Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Fo those of you who thought the previous of android was a little hard to use. Android 4.0 Ice cream sandwich is a game changer. With and improved main screen nearly all of the OS has been reimaged (for the better). You have 5 home screens. Each supports up up to 16 shortcusts. Other than that everything else is updated. System icons are more brilliant, with bright colors and three-dimensional textures. New transitions and animations are spread throughout the OS.
Added Voice Actions (been there for over a year). Adds the following voice controls for the following items.
- send text to [contact] [message]
- listen to [artist/song/album]
- call [business]
- call [contact]
- send email to [contact] [message]
- go to [website]
- note to self [note]
- navigate to [location/business name]
- directions to [location/business name]
- map of [location]
It’s a free downloadable application for users of Android 2.2 and newer
While updating 16 of it’s HTCs phones, The following are also scheduled to also get the upgrade
Besides the Sensation family, the other phones that will eventually get the upgrade are the Droid Incredible 2, Amaze 4G, Desire S, Desire HD, EVO 3D, EVO Design 4G, Incredible S, Raider, Rezound, Rhyme, Thunderbolt and Vivid.
Gone are the Buttons we have become used to. Say hello to Icons. You can delete apps by dragging and dropping. Rename by touching. The voice recognition also provides input. If it doesn’t understand a word it underlines for you to later correct manually or by choosing alternatives. A built in spell chacker is also included.
Another nice feature: When your phone is locked and you receive a call, the lock screen features a new text-and-reject feature that simultaneously declines the call and sends a message to the person explaining why you can’t talk. You can pick from a list of generic responses or add your own custom message. (You can permanently edit/change the list of default responses by going into the settings section of the Phone app.)
Facial recognition is also added.
A new camera app is also added. One of the high points is the newly implemented support for zero shutter lag. The Camera app has a single-motion panorama mode, also, that lets you take wide-perspective images. All you do is tap the panorama icon and press the shutter button, then move your camera slowly across the area you want to capture. When you’re finished, you tap the shutter once more, and the software puts the whole thing together into a single seamless image. It works amazingly well.
The Camera has new video-related tools as well, including a snapshot-capturing utility that lets you grab still images while you’re recording video.
Ice Cream Sandwich also includes native photo and video editing tools.
Some HTC updates are out now. If you have and HTC phone check the HTC site for updates. (also you can check for update on your phones setting menu.)
I personally cannot wait for my update for my sensation.
