Galaxy Nexus Release Date: Ice Cream Sandwich Users Can Now Disable Pre-Installed Apps

By Elton Jones, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, October 20, 2011

Users of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone and its new operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich, now have the ability to disable unwanted, pre-installed apps.

Popular tech website CNET confirmed with Google that the Ice Cream Sandwich software update will let users disable any unwanted applications.

Those unwanted applications even include the pre-installed applications that come with the Galaxy Nexus. This option also extends to the smartphone's web browser and Gmail.

The apps cannot be deleted from one's smartphone altogether, but the app will stop running once disabled. Its icon will also disappear from the app tray and home screen.

Android users can now breathe a sigh of relief. For years, they have been forced to keep apps that were locked into their smartphones.

They couldn't be fully disabled from one's phone...until now.

Ice Cream Sandwich also comes with a host of other notable features. They include the new Roboto UI, new Widget configurations, new screen shot capabilities, facial recognition technology, Panorama and the Android Beam NFC.

Roboto, the new graphics foundation, allows the user of the system to view HD-quality typeface on their Galaxy Nexus.

Widgets can now be piled on top of one another with the introduction of scrolling stacks. The Gmail widget app differs from Honeycomb’s version by allowing the user to scroll through their emails without clicking in. The addition of folders also helps the user to organize apps by simply clicking and dragging them into a desired destination.

The new screen shot capabilities work through users simultaneously holding down the power and volume down button the user can capture a still of any particular screen they want others to see and it will immediately be added to their photo gallery.

The facial recognition technology allows users to unlock their device’s interface by scanning their face with the Galaxy Nexus' camera.

Panorama allows Ice Cream Sandwich users to create an image that is formed by using footage taken of a certain area.

Android Beam is able to transfer media, web pages and articles by simply touching two Android handsets together back to back. This system can also be used to pay for products at supermarkets and scan concert tickets at events.