T-Mobile first in U.S. pushing Android 4.0 to Galaxy S II

The second U.S. operator to launch Samsung’s Galaxy S II last year appears to be the first that will upgrade the smartphone to Android 4.0. T-Mobile tweeted the information on Friday, saying the software update for the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android will become available on June 11.


Users will have to download the Android firmware through Samsung’s Kies application, which is supported on both Windows and OS X. This differs from most Android software updates, which are generally pushed out over Wi-Fi or mobile broadband. Given that this update isn’t a small bit of code — it’s full firmware with the new operating system — the file size is likely several hundred megabytes in size and therefore easier to transfer via a USB cable.

T-Mobile will offer additional details on the upgrade soon, although I’m fairly certain of one detail: Most Galaxy S II owners won’t see much visual difference after the update. Based on the experience with Android 4.0 for the Galaxy Note, which was upgraded earlier this year, Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface will cover most of the Ice Cream Sandwich UI improvements. However, the many new Android 4.0 features will be welcome by Samsung Galaxy S II owners: Monthly data usage monitoring, an improved camera interface and widgets that are re-sizable and more interactive, to name a few.

Sony Announces Waterproof Android Phones, the Xperia Go and Arco S

Finally, a couple of phones that can survive soda spills and even accidental drownings.

Sony announced two waterproof smartphones on Wednesday. They both run dual-core processors, but one of the new handsets will ship with an outdated version of Google’s Android operating system.

The Xperia Go and the Xperia Arco S are both set for release in the third quarter of this year, though Sony officials haven’t yet said how much the phones will sell for when they launch. The Xperia Go, which will be called the Xperia Advance in the U.S., will ship running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), though an upgrade to Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is promised.

The Xperia Arco S will ship with Sony’s skinned version of Android 4. The latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, debuted last November on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and six months later, top phone makers such as Motorola, HTC, LG and Sony are still struggling to offer software updates to consumers. The Xperia Go’s use of Gingerbread is simply the latest example of this.

GameStop is expanding its Android tablet lineup, adding the tablets to more than 1,600 stores nationwide

GameStop is expanding its Android tablet lineup, adding the tablets to more than 1,600 stores nationwide.

The gaming retailer is now selling tablets like the Asus Transformer Prime, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the Acer Iconia.

GameStop promised that tablets sold through its stores will come equipped with "valuable extras," such as free games like Sonic CD and Riptide. The gadgets will also have the Kongregate Arcade gaming app and buyers will get a free issue of Game Informer Digital.

What tablets are on sale? The Asus Transformer Prime is available now for $499.99, while the 10.1-inch Asus Eee Pad Transformer is $349.99. The Acer Iconia Tab A200 will be $299.99 now through June 2, while the 7-inch 8GB Acer Iconia is $229.99. The 10.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 16GB is also available for $399.99, and a Toshiba Excite 10 will set you back $449.99.

If your local GameStop is not selling the tablets, you can also purchase online.

GameStop also sells refurbished, first-generation iPads starting at $285. As GameStop noted, "cosmetically, the screen and body of the items show some signs of scratches, scuffs, or other wear typical of normal use."

The store allows shoppers to purchase new good with trades of games, consoles, or old iOS devices.

GameStop first started selling the Acer A100, Asus Transformer, and Samsung Galaxy Tab in 200 stores last October, and that now expands to 1,600 locations.

A month earlier, GameStop said it had selected the Android OS for an in-house tablet device with pre-loaded titles, but that has yet to be announced.

The move comes as more and more gamers are turning to smartphones and tablets for their gaming needs rather than standalone, handheld consoles. The Nintendo 3DS and Sony PlayStation Vita have seen somewhat sluggish sales here in the U.S., while game makers are increasingly showing off tablet-optimized versions of their games.

5 Things we love and 5 we hate about Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

5 Things You will Love


1. Home screen


Obviously, the very first thing an user would go through is the home screen, and it seems Google has stuck by the dictum of a good first impression. The Honeycomb style widgets are quite apparent, but what is different is their re-sizable feature. With these resized widgets, the layout of the interface doesn't feel uncluttered. Moreover, ICS has also given a convenient folder dragging mechanism (like the iOS). But in this case, people (their speed dial contacts) can be added into folders and favorites.

