Google launches Ice Cream Sandwich update for Android, confirms new Galaxy Nexus handset

Google has unveiled the latest version of its Android operating system, called Ice Cream Sandwich, at a press event in Hong Kong, where it also confirmed the existence of the first new handset to carry the software, the Galaxy Nexus.

The reveal comes days after the spec sheet for the new device was already leaked online, but also comes two weeks after Apple unveiled its own major update to the iOS platform, drawing comparisons between the two offers.

Google said at the launch the idea behind the new software was to make the OS work on both smartphones and tablets, emphasising software instead of physical buttons on handsets, along with more social options.

“We want to go beyond smart,” Android head Andy Rubin said at the press conference. “We took all of the innovation that’s available at Google, and put it into developing this phone.”

The new software has simplification at its heart. New features include flexible widgets, app folders, a tray to put favourite apps, a new notification system, better copy and paste features, a face unlock feature – which allows you to unlock your phone with just your face – and better text dictation features as well.

The web browser has been given a significant update, with tabs now maxed at 16, while Gmail has also been given some gesture support. The calendar has a new user interface, users can see how much data they have used over a specific period, and the camera has plenty of new features as well, including better autofocus and the ability to work with other apps.

Overall, the UI has been polished, with graphics and edges appearing much smoother.

“People are at the heart of Ice Cream Sandwich,” Google said in a blog post. “We rethought how you browse your contacts with the new People app, which combines high-resolution photos and updates from Google+ and other social services.”

The event also confirmed the launch of the newest Android smartphone, the Google Nexus, which will ship with Android 4.0. Although specifications for the device have already been leaked for days, this announcement saw its first official confirmation.

The Samsung handset features a 4.65-inch screen, 1GB of RAM and a dual-core 1.2Ghz processor, along with NFC capability. That NFC capability comes with something Google calls “Android Beam”, which allows users to share websites, YouTube videos and other information, including maps, by tapping phones together.

The Nexus will be available in the United States next month, but no Australian release date has been announced.

“Samsung and Google have closely collaborated to push the mobile experience forward,” head of Samsung mobile JK Shin said in a statement. “We will continue to move forward with Android to provide the compelling customer experience in mobile world.”

Both the handset and software are a clear shot at Apple, which just released its iPhone 4S. As the two companies claw for dominance in the mobile market, Android hopes to gain more share by having users install the new update on dozens of different phones.

However, as Ovum analyst Nick Dillon points out, Google is also taking a few hints from Apple in making the tablet and smartphone versions of Android a singular piece of software.

“This is perhaps the more important aspect of the update. One of the issues which has so far limited sales of Android tablets is the relatively small number of apps which are available for them.”

“By creating a single version of Android, Google is making it easier for developers to modify their apps and take advantage of the larger screens of tablets, which should stimulate the creation of apps designed for Android tablets.”