Google ready with Ice Cream Sandwich on October 19, 2011

Google has recently added a video on its YouTube channel of its staff putting up the Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) mascot on its laws. Located on the grounds of the company headquarters in California, the ICS mascot joins a long line of mascots representing earlier OS releases by Google.

The new OS is expected to be unveiled on October 19 and fans all over the world can watch the event live on Google’s YouTube channel, starting 10 AM HK time. Along with the OS, the world is expecting Google and Samsung to release the Nexus Prime / Galaxy Nexus smartphone at the event as well. The Galaxy Nexus has been highly anticipated since it will be the first smartphone to showcase the ICS OS.

From the looks of it Google has indeed got a treat for Android fans with its new OS. Numerous leaks online have sent the smartphone world into a tizzy with expectations from Google climbing sky high. Google hopes to close the gap between tablets and smartphones with Ice Cream Sandwich by making all devices accessible on the same platform. 

From all the leaks and rumours, it looks like the ICS has borrowed a number of features from Honeycomb. Phone Arena reports that with the OS, Google has revamped look of the UI. The combination of cold and neon colours set the ICS apart from its competition.

Even the icons on the screen have been simplified. Fewer in number, they are designed in classic black and white. Features like navigation buttons and visual multitasking on the ICS come straight out of the Honeycomb OS. The Music App is set for a big overhaul on the ICS too.

Google had originally planned to release the ICS OS last week, but delayed the launch as a mark of respect for Steve Jobs. Now that the OS is finally here, Android fans have a lot to look forward to.

The best news of all is that Google will release the source code of the OS, making it possible for manufactures everywhere to release devices powered by the ICS. Hopefully then, users will have a large number of options across designs and prices to choose from.