Google’s Android Developers Blog had a good news for Android lovers as there is an updated version of the ICS platform, Android 4.0.3. It was noted that the same would be used as the base version and pushed out to Android vendors in the coming weeks. Another point noted was that the Samsung Nexus S (GSM) users will be blessed with the ICS update over the coming month.
Xavier Ducrohet, the Android SDK Tech Lead, wrote in a blog on Google’s Web site on Friday, “Going forward, we’ll be focusing our partners on Android 4.0.3 as the base version of Ice Cream Sandwich.” He further added, “The new platform will be rolling out to production phones and tablets in the weeks ahead, so we strongly encourage you to test your applications on Android 4.0.3 as soon as possible.”
What can developers and users look forward too in Android 4.0.3? This update includes the following:
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Social stream API in Contacts Provider: It has a similar concept to HTC Sense, where users can see what their peers are doing or saying via their contact pictures. The new API allows apps that use social stream data (status updates and check-ins) to sync that data with each contact and present them in a stream.
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Calender provider enhancements: Apps can now add color to events, for easier differentiation, and new attendee types and states are now available.
New Camera capabilities: Apps can access and retrieve location information for an image or video. Moreover, apps also can check and manage video stabilization, and use QVGA resolution profiles when necessary. -
Home screen widgets: Based on the characteristics of a home screen, the system will automatically adds padding for each widget for a more uniform, consistent presentation in a grid.
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Accessibility refinements: There will be improved content access for screen readers, new status and error reporting for text-to-speech engines.
Google is rolling in the updates at a time, when everyone is gearing up to enjoy their vacations. If the update is better than the original update, then it would just add to the happy moods, but if the update is a problematic one, it could affect the sales of IceCream Sandwich powered Android smartphones and tablets.
Again, the vacation times will increase the sales of smartphones and tablets, but one would still look into the details of the bugs, an OS carries. A review of the same would be seen in this week and notably, decisions would be made too.
Strangely, in this case, Galaxy Nexus lags behind. Just a day before this update, Galaxy Nexus got an update, which was 4.0.2, for the LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus. It gives a thumbs down to Galaxy Nexus, as one would have expected that Galaxy Nexus would receive the updates, as and when they come in. however, if a Galaxy Nexus user wants this 4.0.3 update on their smartphone, they will have to wait for a couple of weeks to receive the same.