Android Ice Cream Sandwich slated for release in Oct-Nov: Google

Come October-November, admirers and users of Android OS will have a new and much-improved OS to set their eyes upon. Codenamed Ice-Cream Sandwich, the new operating system from Google is a conscious attempt to merge the separate tablet and smartphone strands of Android. As a result, mobile devices will get the 'holographic' interface that is originally spotted in Honeycomb. In addition, the new OS will trigger a much-sophisticated application framework that will help in categorizing among different form factors.

The word about the upcoming Ice-Cream Sandwich came from Google chairman Eric Schmidt who was attending the Dreamforce Conference in San Francisco. If the tentative date turns out to be correct, then launch date of Software Development Kit should be somewhere around it. Another interesting piece of speculations that is doing rounds about Ice-Cream Sandwich OS is in reference to the handset that it will arrive with. Apparently, that device is 'Nexus Prime'. However, no official word on it has been received yet.

Certainly, with Android under its wing and an advanced version coming up in Oct/Nov, Google can expect to break in Apple's market. Moreover, the new OS will mean Apple's highly-anticipated iPhone 5 will face some serious competition. Moreover, it could be an extension to Google’s growing stronghold in smartphone and tablet computing space. Having said that, Apple’s top rival Samsung will directly benefit from the arrival of ice-cream sandwich OS.  This should be good news for Samsung that has run into troubled waters recently.

However, costing of devices powered by upcoming Ice-Cream Sandwich is something buyers will be looking forward anxiously. On pricing front, especially in tablet segment, there hasn’t been much relief for interested buyers. Hope this will change after Ice-Cream Sandwich's launch in October/November.