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The state of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates

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The state of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) is a big update to Android for handsets. So big, that it's got some phone makers hesitant whether they'd even update their devices to the new version. First, it was LG which dropped the bomb on Facebook by saying it's not going to update its LG Optimus 2X flagship. The company quickly changed its position and is "currently in the process of planning the ICS OS update for the LG Optimus 2X as well as other LG high-end smartphones," according to a note which also appeared on the social network.

But it's not just LG – pretty much every other major phone maker has been vague about updating its handsets to ICS. HTC, which was recently ranked as the number one smartphone vendor in the States, judging by smartphone shipments, said it "has been looking closely at the new OS's features and functionality to determine our upgrade plans." The Taiwanese are likely to update their high-end handsets, but when it comes to exact models the company says it needs more time: "Our goal is to upgrade as many HTC devices as possible and we'll be sharing details on specific devices and timing in the coming weeks!"

Update HTC: HTC has announced that it's Sensation series will be the first to get ICS by the end of March. It has also added more handsets to its list of ICS-eligible devices, which will get updated later in 2012.

Samsung, which has gathered some negative PR after some of last year's Galaxy S models took a long while to get bumped up to new Android versions, has now said that its top-tier smartphones will get Android 4.0. The list includes all 9xxx models, so that means that last year's Samsung Galaxy S in all of its flavors should also be bumped up to the new Android.

Motorola, which is now closer to Google than any other phone manufacturer, seems to be the only company which has given us exact time frames. Moto has pledged to deliver ICS updates six weeks after Google pushes the public release.

Sony Ericsson has also given us a vague promise that it will bring ICS to its devices, but there it seems that the situation will depend a lot on Sony, which is taking over the company in the near future.


With so much uncertainty, we've decided to post a table of everything we know about Android Ice Cream Sandwich updates on various handsets and tablets. We'll update it as soon as we hear about a particular devices getting the update or being denied, so make sure to bookmark it and check back every once in a while. Below, you'll find what we know so far. But now it's back to you, do you care about your device receiving ICS? Would the ambiguity of ICS updates only boost Android fragmentation? Chime in with your opinions on the issue in the comments below.


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72 Comments

1. bobfreking55 posted on 02 Nov 2011, 09:44 5 1

Why does Sony Ericsson get sure updates usually? the x10 was supposed to be up to 2.1, then all of the sudden there is gingerbread.

ICS FOR ATRIX PLEASE. Motorola!!!

35. choupino posted on 02 Nov 2011, 19:16 3 1

bobfrekin55 READ CAREFULLY: "Motorola, which is now closer to Google than any other phone manufacturer, seems to be the only company which has given us exact time frames. Moto has pledged to deliver ICS updates six weeks after Google pushes the public release."

If you own a Motorola Atrix 4G, that pertains to you. It clearly states that you have the device from the only manufacturer that has a clear update time frame. RELAX. :)

37. KingKurogiii posted on 02 Nov 2011, 21:34 5 1

it actually does not pertain to the Motorola Atrix. it uses a Nvidia Tegra II processor. the phones that were confirmed to be getting the updates 6 weeks after it's release are the Droid Bionic and the Droid Razr both of which use the OMAP4 processor that ICS was made to work with from the ground up.

62. VZWuser76 posted on 10 Feb 2012, 12:53

Maybe I'm not understanding, but public release of ICS was December 15th, 2011 (Galaxy Nexus on Verizon), not counting the presser in Asia a month earlier. If that's the case they're already late then aren't they? Currently we're at week 8.

43. ivanprskalo posted on 03 Nov 2011, 11:19

Because they work and it seem they care now...

44. Droidude posted on 03 Nov 2011, 23:49 2

Will the Droid 3 be updated? The software is pretty similiar to the Bionic. I would be really happy if that were to happen at some point. The Droid 3 has been really good since the software update.

45. KingKurogiii posted on 04 Nov 2011, 00:15 1 1

i'm sure it will be it's just not confirmed yet. that's all this list is made of is devices actually confirmed to be getting the update.

2. remixfa posted on 02 Nov 2011, 09:44 7

you forgot the original galaxyS which samsung also pledged to support with ICS with their "all 9xxx series phones will have ICS"
(it is the exact same thing as the nexus S after all )

4. roldefol posted on 02 Nov 2011, 09:58 11

This brings up a very very good question about ICS re: skins. ICS is a fully developed UI in a way 2.x was not. I suspect some of the skins like TouchWiz and Optimus came about because people were expecting (or the manufacturers *thought* we were expecting) a friendly iOS-like UI. Others like Sense evolved from custom WinMo skins legacy smartphone owners were accustomed to. So now that ICS comes along with its own solid look and feel, menu animations and the like, what will become of skinning in general?

Is there a concern that the move from the existing 2.x skin to stock ICS would be too jarring for current owners? I suspect in Samsung's case, they'll adapt ICS to TouchWiz's bright, AMOLED-friendly scheme. Ditto HTC and Sense - someone who's used to seeing Sense might not like the coolness of stock ICS. But Gingerblur is a pretty serious, cool UI to begin with, so Moto may be a great fit for stock ICS (as well they should be, should the Google acquisition go through).

6. terabyteRouser posted on 02 Nov 2011, 10:05 7

You're absolutely right. ICS makes all of these skins arguably useless.

8. roldefol posted on 02 Nov 2011, 10:12 5

Arguably, yes, but not entirely. Sense is an integral part of the HTC look/feel/experience. I can't see HTC giving it up just because stock is now just as functional. And I believe Samsung will keep using TouchWiz to appeal to the masses who like the iOS look and feel.

I don't think skins are going away, and that means much longer waits for ICS on 2.x devices.

21. remixfa posted on 02 Nov 2011, 11:13 3 2

hopefully they will take the same route as Samsung did with honeycomb and just add the widgets and only do very very minor changes to differentiate. the less they change, the faster future updates can come. :)

70. Lucas777 posted on 12 Feb 2012, 02:30

but then how will manufacturers differentiate themselves? if nobody used skins then there would be no difference between many android devices

9. Victor.H posted on 02 Nov 2011, 10:17 7

Thanks, remixfa, I've added the Galaxy S to the table as well. I just wish Samsung said when will those updates start rolling out!

22. remixfa posted on 02 Nov 2011, 11:15 2 1

absolutely. ;-)

who knows.. lol. if history is an example, korea will see it Q1, europe Q2, and america will get it through samsung's constant leaks to samsungfirmwares.com and XDA since american carriers seem to hate to allow phones to update for some reason

26. windowsRocks posted on 02 Nov 2011, 11:52 1 3

I dont see Galaxy S2 in the list however it should be added first

54. PostalJim posted on 10 Feb 2012, 03:00 2

I dont trust anything Samsung says. My son now has my Infuse and I'm still waiting for GINGERBREAD on that!!!! They implied it would get GB almost a year ago!

39. GoodFella posted on 02 Nov 2011, 23:26 3 1

I am curious to see what the next cyanogenmod will look like after they put ICS on steroids

3. avmitking posted on 02 Nov 2011, 09:52 2

One more devise has rumor to have ICS, Notio Ink's Adam tablet

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Notion-Ink-chief-confirms-Google-seeding-of-ICS-to-be-on-the-Adam-in-November_id22203

16. Victor.H posted on 02 Nov 2011, 10:24 2

Now it's in the list! Thanks!

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