Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich now official, includes revamped design, enhancements galore

By Brad Molen posted Oct 18th 2011 10:25PM Google has taken the stage in Hong Kong to make the next version of Android OS, nicknamed Ice Cream Sandwich, a thing of reality. Better known as Android 4.0, the update offers a massive redesign to the user interface and adds a plethora of new features. Some of the highlights include an NFC-enabled feature called Android Beam, offline search in Gmail, new lock screen features and a fancy unlocking method called "Face Unlock," which uses facial recognition to ensure strangers can't use your phone without permission. Ice Cream Sandwich also includes enhancements in almost every native app within Android itself. The SDK is already available for Android 4.0, and the update itself will make its first public appearance on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, also unveiled tonight. After the break, we'll cover all of the nitty gritty details, along with some excellent screenshots below. So come along, why won't you?


Here's some of the enhancements found in Ice Cream Sandwich: Option to use virtual buttons in the UI, instead of taking up capacitive touch buttonsWidgets are in a new tab, listed in a similar list to appsFolders are much easier to create, with a drag-and-drop style similar to iOSA customizable launcherNew phone app with visual voicemail functionality that lets you speed up or slow down voicemail messagesPinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendarGmail has offline search, a two-line preview, and new action bar at the bottomSwipe left or right to switch between Gmail conversationsIntegrated screenshot capture by holding power and volume down buttonsImproved error correction on the keyboardAbility to access apps directly from lock screen (similar to HTC Sense 3.x)Improved copy and pasteBetter voice integrationFace Unlock, a facial recognition serviceNew tabbed web browser, allowing up to 16 tabsBrowser now automatically syncs your Chrome bookmarksModern "Roboto" fontData Usage section in settings lets you set warnings when you reach a certain amount of use and disabling data when you go over your limitAbility to kill off apps that are using data in the backgroundCamera app: zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, zoom while recordingBuilt-in photo editorNew gallery layout, organized by location and personRefreshed people app with social network integration, status updates and hi-res imagesAndroid Beam, a NFC feature that lets you exchange websites, contact info, directions, YouTube, etc.