Google Android: Top 8 Ice Cream Sandwich Features

Last month, Google released much eagerly-anticipated version of Android Operating System, named as Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0. Few days ago the source code for it was also released to open source community. Availability of source code will mean that developers will be able to develop Android apps on a platform that has almost all the elements overhauled, with new features to be found at every turn.

We will be talking about the 8 features in Ice Cream Sandwich that we liked (a lot).

1) New Magazine Style Interface: One of the first things you will notice while using Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is the major interface overhaul across the entire operating system. Google has attempted to address a major shortcoming of Android: the lack of a unified look and feel of the user interface across apps and devices. The new Magazine Style Interface is just gorgeous.

2) Lockscreen and Notification Bar: Android has always had an edge over its competitors when it comes to its notification system. With Ice Cream Sandwich, notifications have been improved even further by giving you more information as well as control than just text, right from the notification bar. The notification bar now includes the ability to swipe away notifications individually, instead of an all or nothing approach with a “clear” button. The notification bar can now be lowered directly from the lockscreen, allowing you to immediately jump into an app from its notification. In what is certainly the coolest new feature of the lockscreen, a forward-facing camera can be set to recognize a single users face, allowing for an almost instant and effortless unlock.

3) Camera: The updated camera app boasts zero shutter lag and very low shot-to-shot lag, so no more missing out on the right moment due to the interval between your tapping on the capture button and the camera actually capturing the moment – that interval is gone. Consecutive shots taken in quick succession come nearly instant as well, letting you capture as many images of the right moment as you want, to be able to choose the best one later.

That’s not all – there is also a new single-motion panorama mode, letting you capture wide panorama images by simply moving your camera in a slow, horizontal motion. The app then automatically stitches the images together to give you one complete panorama image, with impressive results.

4) Screenshot Support: One of the most requested feature for Android was the ability to capture screenshots. With Ice Cream Sandwich Google is completing that request with native support to capture screenshots. The trick is pressing the hardware combination of the volume-down button and power button to trigger the native screenshot tool.

5) Folders and Widgets: Folders now work with simple drag and drop as well. Just drag one app on to another to create a new folder and you can move apps around within a folder also by dragging. But folders can be used for more than just apps. For instance, you can create a folder for speed-dial shortcuts.

In terms of access, we can even customize folders, contacts or favorites directly from the main screen. Not to mention that now widgets are customizable and we will resize to your liking.

6) Beam: NFC (Near Field Communication Technology) is much talked about technology in recent days. In Android Ice Cream Sandwich, there is a dedicated app called Beam for application of NFC. Beam lets you share apps, contacts, music, videos and much more with another NFC-enabled phone by simply touching it with yours. Once you do this, you’ll see a preview of the item to be shared, with a ‘Touch to Beam’ message on top. Just tap the screen and the item will be shared with the other phone.

7) Consumption of Data Management: Over the past couple of years, most – if not all – telecom providers have enforced download caps over mobile data plans. Once you have reached the limit, you either have to pay prohibitively high charges for further data use, or get crawling slow throttled speeds that remind you of the 28.8kbps dialup days. That’s why being careful about your data use can never be a bad thing. Ice Cream Sandwich addresses this issue by introducing a brand new app called Data Usage.

Data Usage shows you a graphical presentation of the data usage on your phone over a billing cycle. It also shows you, your projected data usage in the remaining days of the cycle, based on your past data usage in the cycle. You can specify warning limits or upper caps to get alerts or cut off background data.

8.) Browser: Ice Cream Sandwich comes with a brand new Chrome mobile Web browser. The most significant new Browser feature is the ability to save pages for offline viewing later. The Browser syncs with your desktop or laptop Chrome bookmarks, and it can open upto 16 tabs at the same time.

Image Credits: AddictiveTips.com

Re-published from TechAhead’s Knol Page