With Microsoft's Mango update and Apple's iPhone 5 slated for an October release, it's no wonder that Google wants Android 2.4 on devices during that same timeframe.
BGR has reportedly received word that Google is pushing to get Android 2.4 "Ice Cream Sandwich" out the door by early October.
Although no sources were specified, the report claims that Google wants the OS on the market in time for Apple's launch of the supposed iPhone 5 in the later September / early October window. The fear is that potential customers coming out of their 2-year contracts – especially those of us who signed up for the original (and now horribly decrepit) Motorola DROID – may find themselves drooling over the new Apple smartphone.
The big deal with Google's rather ambitious Ice Cream Sandwich build is that it promises to help eliminate Android's frustrating fragmentation. The OS will supposedly work seamlessly across various devices including smartphones, tablets and computers – possibly Google's answer to Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 platform.
"Our goal with Ice Cream Sandwich is to deliver one operating system that works everywhere, regardless of device," the company said back in May. "Ice Cream Sandwich will bring everything you love about Honeycomb on your tablet to your phone, including the holographic user interface, more multitasking, the new launcher and richer widgets."
Right now all eyes are seemingly pointed at September and October as the battle between the Big Three heats up. Microsoft's big Mango (7.5) update is slated to arrive on Windows Phone 7 sometime around mid-October, packing around 500 new features including Twitter integration, multi-tasking, Internet Explorer 9 and more. And as previously stated, Apple's iPhone 5 and next-generation iPod Touch is slated to arrive in the same window.
That said, it's understandable why Google would would push for an October launch. So far the company hasn't announced anything official, so stay tuned.
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what's with this? i thought honeycomb was version 3.0
what's with this? i thought honeycomb was version 3.0
You find that in tablets not the cellphones. Anyway, I just hope mobile companies push this update to android phones promptly.. not wait forever...
That's great that they want to push 2.4, however, the LG Optimus Black doesn't even have support for Gingerbread. I wonder if they will skip 2.3 and have support for 2.4.
3.0 is for Tablets only.. I thing they use 2.4 because the latest version for Smartphones is 2.3.
How are they coming up with the names for these updates?
Samsung, are you listening. Release Ice Cream Sandwich across the board!
Sounds yummy
Coming next summer is the watermelon
I would totally buy those ice cream sandwiches if they made them.
......I thought it was actually gonna be ice cream....
I don't think Ice Cream Sandwich is 2.4. It should be a version higher than 3.2.
Maybe it's version 4.
I'm lactose intolerant but also allergic to apples.
can i buy that ice cream sandwich? looks so tasty
I wish they would name it after more healthy stuff like M$ does with Mango. I would much rather have a mango than an ice cream sandwich. But I would rather keep my Android than buy another phone. Why can't Google switch to more healthy titles like cucumber or cherry?
Notice it's in C,D,E,F,G,H,I
Android code name start off with 1.5-Cupcake 1.6-Donut 2.1-Eclair 2.2 Froyo 2.3-Gingerbread 3.X-Honeycomb and then Ice Cream Sandwich. The next version after Ice Cream Sandwich should begin with a "J". Jelly Beans anyone?
I wish they would name it after more healthy stuff like M$ does with Mango. I would much rather have a mango than an ice cream sandwich. But I would rather keep my Android than buy another phone. Why can't Google switch to more healthy titles like cucumber or cherry?
Mangoes are bland tasting. Windows Phone 7 is the worst selling mobile OS available right now. Android is named after tasty foods. It also happens to be the most popular mobile OS in existence. Get my point?
I want to get this so I can walk around saying, "AHHHHH!!!!!"....what?.."I just got Ice Cream Sandwich on my phone!!!"
That was what made me switch to the HTC Incredible, and then iPhone 4. It was amazing how different the experiences were between the Incredible and the Droid - the Incredible was faster but bloated with Sense, while the Droid was slow but almost ran a vanilla version (updates murdered performance though). I know several people (average consumers) who hate their Droids and are looking to switch to iPhones.
I find it odd that Ice Cream Sandwich is intended to "eliminate Android's frustrating fragmentation," but with the rate at which carriers update phones, it is just going to further it. Google needs to call up the phone carriers (no pun intended) and work out something with them so that ALL devices are updated; otherwise the fragmentation will self-perpetuate with future OS versions.
Mangoes are bland tasting. Windows Phone 7 is the worst selling mobile OS available right now. Android is named after tasty foods. It also happens to be the most popular mobile OS in existence. Get my point?
I think you're literally comparing mangos to ice cream sandwiches; most of the discrepancy is due to the number of phones. There are only a handful of WP7 devices (only one on VZW, the Trophy), but there are many more Android options and it's been around significantly longer. I'm actually tempted to try a WP7 phone once more come out, because I'd like to experiment with the W7-WP7 connectivity. I need more options than the HTC Trophy though.
Well at least I don't care anymore what Google is doing to android, because having suffered considerable stability/reliability issues I've made up my mind, and either going to by Samsung's next WP phone based on SGSII platform or the Nokia Sea Ray. Beside WP's interface is beautiful from ground up when compared to Android's which seems like a distant copy of iOS in some ways.
Just to mess with Microsoft the next Google Android version will be Mango Ice Cream Sandwich.
+1 jo, at least they will then be even, remember MS named one of their updates NoDo
Why are all of the Android operating systems named after food?
May be Schmidt is one food loving guy? Or may be he is a distant relative of Gordon Ramsey?
they said they would release it to compete with iphone 5. also there was already some news on the HTC desire and other cellphones getting honeycomb
Sounds like a tasty update!
ARRRRRRRRGGGHHHHH! Dang blasted headlines! I should have known better. For a brief moment I thought Google was going to diversify and offer real ice cream.
How about Pomelo for Android 2.5?
I don´t have a cellphone anymore.
How are they coming up with the names for these updates?
different desert for each letter of the alphabet
Can it come with free ice cream at least?