Top 5 features in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Editing photos is now possible within the photo gallery app. (Credit: Google)
1. Android Beam
This feature makes use of near field communications (NFC) technology to allow users to share information more conveniently. You simply need to tap two compatible devices together and items such as links, contacts and map location will be transferred. You can also share apps, though this doesn't mean a complete transfer of the application. What happens is that the person receiving the information will be directed to Android Market where he/she can download the app from there.
Beam is currently in the default Google apps only, but the company will release the APIs so third-party developers can make use of this feature, too.
2. Improved camera app and editing
The camera application in Android 4.0 has been overhauled, adding many new features. The Galaxy Nexus boasts of having "zero shutter lag", which means the user can take photos continuously, with less risk of missing a shot.
A panorama shot feature has also been added, so you need only to pan the handset across a scene and the phone will stitch together a panoramic shot.
Photo-editing features have also been added so basic tweaks like crop, rotate and sharpen can be easily done. In addition, there are also filters so creative effects can be added. Some manufacturers (HTC, in its Sense UI, for example) have previously added these features in their custom camera apps, but having them native in Android will definitely be welcomed by users.
ICS can recognize faces as an alternative to keying in a passcode. (Credit: Google)
Similar to what you find on some notebooks, you can now use the front-facing camera to unlock the phone. The device will use face recognition to see if it's really a registered user trying to get access--an alternative to keying in a passcode. It's nice to have, but we doubt it will make the phone more secure than it already is. The demonstration of this feature didn't go that well during the Samsung-Google event, but we'll be sure to try it out when we get the Galaxy Nexus.
4. Voice typing
Android has had voice-recognition capabilities for some time now, allowing you to search by talking to the phone. This feature is now expanded so you can type by talking. If this works well, it will be a boon for those who have their hands full and need to send an email or text message urgently. We are a little concerned that Asian accents may be hard for the OS to recognize, but that's something we'll find out later after trying it out.
5. People app
Contacts have been improved with the People app, which integrates contact details with social networks in a new interface. The first thing you'll see is the "Me" profile which lets you add your own details, right at the top of the list. Once you key in your own credentials, relevant details from services such as Facebook and Google+ will appear for all your friends.
Like the camera app improvements, companies such as HTC and Sony Ericsson have done something similar previously with Sense and Timescape, respectively. The People app interface, however, feels more similar to Microsoft's Windows Phone implementation of contacts because of the sideways swiping action used to access details.
About the author
Editor John Chan's love for gadgets can be traced back to the days when he disassembled his toys and couldn't put them back together again. He practices great restraint in not opening up every review product that comes through the CNET Asia Labs, and before that, in his previous job at HardwareZone. He has reviewed items big and small, from mobile phones to projectors and feels everyone should carry a multitool at all times in case of MacGyver situations.
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