Google to launch Android 3.0 'Honeycomb' soon

Google plans to launch Android 3.0, or "Honeycomb," at an event at its headquarters on Feb. 2.

Google sent out invitations to journalists on Friday, along with the new logo for the operating system - an Android-like honeybee. The new operating system is expected in several tablets; it isn't known whether Google will eventually bring the OS to smartphones.

Google released its Honeycomb software developers kit (SDK) on Wednesday, a good indication that the Honeycomb software was en route. Highlights of the SDK include: a UI framework for creating great apps for larger screen devices; high-performance 2D and 3D graphics; support for multicore processor architectures; rich multimedia; new types of connectivity; and enhancements for enterprise.

Honeycomb is expected to usher in a new generation of Android devices, although how successful they will be in the face of the iPad is anybody's guess. According to a recent IDC survey, price will be the distinguishing feature of Android tablets, not the new Honeycomb OS.

Google's Mike Cleron demonstrated Honeycomb on an unnamed tablet at this year's CES, where a number of tablets either used or pledged to use Honeycomb, including the Motorola Xoom, the LG G-Slate, and Eee-branded products from Asus.

Honeycomb was originally expected to require a powerful processor, but so far there apparently is no "hard" specification for processor requirements.

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