Android Ice Cream Sandwich - Feature Preview

After Android Honeycomb, there will be Ice Cream Sandwich for all as Google announced at a press conference in San Francisco, that the next Google OS will merge the best of Honeycomb and Gingerbread. 

Lets take a look at the Android Ice Cream Sandwich features revealed so far.

1. Getting that Honeycomb look

Built from the ground up and optimized for tablet devices, the best of Honeycomb will be available to Android phone users which will bring elements such as the slick holographic user interface, an updated app launcher, the interactive homescreen widgets and can also look forward to using the multi-task bar currently located at the bottom of the HoneyComb tablet OS.

2. New developer API
It’s good news for devs as they will now be able to build apps for tablet, phones and other connected devices under the same framework. That should help the rollout of Android apps across different hardware platforms to be done all at the same time.

4.  Music in the clouds

Much rumoured, Google finally revealed its cloud music service set to give iTunes a run for its money. Currently only available in beta to our American friends, amongst the features, you'll be able to share playlists instantly across all Android devices.

5. Movies on the move

Now Android users can get their hands on a host of movies straight from the Android Market which can be watched from the web, on your tablet and on your smartphone. On the rental front, you’ll have 30 days to keep hold of it with HD selection currently being priced at $4.99 in the US.

6. Android meets Kinect

Devs will be able to play with a 3D display system that can track movement and detect the position of a person’s head, nose and eyes. The benefits? Potentially creating devices that will let you input data and commands using facial gestures in real-time for example.  

7. One OS for all

Google has spoken of its plans to bring Android devices closer together, and while tablet devices and phones appear key to this unification, other connected devices like Google TV will also reap the benefits of the Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

8. 0-click NFC sharing

It's starting to surface on smartphone devices already, and with Ice Cream Sandwich you'll be able to share web pages, contacts, YouTube videos and more by the power of Near Field Communication.

Motorolla XOOM - Everything a tablet should be

Tablets have been pouring in tech market in a mass. Choosing the right tablet for a right need has been so confusing with new models from new companies being  launched.  Motorola's much anticipated Honeycomb infused tablet the XOOM has finally been officially announced for the Indian sector. The XOOM may have been the world’s first Android Honeycomb tablet, but it's certainly not India's first as the Acer ICONIA Tab A500 has usurped that title. 

The XOOM sports a 10.1-inch touchscreen offering a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. It's touted as one of the fastest tablets around because it is powered by a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor. The tablet also features a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, and 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with 720p video recording capabilities. Playable video formats are AAC, H.263, H.264, MP3, MPEG-4, ACC+ Enhanced, OGG, MIDI, AMR NB, AAC+.  The XOOM also supports 1080p FullHD video playback and an HDMI port, too. Additionally,

it has 24 W-hr battery time, approx.10 hrs. browsing over WIFI capability, MP3 Playback for approx 3.3.days and standby time of 14 days. Never to miss out on its Video playback which is 10 hours.XOOM is also equiped with Google Mobile services, Internet services and Connectivity modes.