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Ice Cream Sandwich is on its way with the Galaxy Nexus, but now Google’s released its source code through the Android Open Source Project, meaning everyone can dig in and start working on their ports (and bastardisations) for other devices.
The source code for the last major release of Android—4.0 Honeycomb—was withheld from public release because Google was afraid developers would try to hack the tablet-focused build onto phones, which would have been too much of a doodieshow for even Android to stomach. That’s not a problem with Ice Cream Sandwich, though, because the new release is a convergence of phone and tablet interfaces. [AOSP via Verge]
While I am really happy that the ICS source has been released I am at the same time slightly peeved. I haven’t even got my Samsung Galaxy Nexus yet and was hoping for a slightly longer period of smug exclusivity. At this rate the first ICS ports for other phones will be available by the weekend.
You will still have a fairly exclusive phone with kick-ass hardware
Will be a bit longer than the weekend for a stable build though
cyanogen forums are estimating 2 months for stable builds
True, and somewhat comforting. Also any build for an old phone won’t be proper ICS since it won’t have the on-screen buttons.
I’m not sure on screen buttons defines “proper ICS”
I reckon a few of the upcoming ICS phones from big manufacturers will still have physical buttons.
Now all I want to know is when Samsung will push this out for the Galaxy SII surely they’ve had the source for ages!
Which is kind of a good thing.
Whilst I agree with the notion that buttons should exist depending on the context of what you’re doing (i.e. you don’t always need a menu button, or back button etc.) in practice I think it’s a bit lame to lose all the buttons. They are tactile and nice.
I love Android just cause everything sounds delicious
Shouldn’t that be -3.0 Honeycomb- btw?
#corrections
here’s hoping for a Touchpad build by the end of the month
*looses all hope for CM7 Alpha 3 on Touchpad…