Google officially announced the next version of its Android OS during the Google I/O conference – Ice Cream Sandwich.
The release for this new version is set to be sometime by the end of the year. Exactly when? That’s a TBD.
What we do know is that this new OS version will unify the Android world. Google is trying to fight every developers nightmare, Android fragmentation. So apparently this release should fix that. But not only that, Ice Cream Sandwich will run on both Android smartphones and Android tablets.
“Our top priority for Ice Cream Sandwich will be one operating system that runs everywhere,”
says Mike Claron, Android engineering chief.
The Ice Cream Sandwich version will combine the best of Honeycomb designed for tablets, mix it up with Gingerbread, add some flavors like Google TV and you’ll get the Ice Cream Sandwich. This OS will be the one that unifies all Android devices.
Another novelty is the emphasis of Near field communication (NFC) using your Android device. Despite the fact that it was already available in Android 2.3 Gingerbread, Google is now taking it very seriously by introducing more API’s for it.
For instance, Google is trying to use NFC as a new mode of data sharing/ transfer between users. Simply put your phones back to back and exchange data, contacts, playlists and a whole lot more. No apps to install, just two NFC phone.
NFC is already widely used in Asia and Europe, but has yet to make its entry in North America. People use it daily just like a credit card to buy and pay for anything, from a pop soda can to airplane tickets.
Companies can even use NFC to market any product they may have by embedding NFC chips on their products. Consumers will just put their device in close proximity of the NFC sticker and get all the information they need regarding a specific product. Its just that simple, and with no password or anything to set up, marketing companies are surely preparing themselves for NFC invasion.
In short, Google’s Android Ice Cream Sandwich is just another delicious dessert we just can’t wait to eat.
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