2. Revamped Notifications

Building upon its already stable notification system, Android 4.0 will feature a completely unobtrusive notification system for optimum user convenience. This new system will allow you to swipe the unimportant ones and let you view the important notifications at a latter preferred time. And since we are talking about time, a few precious seconds can now be saved by accessing notifications without unlocking your phone.

3. Regulation of Data Usage

One of the finest yet simple features of ICS that epitomizes user convenience, the OS actually allows you monitor your data usage without the requirement of any third party app. This features makes sure that one can easily check the data usage of individual apps and also view daily reports regarding the quantified usage of data (along with utilization of data disabling ability).

4. Face unlock

Though, we are still not convinced of its flexibility, but the Face unlock mechanism certainly has the potential to be a handy tool. Basically, the system entails that ICS can only unlock the phone when it recognizes your pictorial image, as opposed to your friend (or enemy!). But of course there must be some back-up method to 'hack' into the phone, when the recognition doesn't work out.

5. Visual improvements

Finally, moving on to the visual scheme of things, the overall enhancement (especially over Gingerbread) is very apparent when we move into the contacts zone with its high resolution images. Also, the Gmail app has been revamped with previews, a new menu bar and mail swiping ability.

5 Things You will hate

1. Require 16GB RAM To Compile

In stark contrast to the lightness of the phones, the newest Android OS will require at least 16GB of RAM to built up its source code. Analysts estimate this will take the ICS around 5 hours of compilation on a dual quad core machine with more than 2 GHz, other than needing a whopping 80GB disk space for all AOSP configurations.

2. Timely updates?

Google certainly doesn't have a good track record of providing updates at regular time intervals. So, while the ICS addresses the collectivity issues of Android operating systems by combining Honeycomb and Gingerbread, the failure to provide time updates may even make the situation more complex for Google (with three full fledged operating systems). More importantly, confused users may suffer from this OS mayhem.

3. Search button

Taking the cue from Honeycomb, ICS will not feature a search button except for the home screen. Now, this may make the life for some users a tad bit difficult, especially when the usage of a few apps comes into the search scenario. Moreover, the doubling up of the search button (by long press) as voice command is no more; as now one has to move to the top of the screen (in Nexus) for this function.

4. Confusion with Action Bar

Google has made it clear that its own apps will use the Action Bar, with other third parties also being allowed to utilize it. But where will it exist in the menu section? Some sources clearly say it will be on the top, while others swear that it will on the bottom!

5. Side scrolling

Now, we know it may not be an over-imposing issue, but still some users may need to get used to side scrolling. After all many of us agree that swiping from top to bottom can actually be faster.

Android 4.0 Looks Better On Motorola RAZR Than Galaxy S3

There has been a great deal of concern about which handsets and devices will get the upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. One thing is for sure the Motorola DROID RAZR will be getting the OS update as Motorola have released an updated timeline.

Motorola DROID RAZR Android 4.0 UI looks more original than Samsung Galaxy S3 version

Motorola have said that the DROID RAZR will have Android 4.0 by the end of June. So what will the system look like on the handset and how will it act? Those waiting for it can check out the official videos to find out.

The videos appear to show that Motorola have done a very nice job indeed and the series of videos, which are shown on the Japanese RAZR site show how the lock screen works, how to navigate around Ice Cream Sandwich, use the browser, dial out and it shows the updated notification system working. Some of the videos are in Japanese and some in English. However those waiting for the system will get the idea even when watching and listening to the Japanese videos.

One of the videos shows the widget discovery panels which make it a great deal easier for users to find the widgets they want. Another focuses on the Google Play app which provides users with the ability to check out how much data individual apps are using along with all apps. One thing is clear though, Motorola has done a better job than Samsung with their customized skinning of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Unlike the Android 4.0 version we saw on the Samsung Galaxy S2 international version and also the Samsung Galaxy S3 recently, the Motorola DROID RAZR keeps more of the stock effects found in Android 4.0. From the electric blue notifications bar (Samsung for some strange reason has retained the Gingerbread green bar for the Samsung Galaxy S3) right down to things like the dialer, Motorola DROID RAZR smartphones will find that the UI looks very similar to that of the stock Android 4.0 UI found on the Galaxy Nexus.