Samsung confirms Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade for devices in 2012

Google has released the latest version of their operating system and the list of devices that are finally upgrading to it is getting longer.  The “Ice Cream Sandwich” update was reported as the one of the largest updates to the operating system since the “Froyo” update.  The upgrade will bring a neat interface to your Android device, as well as other features that really add to the user experience.  The updates will be coming for the Samsung Galaxy S II, Galaxy S II LTE, Galaxy Note, Galaxy R, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy 7.7 and the Galaxy Tab Plus.

Currently, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Nexus for as little as $189 for new customers and get the only smartphone sporting Android 4.0 as of now.

Samsung issued the press release today and said that information regarding countries and carriers will be following soon.  Each device will be announced separately and it will be “according to market situation and carriers’ requirements.”  The list is almost all of the Android powered devices for Samsung, but not all of them.  The company did not say anything about any other devices, but also did not say those unmentioned devices would not be getting the update.

Part of the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich is the loss of the physical buttons like home, back and menu.  Phones that get the upgrade that have the physical buttons will still be able to use the new interface; the physical buttons just won’t serve the exact same purpose.  The home key can be pushed for loading the multi-tasking tool and the menu key will load any contextual on-screen menu.  Widgets on the home screen might be the biggest change to affect the way your phone looks.  Apps and widgets can be found in the same place and then each of them can be dragged to your home screen which is much easier and simpler.

The Ice Cream Sandwich update has not been getting around too quickly and companies like Motorola are still looking at the code and will be making a statement regarding their handsets soon.  LG said that ICS would be coming to their handsets back in November and since then have not released addition information.  Other companies like Sprint, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile are just a couple others that have not released plans to update to the newest version of the popular Android operating system, although it seems the target is going to be the early part of 2012.