ANDROID ICECREAM SANDWICH FEATURES

Last week Google and Samsung unveiled the Galaxy
Nexus, the first phone designed specifically with
Android 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) in mind.
Ice Cream Sandwich will, naturally, make its way to
other handsets when it's released to the public
sometime in November. As such, we're taking a look
at the latest Google Android mobile operating system.
Ice Cream Sandwich contains many new features, but
we've highlighted 10 of the tastiest, ranging from
wireless sharing to new widget management. Check
out the features and images below for a rundown on
the new operating system. Which is your favorite?
Face Unlock
Is swiping the home screen to unlock your phone
growing a bit tiresome? Ice Cream Sandwich's new
Face Unlock feature taps a phone's camera so that
users can log in by simply looking at the handset.
Don't worry, if you don't want to use your grill, you
can still use a code number (or a drawing interface) to
unlock the handset.
Android Beam
Ice Cream Sandwich leverages NFC (near-field
communication) technology that lets users share apps,
websites, YouTube videos, maps, directions, and more
by simply tapping two Android 4.0 phones together,
much like iOS's Bump It app.
New Browser Functionality
Android 4.0's Web browser has evolved to closely
match the desktop Chrome browser. Ice Cream
Sandwich includes Chrome sync (which keeps
bookmarks synced between your handset and desktop
browsers), a “full site" button (which let users switch
between desktop and mobile views), tabs, and a new
Incognito tab.
New Contacts and Social Networking Features
Ice Cream Sandwich's "People" streamlines the way
that contacts are displayed. Contact information is
culled from your social networking connections, plus
any other custom info that you'd like to manually add.
This data is displayed on cards (similar to Windows
Phone 7.5's tiles) that are updated when the contact
updates his or her social networking information.
Data Management
Bundled with Android 4.0 is a stock app that lets you
control network activity and view a specific app’s data
usage. What's the benefit of this? You can now set up
warnings (for when you begin to approach certain data
thresholds), and hard caps to avoid an overage-fee
pummeling.
New User Interface
Taking a cue from the Honeycomb tablet operating
system, Ice Cream Sandwich sports a sleek futuristic
design that more closely aligns the phone and slate
OSes. Android 4.0 also has a multitasking icon that
calls up your recently used apps, and eliminates the
need for physical keys, as it features adaptable
software buttons.
New Camera Capabilities
Have you ever wanted to take a photo with your
phone, but lost the moment due to the relatively
lengthy snap time? Ice Cream Sandwich aims to
eliminate that with swift, multiple shot shooting that
plays catch up with the recently released Apple iOS 5.
Android 4.0 also packs a new filter-filled photo editor,
and a particularly cool sounding feature: an image
rotator that spins the photo based on where your eyes
are looking.
Speech
Does Apple iOS 5's Siri have voice control competition
in Ice Cream Sandwich? That remains to be seen, but
Android 4.0’s live voice-to-speech feature lets
smartphone users create e-mail, texts, and perform
other functions simply by speaking. This should
(hopefully) make dictation and messaging a swifter,
more streamlined affair.
Simple Screenshots
Android finally lets you take screenshots without
requiring users to install apps, pull hair, or gnash teeth.
How is it done? Users (especially hardworking Android
app reviewers) will appreciate the operating system’s
ability to grab a screenshot by simultaneously holding
power and volume-down buttons.
Widget Management
Ice Cream Sandwich gives you widget flexibility by
letting you select the size of displayed information on
the home screens. Android 4.0 makes it easier to place
widgets on the desktop; you simply press and hold the
screen which opens a menu that reveals all of the
widgets.