After Samsung launched its Galaxy Nexus at the flashy Android event across the Pacific in Hong Kong, Google execs took the stage to announce Ice Cream Sandwich, the next version of the mobile operating system.
Ice Cream Sandwich brings some of the most dramatic changes to Android we’ve seen since the OS moved from version 1.6 to version 2.0. Everything from core applications to how you unlock the device has been transformed. If you’re one of the lucky people upgrading from an Android 2.x device to Android 4.0, here are a few things you should be aware of -
PcWorld Link.
Here's an almost-complete list of Ice Cream Sandwich features -
Virtual buttons in the user experience free up display space
Create folders by dragging apps on top of each other
A new tab for thumbing through your widgets
Calendar app now supports pinch-to-zoom
Gmail gets offline search (nice), a two-line preview, and gesture support for swiping between conversations
The revamped Gmail user interface has an action bar for composing a message, searching, and accessing labels
Take screenshots by holding power and volume down buttons (finally!)
"Request desktop site" in the Chrome browser opens the full version of a Web site and syncs with your bookmarks
Save Web pages offline and use up to 16 tabs in the browser
More keyboard error correction and an inline spell check
Access apps directly from the lock screen
A recent applications icon
"Roboto" is a new typeface
Delete individual notifications by dragging them off the notifications menu
Improved voice integration and copy and paste
Face Unlock is a facial recognition service that use your face to unlock the phone
New Data Usage options in the Settings menu will notify users when they near a data use limit and disable the feature when the limit is reached
You can kill off apps that are using data in the background
Open the camera quickly from the home screen
Camera has no shutter lag, continuous focus, zoom while recording, panorama photos, time lapse settings, and 1080p recording
Face detection in the camera
Integrated photo editor including focus and exposure and "hipster filters" (we don't want to know)
New gallery layout, organized by location and person
People app brings together high-res photos, social media information, and status updates
Phone app lets you swipe between favorite friends with integrated visual voice mail
New photo gallery layout for organizing by location and person
Speed up and slow down voice mails
Quick message sends canned response text message when you decline a call
Android Beam, an NFC feature for exchanging information between two phones by tapping them
check out the video
!FAQs
Google's latest version of Android, Android 4.0 dubbed "Ice Cream Sandwich," is officially about to come out. Here are three questions people have been asking.
Will I get it?
The first phone to get Ice Cream Sandwich will be the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which will come with Google’s operating system natively installed.
Google has confirmed that Ice Cream Sandwich will also come to the Nexus S, according to Engadget. Two Google officials told the site that the company is "Currently in the process for releasing Ice Cream Sandwich for Nexus S. Theoretically it should work for any 2.3 device."
HTC has also released a statement regarding its plans to update phones to Ice Cream Sandwich:
“We are excited about the latest update for Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, and are currently reviewing its features and functionality to determine our upgrade plans. Our goal for Android updates is to give every customer an improved user experience, which means balancing each phone's unique hardware, HTC Sense experience and the Android kernel. While our goal is to upgrade as many of our recent devices as possible, we are committed to maintaining every phone's performance and usability first. Please stay tuned for more updates on specific device upgrade plans.”
In other words, it sounds like HTC has no plans, as of yet, to update its devices. It sounds like HTC isn't sure what it's going to do, and that it may be slow in pushing out updates.
When will I get it?
We still don't know when Ice Cream Sandwich will drop, but Google's Eric Schmidt said in September that it would be appearing "sometime in October or November." Since the Galaxy Nexus is the first phone that will have Ice Cream Sandwich, and it's dropping in November, we can only assume this means the first Ice Cream Sandwich updates will start rolling out in November at the earliest.
Google has also released the Android 4.0 Software Development Kit (SDK), which developers can download here.
Is Ice Cream Sandwich radically different?
Yes. Ice Cream Sandwich completely redesigns and refreshes Android.
A big feature update is the addition of nonphysical navigation buttons. Google hasn't yet explained how or if this will work with phones that currently have physical navigation buttons (such as the Droid X), so if your phone has physical navigation buttons you may not want to get too excited.
Check out some tips and shortcuts for Android 2.3 users Google has posted to help you navigate the many changes you'll see on your device.
Thanks Cnet, Pcworld
screenshots @ PcWorld, Engadget
Downlaod ICS source code here
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Find out the devices that have been given the stamp of approval by the manufacturers below -
ASUS
Confirmed :
Padfone
EedPad Transformer
Transformer Prime
HTC
Confirmed :
HTC Rezound
HTC Vivid
HTC Sensation
HTC Sensation XL
HTC Sensation XE
HTC EVO 3D
HTC EVO Design 4G
HTC Amaze 4G
HTC Incredible S
HTC Desire HD
HTC Desire S
LG
Confirmed :
Optimus 2X
Optimus Black
Optimus 3D
Optimus LTE
Prada phone by LG 3.0
Optimus Sol
LG My Touch Q
LG Eclipse
Optimus Big
Optimus Q2
Optimus EX
Motorola
Confirmed :
Droid Razr
Droid Bionic
Xoom tablet series
Samsung
Confirmed :
Galaxy Nexus
Nexus S
Galaxy S2
Galaxy Note
Galaxy R
Sony Ericsson
Confirmed :
2011 Xperia lineup