Android 5.0 ‘Jelly Bean’ could push fragmentation to new heights

Despite the fact that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is only found on a handful of Android devices — Ice Cream Sandwich penetration currently sits at 1%, just as it did more than one month ago — a new report suggests Google is preparing to launch the next major build of its mobile platform as early as next quarter. Citing unnamed sources within Taiwan-based component suppliers, DigiTimes on Thursday reports that Google is likely to launch Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) in the second quarter. While details are still limited, the report claims Android 5.0 will again focus on tablets and introduce an interesting new feature. Read on for more.

Seemingly wary about the potential threat from Microsoft’s Windows 8 platform, Google’s next-generation Android OS will feature a new dual-boot function according to DigiTimes. Jelly Bean will reportedly be optimized for tablets and it will “integrate [Google's] Chrome system functions to push dual-operating system designs.” Google is supposedly planning to encourage vendors to build dual-boot devices, which would be able to run both Android 5.0 and Windows 8.

The report also suggests Google may be eying the notebook and netbook markets with Android 5.0. Android 3.0 Honeycomb was a tablet-only OS, and Google then unified its mobile platform with Android 4.0, which is optimized for both smartphones and tablets. This new report seems to suggest Google is shifting the focus of Android 5.0 back to tablets and maybe even to notebooks in light of Chrome OS’s slow adoption.

Android 5.0 may already be facing challenges, however, as the report claims Google’s Android partners are “turning conservative about Android 5.0″ due to Android 4.0′s slow adoption thus far. A number of vendors are currently working on updating their recent devices to Android 4.0, and several Ice Cream Sandwich-powered smartphones and tablets will be unveiled later this month at Mobile World Congress.

If DigiTimes’s report turns out to be accurate, Google could be pushing Android fragmentation to new heights with Jelly Bean. Vendors like Motorola plan to roll out Android 4.0 updates for their devices over the course of the second and third quarters, and Ice Cream Sandwich may already be obsolete by the time it finally arrives on these smartphones and tablets.

Android 4.0 Wiki Review

Android 4.0 – codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, and based on Linux kernel 3.0.1– was previewed at the May 2011 Google I/O event, and officially launched at the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich release event on 19 October 2011.

v4.0.1

The Galaxy Nexus introduced Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The SDK for Android 4.0.1 was publicly released on 19 October 2011. Google's Gabe Cohen stated that Android 4.0 was "theoretically compatible" with any Android 2.3.x device in production at that time. The source code for Android 4.0 became available on 14 November 2011, three days before the Galaxy Nexus was released^. New features included:

• Enhanced speed and performance
• Virtual buttons in the UI, in place of capacitive or physical buttons
• Separation of widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar manner to apps
• Easier-to-create folders, with a drag-and-drop style
• A customizable launcher
• Improved visual voicemail with the ability to speed up or slow down voicemail messages
• Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar
• Offline search, a two-line preview, and new action bar at the bottom of the Gmail app
• Ability to swipe left or right to switch between Gmail conversations
• Integrated screenshot capture (accomplished by holding down the Power and Volume-Down buttons)
• Improved error correction on the keyboard
• Ability to access apps directly from lock screen (similar to HTC Sense 3.x)
• Improved copy and paste functionality
• Better voice integration and continuous, real-time speech to text dictation
• Face Unlock, a feature that allows users to unlock handsets using facial recognition software
• New tabbed web browser, allowing up to 16 tabs
• Automatic syncing of browser with users' Chrome bookmarks
• A new typeface family for the UI, Roboto
• Data Usage section in settings that lets users set warnings when they approach a certain usage limit, and disable data use when the limit is exceeded
• Ability to shut down apps that are using data in the background
• Improved camera app with zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, panorama mode, and the ability to zoom while recording
• Built-in photo editor
• New gallery layout, organized by location and person
• Refreshed "People" app with social network integration, status updates and hi-res images
• Android Beam, a near-field communication feature allowing the rapid short-range exchange of web bookmarks, contact info, directions, YouTube videos and other data
• Hardware acceleration of the UI^.
• Resizeable widgets – already part of Android 3.1 for tablets, but new for cellphones.
• Wi-Fi Direct^.
• 1080p video recording for stock Android devices

v4.0.2

The Android 4.0.2 update was released on 28 November 2011, and fixed minor bugs on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, the US launch of which was later delayed until December 2011.

v4.0.3

The Android 4.0.3 update was first released on 16 December 2011^. It included a number of bug fixes and optimizations, and offered improvements to graphics, databases, spell-checking and Bluetooth functionality, along with new APIs for developers, including a social stream API in the Contacts provider. Other features included Calendar provider enhancements, new camera apps enhancing video stabilization and QVGA resolution, and accessibility refinements such as improved content access for screen readers.

From WIKIPEDIA.

