A giant gingerbread man statue has recently been spotted on the lawn outside of the Google offices. What does this mean? As history has shown, the arrival of a confectionary mascot on Google’s premise means that an update to their mobile operating system, Android, is in the works. The last update, Android 2.2, codenamed "Froyo” followed the previous version, Android 2.1 Éclair. This means that Android 2.3 Gingerbread is undoubtedly on the horizon.

Google, however, is being strategically coy, saying nothing but "We’ve been baking something.. and it’s pretty sweet.” So, for now, practically everything that’s been published about Android Gingerbread has been pure speculation. Many hopefuls are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of an Android tablet to challenge the iPad. Others are licking their chops in expectation of the Google Nexus Two, to be released sometime in early November. But for now, no one has the official word and we’ll just have to wait and see.

Of course, since most major version releases are geared towards fixing bugs and adding features in high demand, there are some upgrades that seem probable. For example, many Android users have complained about battery drainage issues when syncing their Android smartphone with an Exchange e-mail server that has a large inbox. Android 2.3 is also expected to step it up in terms of VoIP and video chat in order to reach parity with iOS 4, which introduced Face Time for iPhone 4 users. Another much coveted feature is the ability to quickly and easily update the Android firmware on older phones. Many early adopters of Android phones have been stuck in version 1.5 or 1.6 due to there being no accessible means for upgrading the firmware without going through the carrier.

Lastly, many Android hopefuls are wishing for more integration with Google Apps. Google already has a massive share of the market in terms of Maps, Gmail, Calendars, Docs, Google Voice and other great features that work well on all desktops, but only on some phones. Being the official mobile operating system of Google, Android phones should work smoothly with each of these apps.

Some confirmed features have come out of the woodwork, such as WebM video playback support, improved social media functionality and improved copy-paste functions. Unconfiremd features include support for Google TV, a new Android Marketplace music store to compete with iTunes and support for 3-D gaming.