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Donut SDK for Google's Android ready

Google's latest version of Android, version 1.6, is now available via a software development kit for developers to use prior to wider availability in October.

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
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Tom Krazit

Google announced Tuesday that the Donuts are ready.

Those smartphone developers waiting for the next version of Android, code-named Donut, will not have to wait any longer now that the Android 1.6 software development kit is available for download. As expected, Donut is not a major release of Android but adds a few goodies that developers might want to consider.

For example, Android can now run on CDMA phones used by the likes of Verizon and Sprint, adding more potential partners to the Android world. The latest release also adds a text-to-speech API (application programming interface) for developers to use in building applications, as well as support for a newer version of the Android Market and an improved search box.

Developers can download the SDK here. Phones running Donut are expected to arrive around October, Google said, which lines up well with the expected launch time frame for phones like Motorola's Cliq. Google has said it wants to release two major updates to Android a year, with the first major release of 2009, code-named Cupcake, having arrived in May.