Instal Android 4.0 In Samsung Galaxy S2

Proud owners of the Samsung Galaxy S2 will have more reasons to smile as an all-new unofficial Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy S2 is heading its way to consumers. The recent update follows in a timely fashion after the official announcement made by Samsung Electronics of staying true to its promise of giving its Galaxy devices a taste of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.


Sporting a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM, the Galaxy S2 is certainly a worthy device capable of yet another upgrade.  Taking its roots from the previous Android 4.0.3 ICS XXKP8 firmware upgrade, the improved version features various bug fixes from the latter.


For those of you who can’t wait for the official ICS upgrade to be released, then you can try the Android 4.0.3 XXKPA upgrade, but you will need to manually update your phone.  If you installed the XXKP8 firmware earlier, you can also update to this version  because firmware XXKPA reportedly fixes many of the bugs and issues in the earlier firmware version.


Although firmware XXKPA still has some bugs and issues, users have reported that most of the apps seem to work in this version.  Touch response and the user interface are also reportedly faster and smoother.  Battery life is also reportedly longer with this build, and it is more stable than the previous build.
Important Notes

Implications of Android 4.0

For legacy apps, Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich are designed to display a software Menu button to support the old Options Menu, but it doesn’t always seem to work correctly, as users of the Galaxy Nexus are discovering on certain popular apps such as Facebook. If the legacy Menu button doesn’t appear, users have no way to access your Options Menu, which is typically where developers like to stick the Settings.

Back when Honeycomb first came out, Google introduced developers to the Action Bar. The Action Bar was meant to replace the old Options Menu and was a smart move on Google’s part — the design gives developers a lot of flexibility. The Action Bar also eliminates one of the big downfalls of the old Options Menu by bringing previously hidden options to the forefront and making it obvious these options exist.

Snapshot from Android 4.0

Review Ice Cream Sandwich

Ice Cream Sandwich (or ICS) has included a huge amount of things to Android, from a new design and unified stylings to new functionality and features. Google has followed in the footsteps of Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” for tablets by shifting to blue as the primary color, as opposed to green in Android 2.3 “Gingerbread”. The blue design glows in a somewhat futuristic way, and interface elements are squarer and more angled than before.
Throughout all stock applications on ICS is seems like they have gone for several major styles, most of which differ to previous versions:

First android4.0 ICE CREAM SANDWICH

GALAXY Nexus is the world’s first device outfitted with the “Ice Cream Sandwich” OS. Users will be the first in line to enjoy the cutting edge user interface and new applications as they launch on Android Market.

Rockchip Aims for Android 4.0 Tablets Under $100

A company making ARM processors used in inexpensive Chinese tablets hopes to make a splash in the U.S. and Europe this year and drive down prices of Android 4.0 tablets to under US$100.

Chinese chip maker Rockchip will show close to 40 prototype tablets running Android 4.0 and Adobe Flash 11 at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The tablets will be based on the company's RK2918 chip.

LG smartphones to get Android 4.0 ICS

As Samsung and HTC get ready to launch Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates, LG has also announced plans to roll out Android updates for its smartphones. LG posted on its Facebook page that the upgrade will happen in the second quarter (April-June) and the third quarter (July-September)

of next year 2012.In the first phase, the new OS updates will be offered to Optimus LTE, Prada phone by LG 3.0, the LG Optimus 2X, the LG Optimus Sol, the LG my Touch Q and the LG Eclipse.

LG Optimus 3D, LG Optimus Black, LG Optimus Big, LG Optimus Q2 and LG Optimus EX will get the upgrade in the third quarter.

This comes as a surprise because LG smartphone users are stillawaiting the upgrade to Android 2.3 Gingerbread

Innovation

Innovation

Android is continuously driving innovation forward, pushing the boundaries of communication and sharing with new capabilities and interactions.

Android Beam for NFC-based sharing

Android Beam is an innovative, convenient feature for sharing across two NFC-enabled devices, It lets people instantly exchange favorite apps, contacts, music, videos — almost anything. It’s incredibly simple and convenient to use — there’s no menu to open, application to launch, or pairing needed. Just touch one Android-powered phone to another, then tap to send.
For sharing apps, Android Beam pushes a link to the app's details page in Android Market. On the other device, the Market app launches and loads the details page, for easy downloading of the app. Individual apps can build on Android Beam to add other types of interactions, such as passing game scores, initiating a multiplayer game or chat, and more.

Face recognition lets you unlock your phone with your face.

Cloud Connected

Cloud-connected experience

Android has always been cloud-connected, letting you browse the web and sync photos, apps, games, email, and contacts — wherever you are and across all of your devices. Android 4.0 adds new browsing and email capabilities to let you take even more with them and keep communication organized.

The Browser tabs menu (left) lets you quickly switch browser tabs. The options menu (right) gives you new ways to manage your browsing experience.

Benchmark comparisons of Android Browser.