Google announces Android Ice Cream Sandwich and Honeycomb 3.1, promises timely updates
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It's not just bringing over the good stuff like the holographic UI and richer widgets from Android Honeycomb, the tablet version, but adding a few new features of its own.
Speaking of Honeycomb, it is getting updated to 3.1 as of this moment, and users of the Motorola XOOM on Verizon can get the update right now. It adds USB host support to Android, for hooking up tens of peripherals like cameras, keyboards and game controllers directly to your Android tablet. Some of the other new features are cosmetic - the widgets can now be customized to stretch vertically or horizontally any way the developers like. Some include new apps, like Movie Studio for video editing, new Movies and Books apps, for renting said media, and a faster browser with new Quick Controls settings. Not to mention that Honeycomb is heading to Google TV as well, if that ever takes off.
Ice Cream Sandwich, in its turn, was just called Google's "most ambitious release to date", and the aim is for it to power tablets, convertible tablets, and, of course, phones. Google will be ramping up its efforts developing the application framework, to avoid fragmentation. Mike Claron from the Android Engineering Team said that Google wants one OS that runs on everything.
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The practical approach to this API was when a camera app was shown, that automatically focuses on the face of the person that is talking at the moment, and it worked pretty neat and fluid.
The biggest news for us, however, was that Google sat down with cell phone manufacturers, carriers and other members of the Open Handset Alliance, and is coming up with strict system how soon after the release of a new Android version handsets will be updated, and for how long will they be supported with new versions. In the case of the abovementioned manufacturers their phones will be included in the timely updates project for at least 18 months after initial launch, provided that the hardware can handle the new versions. Android Ice Cream Sandwich (notice that no numbered version was mentioned), will be hitting smartphones and tablets some time in Q4 of this year.
Yes, this group includes Samsung and Sony Ericsson, to answer your most burning question, but HTC, LG, Motorola, Vodafone, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile are also onboard, hopefully putting an end to the mess that Android updates have become. At the end, each of the attendees were promised to receive the insanely thin, and yet-unreleased Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which will be getting its Android 3.1 Honeycomb update very soon, said Google's Hugo Barra, flashing the audience with one of said tablets.
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90 Comments
1. Thump3rDX17 posted on 10 May 2011, 12:07 5 0
hallelujah brothers and sisters! a new age has dawned! :D
3. protozeloz posted on 10 May 2011, 12:26 5 0
They are listening, I freaging new this IO was to be an important step with the OS
4. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 10 May 2011, 12:33 5 0
Everything I was reading in this article is exactly what I wanted Google to do to Android & Honeycomb. Google means business & it's about time they addressed the update scandal with BOTH the carriers & phone manufactures. I can't wait until I have the HTC Evo 3D with some Ice Cream Sandwich on the side. WOW this summer is going to be sweet with an Ice Cream Sandwich flavored Android!
lol
17. Lucas777 posted on 10 May 2011, 20:59 2 2
u read its not coming out to Q4 right? plus the time it takes to update
20. protozeloz posted on 10 May 2011, 21:13 2 0
Q4 could mean its going to give time to prepare the manufacturers, so updates roll out faster, why release it now when the plans for timely updates are not completely set. and its better for them to give some time
30. Lucas777 posted on 10 May 2011, 23:06 2 2
exactly... i am not arguing that... i am saying he wont have it in the summer
45. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 11 May 2011, 08:51 2 1
Yes you are right, I meant to say that it's going to be sweet to have the HTC Evo 3D this summer & on Q4 hopefully upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich. I just go too excited. lol
Thanks for checking up on me!
50. Lucas777 posted on 11 May 2011, 18:22 1 1
no problem
5. ralphyd (unregistered) posted on 10 May 2011, 12:34 1 2
I known they said the verizon xoom would be getting the new update shortly but does anyone know if the wifi version will as well?
6. protozeloz posted on 10 May 2011, 12:46 0 0
probably the will start rolling out really soon =)
27. deadinside (unregistered) posted on 10 May 2011, 22:32 1 1
This is what a goggle rep sent me when I try to download a movie---
-Android 3.1 software update (Will be available for all Xoom devices in the next few days!)
7. Aswin (unregistered) posted on 10 May 2011, 13:31 3 3
Now that was a real surpise news from Google.. Just can't wait to see Ice Cream Sandwich running on my Nexus S :)
9. Sniggly posted on 10 May 2011, 15:47 4 2
Google/Android: giving ifanboys less and less to brag about/poke fun at since 2008.
18. Lucas777 posted on 10 May 2011, 21:01 1 7
funny how android is always playing catch up... never really does anything without the iphone doing it first... for example unifying the os? that shuda been done from day one... ios did so therefor android must do it...
21. protozeloz posted on 10 May 2011, 21:21 5 1
lets count
-flash is not on iOS
-tether was introduced on iOS this year
-multitasking was done first on android
-widgets
-cloud services dont exist on iOS yet
-differences between tablet UI and mobile UI
-non intrusive notifications
-OTA
-NFC
-no menu hardware keys on a device but a bar that will move to a much convenient position when turned from protait to landscape
yeah i guess you are right
31. Lucas777 posted on 10 May 2011, 23:12 1 7
well lets count with cydia since android is allowed whatever they want--
-has had tethering forver
-flash on cydia (and anyways it is bad on all mobile devices)
-ever heard of backgrounder?
-widgets are pointless when u cud just press the app (and if u need them for notifications there are better options like lockinfo)
-mobile me? what cloud services does android do that iphone doesnt?
-oh and have u ever used an ipad? ever opened the mail app? is it just me or do they look different?
-notifications are one of the downfalls, but there is this awesome cydia app that makes the -notificaitons perfect--i will show u if u want
-OTA? thats what u dont want! my iphone is on the latest software! is ur android?
-NFC? what has NFC? WHo uses NFC? i understand the nexus s ha it but can it use it? no?
-I dont even know what u said for ur last point... and that is just a personal preference... ios is perfect with one button while android is perfect with four...
so do u have anything else?
34. Sniggly posted on 11 May 2011, 01:38 1 1
Yeah. Android got out dual core processors before iPhone. As well as 4G connectivity, customization options, 8 meg+ cameras, expandable memory, music syncing without requiring a special service, bigger screens, a true focus on phone specs...yeah, Apple doesn't do everything first, and that's just in comparison to Android.
