Android Ice Cream Sandwich Release Date: New OS May Hurt iOS 5

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus will be available in November, and has been speculated to include better software than the iOS 5.

The Android 4.0 HSPA +- and LTE-capable phone will likely be provided by Verizon, proposing two major threats to Apple, which Verizon also carries.

The new Android has the same qualities as other high-end phones, but beneath the hardware is Google’s new software: Android 4.0, or also known as Ice Cream Sandwich. The software will be available on tablets as well as phones, similar to iCloud being offered to iPads, iPods, and iPhones.

Senior vice president of Mobile for Google, Andy Rubin, did not directly mention competitors in his statement, but said that the new software is an improvement from the Honeycomb platform, which was unavailable on tablets.

Ice Cream Sandwich adds a revamped and more attractive user interface that is similar to Honeycomb software, and the camera app on the Galaxy Nexus no longer has a shutter lag; taking panoramic pictures of landscapes is simplified.

“Android Bean” featured with the new software allows users to sync information by touching two near-field communication-equipped phones together in a motion very similar to the popular iPhone app, Bump.

Also, the phone is capable of facial recognition that makes unlocking the phone effortless.

Surfing the web has improved; users may quickly switch between a desktop or mobile view on the device being used.

The bar of technology is constantly being raised and markets have grown substantially in recent months. Apple continues to be a forerunner, but Android presents strong competition with the Ice Cream Sandwich.

Apple’s new iPhone 4S sold four million units in its first weekend, doubling the sales of its predecessor, the iPhone 4.

The iPhone 4 was the top selling smartphone in the U.S. since its launch in 2010.