/O developer conference and first arrived on the company's Nexus One smartphone.

Update: A video of Eric Schmidt speaking about Android, NFC and associated subjects at the Web 2.0 Summit is now available on YouTube.

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(crve)