OS updates

An hour-long event in Hong Kong yesterday revealed a brave new world for Android smartphones.

Yesterday's launch of the Samsung Nexus smartphone and new details about Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has the tech community buzzing. Executives from both companies detailed the most cohesive strategy yet for the smartphone platform, which you can fully watch in the embedded video above.… Read more

commentary The more popular Android becomes, the more it seems to suffer from an identity crisis.

Android 4.0 is designed to be more approachable than its precursors, opening up Google's operating system to a broader market. But that shift toward the mainstream market is hobbled by techie-focused marketing messages.

The design of Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich, manifested in the Samsung Galaxy Nexus due out in November, indicates that Google is trying to aim Android for that broader market. It's designed to be more physical, with touch actions letting people do what they want without … Read more

After Samsung launched its Galaxy Nexus at the flashy Android event across the Pacific in Hong Kong, Google execs took the stage to announce Ice Cream Sandwich, the next version of the mobile operating system.

Also, called Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich is clearly designed to unify the Android experience. And as Matias Duarte, Google's senior director of Android user experience said, it's also built on three design principles: "enchant me, simplify my life, and make me awesome."

Here's an almost-complete list of Ice Cream Sandwich. We'll explore these in more detail over … Read more

Google is set to pull the wraps on Ice Cream Sandwich tonight, but a series of leaked screenshots already offer a peek at some of the redesigned widgets in the latest update to Android.

Snapped by someone known as Geek Vundotra and posted online by Android Police, the screenshots show what the Gmail, e-mail, and calendar widgets will apparently look like in the new Ice Cream Sandwich flavor.

The Gmail widget sports a somewhat cleaner interface compared with its Honeycomb counterpart, complete with a different and more readable screen font. The e-mail widget has been given the same coat of … Read more

We're less than 48 hours away from finding out for certain, but it looks as though Ice Cream Sandwich will feature photo-editing tools at the platform level.

If a number of uncovered camera icons are to be believed, the next build of Android could make it much easier to touch up photos. AndroidPolice, who initially discovered these icons, indicates that users will have the ability to perform standard editing techniques and apply effects to pictures without the need to download additional software. … Read more

We may have to wait a few more days (or is it weeks?) until we get to see our first official glimpse of Ice Cream Sandwich, but that doesn't mean we can't take a peek in the meantime. Android lovers were treated to a number of leaks today, which provide a clear look at the next release of Android, including screenshots, video, and apps.

A number of images showing the basic aesthetics of Ice Cream Sandwich appear to confirm the influence of Honeycomb's navigation and layout. Starting with the unlock screen, it's obvious that this version of Android is not going to be a minor upgrade.

The process for adding icons and widgets, for example, should be nearly identical to the process found on most of today's Android tablets. What's more, the experience shouldn't be diminished by a smaller screen size. Some readers will notice that the launcher and navigation buttons closely resemble the leaked video from last week, lending credibility to the admittedly strange set of occurrences.

A video of the purported Galaxy Nexus gives us a basic look at how things will work, including adding widgets and accessing applications. Although there's a definite 3.0 presence to the experience, new and longtime Android users should have no problem adapting to the interface.

On a related note, the chaps at Android Police have stumbled upon Google+ 2.0 and Music 4.0 apps that support the Ice Cream Sandwich experience. Each title has its own set of changes, some of which may go unnoticed by casual users.

Hard-core Android enthusiasts will recognize that the Music app shows a much cleaner experience, with modified options and controls, less obtrusive buttons, and the ability to rate music with a thumbs up or thumbs down. Presumably this last item will tie into the Google Music cloud experience that learns your preferences and queues up more of what you want to hear and less of the other stuff. … Read more

Google is expected to serve up Ice Cream Sandwich--the newest version of Android--on Tuesday at the Samsung Unpacked event in San Diego.

That revelation comes courtesy of the official Android Developers YouTube channel, which earlier today posted a placeholder video titled "Android ICS launch." The site now says, "This live event is no longer available. Sorry about that." Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said last month that the next flavor of the company's mobile operating system would debut sometime in October or November.

Google representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Samsung is … Read more

This article was originally posted June 6, 2011, and updated on October 4, 2011.

Apple has unveiled the next iPhone at long last, and with it comes iOS 5, which we first learned of in June. We got demos of 10 of the 200 additions and enhancements, including the hotly anticipated over-the-air system updates, new message notifications, and group messaging. The iOS 5 update rolls out on October 12.

Deep voice integration through the Siri app (beta) was revealed at the iPhone 4S launch event today. This is the deep voice integration we expected, and in addition to handling text composition and replies, reminders, and meeting requests, it also reaches for a more conversational tone in its voice search. Questions like, "Do I need an umbrella today?" yields results like, "Yes, it sure looks like rain." A new icon of a microphone will soon join the virtual keyboard.

While all the new features bring happy tidings for Apple fans, many have already existed on Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone operating systems. That's not necessary a knock on Apple; all the platforms eventually ape each other's best features, and remember how long it took Apple to enable copy/paste on its original iPhone? What it does reveal is that Android, and even Windows Phone and BlackBerry, are applying real pressure.

Here's a look at how some of Apple's major iOS 5 updates line up with those on rival mobile platforms. We've included dates and the names of Apple's new features when available.… Read more

Android users may have accidentally gotten their first peek at Ice Cream Sandwich.

A person who bought a Samsung Nexus S smartphone via eBay reportedly discovered that the device was running the upcoming version of the Android operating system instead of the current Android flavor, say the folks at Engadget.

Checking the firmware version numbers, Engadget said the phone seemed to be using the same baseband seen in previously leaked screenshots but had a newer build and kernel.

The buyer shot a two-minute video showing off the phone's interface and features. That video then found its way onto Engadget'… Read more