Google has managed to squeak out one more version of the newest iteration of Android before the holidays.
The company confirmed, “We’re rolling out Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, to GSM/UMTS Nexus S devices over the coming month, starting today. Enjoy the tasty update! Once you get the update, check out some tips and shortcuts for getting started at the Android 4.0 Help Center.”
This makes the Nexus S the second phone to run Ice Cream Sandwich. The first was the Galaxy Nexus. Google has an active part in the development of “Nexus” phones and as such they are always slated first for upgrades.
Ice Cream Sandwich, also known as ICS or Android 4.0, brings a whole new interface to Google’s mobile platform and aims to get rid of the huge fragmentation problem that continues to plague Android. It is essentially a refresh button, with hardware specifications much stricter and more defined.
Even so, the Nexus S runs at resolution of 800 x 480, while the Galaxy Nexus displays 1280 x 720 and is the optimal setting for ICS. The Nexus S may already bring with it some fragmentation concerns.
Nevertheless, Nexus S owners should start getting excited about the update. And as for non-“Nexus” phone owners, those upgrades won’t come until a month or two into next year and details of which devices are eligible are still being refined.
