The latest version of Android cellphones, code-named "Ice Cream Sandwich", is a unified, device-agnostic operating system that runs on both phones and tablets. Many a casual user is no doubt wondering whether or not it's really that much better than previous versions. The answer to that question is an emphatic "Yes", as it delivers a slew of improvements and new features. Without further ado, here are just a few of the major improvements that Ice Cream Sandwich brings to the table over Android 3.x Honeycomb.
A Streamlined UI
For many, the most important part of any mobile operating system is the user interface. Though a lackluster interface can be dealt with, a rigid and counter-intuitive UI can be a death sentence for any mobile operating system regardless of its technical merits. Fortunately, Ice Cream Sandwich boasts a stunning UI that's designed from the ground up to deliver a stellar experience to the user. The crux of the new Android 4.0 UI is the virtual System Bar buttons alongside the bottom of the device's display, which make touchscreen navigation a breeze.
Resizable Widgets
When you don't have a lot of screen real estate to work with, the ability to customize the layout and appearance of the operating system UI is a pretty big deal. It can make a huge difference in the usability of any platform, which is why Android 4.0's customizable and resizable widgets are such a boon to ordinary users. Even better, live and interactive widgets allow users to stream updates and information directly to the "desktop", mirroring the functionality of Tiles on Windows' Metro UI. It may seem like a small detail, but it's actually one of the most pleasant improvements in ICS.
Home Folders
One of the biggest differences between ICS and Honeycomb is the availability of configurable home screen folders that can be used for the easy grouping and classification of apps. It's an intuitive and user-friendly way to organize programs, especially if you have a lot of software installed. For instance, you can set up one home folder for entertainment, another for office utilities, another for communication tools and so forth. Home folders can be arranged in any manner you please, making them the ultimate in work space customization.
Improved Default Apps
While quite a few manufacturers install custom software on their phones and tablets, the default Android apps included with Ice Cream Sandwich are some of the best in the mobile world. In ICS, they receive a few notable tweaks that make using Android all the more enjoyable. For instance, ICS delivers advanced Data Usage monitoring through the Settings menu for keeping tabs on bandwidth caps. Furthermore, the bedrock apps like Camera, Calendar, Dialer, Contacts and Gallery are all simple, intuitive and powerful while fitting in quite well with the native UI.
The Verdict
Ice Cream Sandwich is more versatile, full-featured and user-friendly than any other version of Android available. The most important difference between ICS and its predecessors is the improvement in performance and responsiveness. Android 4.0 is just flat-out faster than either Honeycomb or Gingerbread, and even more adept at multi-tasking than the aforementioned versions. If you're shopping for a no contract phone or tablet, make sure it's running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the best results possible.














