Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Which Android Tablets Are Getting Ice Cream Sandwich Upgrades?

    By Jared Spurbeck | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Wed, Jan 11, 2012
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    Most tablets that aren't made by Apple are powered by Android, Google's open-source operating system for smartphones and tablets. And for most of last year, that meant the Honeycomb version of Android, which was considered by many to be difficult to use and to have lots of bugs.

    But at the end of 2011, Google released Ice Cream Sandwich, the newest version of Android, which adds new features and fixes many of Honeycomb's problems. Many tablets introduced at or before CES 2012 come with Ice Cream Sandwich, but many of the tablets sold last year are able to run it as well.

    So, which of last year's tablets are (and aren't) getting the upgrade?

    The Asus Transformer Prime

    The Transformer Prime is Asus' sequel to its critically acclaimed Transformer ... and yes, there is a lawsuit from Hasbro about its name, even though it has nothing to do with the Transformers toy line or the Optimus Prime character.

    When the Transformer Prime was announced, Asus wasn't specific about when it would receive the upgrade but did indicate that it would be soon. Now in NVIDIA's CES 2012 keynote, CEO Jen-Hsun Huang announced the Transformer Prime would get its upgrade immediately. It is now available for download.

    Aaron Gingrich of Android Police reports a few people are having trouble with the update, and that it is locking up and rebooting their tablet. Asus' customer support representatives appear to be stumped by the issue.

    The Sony Tablet S

    Sony's Android-powered tablet has limited PlayStation Network compatibility, and is able to play certain PlayStation games. It has a teardrop profile from the side and is shaped like a magazine that's being folded open. The Tablet P, another Android device that was announced but hasn't been released yet, has a Nintendo DS-style clamshell design.

    Last month, Sony representative "StartTheCar" announced "an update to Android 4.0 will be available" for the Tablet S, with details to be given "in due course."

    7-inch tablets not getting an upgrade

    The 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab is not receiving an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade, according to Andy Boxall of Digital Trends. Meanwhile, there's been no announcement from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com about whether the Nook or the Kindle Fire will be upgraded. Even if they did get the upgrade, it would look very different from Ice Cream Sandwich on other devices, as both companies use their own custom (and simplified) interface.

    Richard Gutierrez of Android Authority has summed up instructions posted on the XDA Developers forum for how to put Ice Cream Sandwich on your Nook Color. With a ROM name like "sneakpeek1-fullofbugs," however, it's clear that the developers have some work to do before Ice Cream Sandwich receives a stable, if unofficial, port.

    Jared Spurbeck is an open-source software enthusiast, who uses an Android phone and an Ubuntu laptop PC. He has been writing about technology and electronics since 2008.

     

    8 comments

    • A Yahoo! User  •  Los Angeles, California  •  4 mths ago
      Unfortunately the Yahoo Gurus, failed to notice that a Chinese company Aniol Computers has produced a 7 inch tablet PC running Android Ice Cream Sandwich. They produced a Honeycomb version of their 7 inch tablet last year and I purchased one and it works perfectly.
      The Yahoo folks have noted HP, Sony, and the others who use the same processors as the Aniol 7 Basic, are having problems stabilizing Ice Cream Sandwich.
      Oh by the way instead of charging the $399 to $500, the Aniol company charges $135 or less.
      Yes it has two cameras, yes it has 8 gb on board memory, and a capacitive touch screen, and HDMI output. It will support a MICRO SD card of 16GB, oh yes a 1 ghz processor, did I mention it is $135 or less, plus shipping. It takes about thee weeks to arrive in the U.S, China mail is very slow.
      Something worth checking out.
      oldpapajerry.
    • big_scarecrow
      big_scarecrow  •  4 mths ago
      What do I do with my Galaxy Tab? If everyone's getting ice cream sandwich and mine is just gingerbread, I'm getting me an apple.
      • Mike Pa
        Mike Pa 4 mths ago
        Don't. I have an iPad 2 and it'll feel like a downgrade. My 16 month old Android phone has had some nicer features for over a year. I use the iPad more than my phone because of the size of the screen, and the apps, but the interface annoys me daily. Random app closes, terrible keyboard, hard to edit text, random weird things happening in response to screen touches, etc.

