We get our first glimpse of Google's updated Android OS, version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and yes, it's tasty.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica is a passionate content strategist and team leader across the CNET family of brands. She leads a number of teams, including commerce, performance optimization and the copy desk. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on the iPhone and Samsung devices. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began her leadership role managing CNET's How To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones to home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the UK.
Google and Samsung announced Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tonight in Hong Kong. The latest version of Google's mobile operating system includes a ton of tasty new features. Here is a photo tour of some of the main highlights of Ice Cream Sandwich.
Google stressed again and again the "magazine-style" look of the Ice Cream Sandwich interface.
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Calendars
A new look to the calendar meets new capabilities. You can swipe to page through days and months and zoom in and out to drill down by days or hours.
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Beam it over
Android Beam is like Bump, an app we've seen for Android and iPhone, and also like a capability we saw with the HP TouchPad communicating with WebOS. Touch two Android 4.0 phones together to transfer things like contact details, maps, and even running apps (OK, well, you get the app or game page in the Android Market, but it's close.)
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Contact List
Google tears a page from Microsoft's book with a bold, new contact list and contact card style that reminds us very much of Windows Phone.
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Copy/paste
You'll recognize the copy/paste tags, but now you can drag and drop selected text to a new location.
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Camera app
Not only does the photo app get a new look, it also introduces panorama mode.
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Panorama in action
Here's the panorama tool in action, smoothly recording during the demo.
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Editing tools
Built-in editing tools live in the Gallery app and can do things like straighten your picture and reduce red eye.
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Facial unlocking
We're still unsure how we feel about this, but Ice Cream Sandwich can supposedly unlock your phone by recognizing your face. Except when it doesn't, as happened during the live demo. (De-nied!)
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Notifications
Google updated notifications, including the ability for you to nix them with a swipe gesture.
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People card
Let's take another look at this people card. Yep, looks like a Windows Phone clone to our eyes.
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Widgets
There's a whole mess of new things you can do with widgets, like resize them. This is something we also saw with the Samsung Galaxy S II.
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Screenshots!
Only geeky journalists like us could smile so widely at the mention of a long-overdue screenshot tool, and that's because we take so many. But sharing bugs and achievements with others is a great perk for anyone.
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Photo sharing
After taking the photo, press it to get instant sharing icons.
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Visual voicemail
Google has integrated visual voice mail playback into its phone app, including the ability to fast-forward through long-winded messages.
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Open apps
Look familiar? We really see Honeycomb's tablet influence in this view at open (and recently opened) apps.
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Folders
This time taking a page from Apple, Ice Cream Sandwich lets you build home page folders by dragging and dropping app icons on to one another. There are many more photos and hands-on impressions to come, so stick with CNET for all the Ice Cream Sandwich goodness.
