The Google-sponsored Android mobile Linux project has released a rough-hewn Early Look version of the Android 1.5 SDK.

The platform of Android 15, which has the code name Cupcake, includes a number of new and improved tools, including faster Gmail conversation list scrolling and user interface refinements to the browser and other elements.

It will also include home-screen widgets, speech recognition, live folders, and soft keyboards. The SDK, which can be downloaded today from the Android Developers site, also features new programming tools.

A complete list of changes can be found here.

No mention was made as to when Android 1.5 will be available on domestic handsets.

The “early look” SDK 1.5 can be downloaded here.

Google Software Android