Google Finalizing the “Cupcake” Android Update – Includes Virtual Keyboard

As I’ve been reading more about the T-Mobile G2 plans, I’ve been running across mention-after-mention of this “Cupcake” branch of the Android OS that Google has been working on that will include a lot of updates that people have been wanting – most notably the addition of the virtual keyboard finally. The benefit there for G1 users being that they don’t have to always flip their phone open to type and the benefit for HTC Magic / G2 users is that wth a touch-screen only device, like the iPhone, the HTC Magic will require a virtual keyboard before it can come to market.

You can catch the keyboard in action here:

Overall looking good. A common comment might be “It’s a keyboard, how hard can that be?”, I’d say pretty damn hard to get *great* and easy to get mediocre to crappy.

Rumors put the “Cupcake” release of Android to rollout more or less any-day-now as it was originally expected late-January. Given that the T-Mobile G2/HTC Magic is guesstimated to be due for May, I’d say between now and April we should expect that OS update to roll out — most likely earlier if the G2 is shipping with it.

Thanks Boy Genius Report!