Google releases Android 2.3 Gingerbread SDK

Google has finally unveiled the long-awaited Android 2.3 operating system, more commonly known now as Gingerbread.

The Goog has implemented a lot of improvements and tweaks the Android platform in this release, detailed extensively over at the Android Developers blog. But here's a snippet of what developers can expect with the SDK/NDK, which is available now:

• Simplified user interface
• More "intuitive" text input plus a re-designed keyboard with multi-touch support
• VoIP calling support
• Video calling support via a front camera
• Cut-and-paste: one-touch word selection
• NFC support
• Application control manager
• Updated video drivers and other enhancements for improved gaming
• API support

All of this will be seen in action soon when the Nexus S smartphone debuts on December 16 as the lead device for the Gingerbread platform.

For a closer look at Android 2.3, check out Google's introduction video below: