New Features on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Completely redesigned look and feel Android 4.0

Google and Samsung must have wowed the world (they certainly did me!) when they launched the Android 4.0 (aka, Ice cream sandwich or ICS).

The latest iteration of the ubiquitous mobile operating system is aimed to kill the greatest challenge to the droid universe: fragmentation. Critics have before now hammered Android for having too many of its versions scattered in different ways and form in the minions of smartphones running the platform. Even the tablet version of the OS, honeycomb, which was initially touted to bring an end to fragmentation, was said to have added to the problem. Enter ICS.

This new OS will be pushed to smartphones and tablets alike in the coming months. Smartphones of course will be having the first taste of the cream with Samsung Galaxy Nexus (the new Google flagship phone following Nexus One and the Nexus S).

Galaxy Nexus

So what are the greatest features of the latest droid soul? Here are a few (courtesy of Engadget.com):

• Swipe left or right to switch between Gmail conversations
• Integrated screenshot capture by holding 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)
• Face Unlock, a facial recognition service
• New tabbed web browser, allowing up to 16 tabs
• Browser now automatically syncs your Chrome bookmarks
• Data Usage section in settings lets u set warnings when you reach a certain amount of use & disabling data when over your limit
• Ability to kill off apps that are using data in the background
• Camera app: zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, zoom while recording
• New gallery layout, organized by location and person
• Refreshed people app with social network integration, status updates and hi-res images 
• Android Beam, a NFC feature that lets you exchange websites, contact info, directions, YouTube, etc.
• Carrier preloaded apps can be disabled