29 September 2011, 15:36

Android: Ice Cream Sandwich briefly previewed

The Nexus S was the first phone to include Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" A video alleged to show the next major update to Android, code-named "Ice Cream Sandwich", has surfaced on the internet. The video shows a Nexus S phone running an updated and unreleased build (IRK48) of Android with a newer kernel version (3.0.1). While current Nexus S smartphones show the version number under the "Android version" heading (e.g. 2.3.x) under Settings > About phone, the phone in the video specifically says "IceCreamSandwich" without a number.

According to Engadget, the phone was purchased on eBay; on receiving the phone, the purchaser noticed that the operating system wasn't what he expected. The video shows a number of changes to the device's OS which appears to include features from both Android 2.3 "Gingerbread", the current version for handsets, and Android 3.x "Honeycomb", which is designed for tablets.

Some of these differences are an updated lock screen with a shortcut to the camera app, which appears to have also been updated, as well as a new Google Apps icon and a Honeycomb-style multi-tasking menu. However, as noted by Engadget, this could just be a custom ROM but they consider it to be unlikely. Since posting the video, the anonymous owner has reportedly had his device remotely locked and wiped.

A video of the Nexus S shows Android "Ice Cream Sandwich" in action

A report from AndroidGuys notes that there is a good chance that Ice Cream Sandwich will make its first official appearance at Samsung's upcoming "Unpacked" event. Specifically called a "Google Episode", the event will be streamed online on the official Android YouTube channel.

First confirmed at this year's Google I/O developer conference, Ice Cream Sandwich is expected to arrive before the end of the year alongside a possible new 'Nexus' device called the "Nexus Prime".

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