So much was the hype for the most coveted installment of Android OS that everybody is lining up to see what's the fuss is all about. Introduced on the 2nd quarter of 2011 and released early on the 4th, the new Android version 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), was a spectacular phenomenon in the battleground of smartphone and tablet OSes. On the same year, Apple and Nokia also rolled-out upgraded OS versions for their flagship units but it was on Google Android's everybody's eyes were set on.
The ICS is perceived to be the missing link between smartphones and tablet Android operating systems and is aiming to unify both. The ICS is based on Gingerbread and Honeycomb versions with the intent to bring the whole tablet experience closer to the smartphone users. One benefit of this merger is the ease of porting updates on application developments for the device softwares, unquestionably good news on the developers' end. Although Android tablet users may not be much surprised with the features, the smartphone enthusiasts will definitely be caught in awe to see a totally revamped feature-rich tablet OS on their device. It is fast and sleek. To them, it will be Gingerbread on steroids!
Below are some of the features the new version has to offer:
Key features
- Optimized for smartphone and tablet use
- New user interface, with a new typeface called 'Roboto', updated animations, transition effects, multi-touch gestures and live wallpapers
- Improved multitasking
- New homescreen folders and favorites tray
- Improved lock screen with facial unlock
- Improved notification menu
- Resizable widgets, viewable through the application menu
- Built-in screenshot utility
- Improved text input and spell-checking
- Improved voice input
- Ability to monitor and control data usage
- Improved accessibility for disabled users
- New Peoples app
- Improved Gmail and Calendar app
- Improved web browser with ability to save web pages and incognito mode
- Visual voicemail
- Improved camera app with face detection and panorama mode
- Improved video recorder with continuous auto-focus, zooming while recording, snapshot while recording and time lapse mode
- Redesigned Gallery app with photo editor
- Android Beam for transferring data using NFC
- Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth HDP support
source: GSMArena
Initially bundled with the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus Prime, the ICS firmware upgrade will soon be available to a number of Android handsets and tablets of major players in hand-held devices manufacturing. Some of the newly released devices from other makers have already retailed the new operating system such as Ainol's NOVO7 tablet and Huawei's Ascend P1 S smartphone from China. So, hold on to your units as the ICS upgrade may just be around the corner and it will surely hold you back from buying a new gadget for a prolonged and indefinite period of time.
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