        Also Google XDA and click the first link. The big non-secret with Android is you can root and install other versions. I had Gingerbread on my phone a year before it was released for my phone and I can install Ice Cream Sandwich now when it will the manufacturer has said they would not be ever release it for my phone.
    • AL2FAST
      AL2FAST  •  4 mths ago
      Wow, such a complete list of which Android tablets are getting the upgrade. Who is the editor that allows this garbage to be published?? Between this Jared character and Chris Chase the editor needs to be fired yesterday!
      • Rich
        Rich 4 mths ago
        seriously....I'm considering buying one and I'm looking at about 5 others that aren't even mentioned.
    • John
      John  •  Newark, New Jersey  •  4 mths ago
      This is his worst article to date...
      • Mike Pa
        Mike Pa 4 mths ago
        If you look at the source, it is some random guy on the Yahoo Contributor Network. So one step up from pulling tweets as a story.
    • Klimt
      Klimt  •  Seattle, Washington  •  4 mths ago
      What about the other Android tablets, or did the writer fail to realize there are others besides the only ones he's heard of? What is the relevance of the shape of Sony's tablet? This writer obviously has no clue how to write an arcticle. But he does probably have a journalism degree so he knows better than us plebeians what we need to know,
    • StevieBoy
      StevieBoy  •  Nashville, Tennessee  •  4 mths ago
      What kind of a article is this? Really YAHOO you need to get a grip---or at least some trained writers. The crap coming from this site is getting out of hand.
    • johnny
      johnny  •  Prague, Czech Republic  •  4 mths ago
      gee wiz, and I was so looking forward to finding out if the acer iconia A500 would get the update. Guess I'll have to ask you good people if it will be so cause this article is LAME for info. Any Ideas?
    • nonya business
      nonya business  •  4 mths ago
      I agree with John. How do you start an article about Android OS updates by talking about how they aren't Apple products? "Most tablets that aren't made by Apple are powered by Android, Google's open-source operating system for smartphones and tablets". Idiot, we know they aren't made by Apple. Most people who would read this article either own an Android product, or want to own an Android product.
     Post a comment
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['everyone is looking for closure', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/search-for-new-clues-in-etan-patz-case-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/dh/ap/ap/default/120524/patz.jpg', '630', ' ', 'Reuters', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

    News For You

    Loading...

    US News »

    • Romney opens new front vs Obama: schools are failing Sam Youngman and Laura MacInnis
      U.S. Republican presidential candidate Romney pauses while talking about children's education in Washington

      WASHINGTON/REDWOOD CITY, California (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney opened a new front on Wednesday in his fight against President Barack Obama, accusing him of presiding over a failing U.S. education system in the grip of union bosses who refuse to accept reforms. In a rare diversion from his …

    • Jury deliberates fifth day in John Edwards' trial Colleen Jenkins

      GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) - A fifth day of jury deliberations got under way on Thursday in former U.S. Senator John Edwards' campaign finance case, which legal experts have said could expand the definition of what qualifies as campaign contributions. Jurors have nearly four weeks of testimony to consider as they …

    • Man in custody in New York boy's '79 disappearance Barbara Goldberg
      NYPD spokesman Paul Brown holds an original missing poster of Etan Patz during a news conference near a New York City apartment building, where police and FBI agents were searching a basement for clues in the boy's 1979 disappearance, in New York

      NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New Jersey man was in custody on Thursday in the 1979 disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz from his New York City neighborhood, a case that drew national attention to the plight of missing children. The break in the case came one month after the FBI and New York City Police conducted a four-day excavation …

    • NOAA sees 'near normal' Atlantic hurricane season

      MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) - The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season will be "near normal" with nine to 15 tropical storms and four to eight of those will strengthen into hurricanes, the U.S. government weather agency predicted on Thursday. One to three of those will grow into "major" hurricanes of Category 3 or higher on the …

    • Occupy Wall Street sues NYC over confiscated books Joseph Ax

      NEW YORK (Reuters) - Occupy Wall Street filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against New York City, claiming authorities destroyed $47,000 worth of books, computers and other equipment confiscated from the protesters' encampment in lower Manhattan last fall. Police conducted a surprise overnight raid at Zuccotti Park in November, …

     
    Episode 11: Hard times for Hometown Hardware
    Should Bill and Donna take on more risk to boost their business? Join the conversation.
    Episode 10: Mother's Day Tribute
    Remake America celebrates moms everywhere.
    Episode 9: A prosthetic for Kyle?
    Wounded veteran Kyle lost his hand during an explosion in Iraq.
    Learn more about Remake America »