It's not just a frozen dessert; it's also the latest version of Google's open-source Android operating system, and it's packed with new features and sporting a stylish new look. But right now, the only phone sporting it is the Galaxy Nexus ... and it won't even be up for sale until next month.
Existing devices can be upgraded, but unlike iOS updates for iPhones it's a bit of a hassle. It's not as simple as just downloading the latest version of Android; both the manufacturer and the carrier have to do a lot of work to get their customizations and (nonuninstallable) apps ready. Because of that, it can be months before an upgrade comes to an existing handset, if it ever comes at all.
Here's what the Android smartphone and tablet companies have said about when their gadgets will be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich:
Motorola
Motorola has so far confirmed Ice Cream Sandwich will be coming to the (upcoming) Droid RAZR and the Droid Bionic. The Droid RAZR will get it sometime early next year, while the Droid Bionic's upgrade timing will be announced once Google releases the final version of Ice Cream Sandwich. A Motorola representative has also said that this year's Xoom tablet will get Ice Cream Sandwich, but did not provide any more details than that.
Sony Ericsson
In a post on the Facebook page for Sony's branch in the Netherlands, a Sony representative basically said the company is still busy upgrading Xperia smartphones to Gingerbread, the previous version. It said "we plan to upgrade our 2011 Xperia smartphone portfolio to the next Android platform made available to us," though, and you can interpret that however you like.
HTC
HTC's HTC Sense overlay is one of the more complex manufacturer customizations for Android, which may explain why HTC hasn't committed to setting a date or naming any handsets or tablets to get Ice Cream Sandwich yet. It's stated that "Our goal is to upgrade as many HTC devices as possible," but it's also said that "we are committed to maintaining every phone's performance and usability first."
Do it yourself
The programming code to Ice Cream Sandwich is not open-source just yet. Google has said that it will open-source Ice Cream Sandwich once the Galaxy Nexus is available, however, and "custom ROMs" like CyanogenMod will be able to create Ice Cream Sandwich versions at that time. Please note that rooting your phone and installing a custom ROM are not for the faint of heart, and may void your warranty as well.
Jared Spurbeck is an open-source software enthusiast, who uses an Android phone and an Ubuntu laptop PC. He has been writing about technology and electronics since 2008.
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