There's nothing like an Ice Cream Sandwich in the summertime, and a taste of Android 4.0 (a.k.a "Ice Cream Sandwich") is coming soon for smartphones made by two of the world's largest mobile manufacturers.
The latest version of the Android operating system has been available for months -- it was unveiled, remember, by Google at a Hong Kong event way back in October. So far, however, adoption rates have been low, sitting at just below 5 percent, as many manufacturers have struggled to adapt ICS for their respective devices in a timely fashion.
It appears, however, that Motorola and LG are finally getting with the times: Both provided new info about Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades, with Motorola even showing off its long-awaited flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich for its popular Droid Razr phone in a YouTube video.
In a post on Motorola Japan, the now-Google-owned mobile maker outlined its big plans for Ice Cream Sandwich on the Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx. Razr owners (ownrs?) can expect a new lock screen and home screen, several updated applications including an improved browser and easier homescreen customization. But why take my word for it when you can SEE what's changing?
Watch (and, if you speak Japanese, listen) below:
The update schedule remains unchanged -- Motorola still expects Ice Cream Sandwich to hit both the Droid Razr and the Droid Razr Maxx by the end of June. Now, however, you can check out some of the features coming in that update at an official Motorola landing page (in Japanese, translated to rough English via Google Translate).
Meanwhile, in the same week that it is celebrating the sale of its three millionth LTE device, LG has also announced that a few of those devices will indeed be getting ICS, ending months of conjecture. The Optimus LTE, the Optimus LTE Tag, and the 5-inch Optimus Vu will all receive an Ice Cream Sandwich update, beginning as soon as June 4, per a (translated) news release.
A few other bullet-point notes on Ice Cream Sandwich updates and non-updates:
- Sony has announced in a blog post that its Xperia Play "Playstation Phone" will not be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich.
- Sony's Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia mini, Xperia mini pro, Xperia pro and Xperia active will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich, however, starting as soon as Friday, June 1st.
- For Verizon customers, the Google/Samsung collabo Galaxy Nexus should be updated to Android 4.0.4 in the coming weeks.
That's all the Ice Cream Sandwich news we have for now. With the next version of Android -- Android 4.1, or "Jelly Bean" -- looming, these Android makers and mobile carriers better hustle, or they may find themselves implementing an operating system "update" that isn't even current, or "up-to-date," anymore.
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