Samsung Galaxy S and Tab, No Ice Cream Sandwich for You!

Bangalore: The latest version of Google’s Mobile Operating System - Ice Cream Sandwich or Android 4.0- will not be available for Galaxy S and the 7-inch Galaxy Tab. In late November Samsung promised an up-gradation of OS for both Galaxy S and Tab, which now seems to be broken. The reason behind this omission of up-gradation is due to the additional software features in these devices like TouchWiz, widgets, video calling and carrier software pack-ins. TouchWiz is given the major blame due to which these devices doest have enough RAM or ROM to contain all Samsung-designed accoutrements without affecting the quality of use.

The confusing fact is that Galaxy S is very much similar to the recently launched Galaxy Nexus which runs on Android 4.0. Samsung explains that “Nexus runs solely on Android without the addition of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. Hence, the Galaxy S would probably not be able to cope with the implementation of ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich), along with TouchWiz”. As there is no problem with Galaxy S’s 1-GHz Cortex A8 processor or RAM, which are perfectly capable to run the Android 4.0, its Samsung’s UI that obstructs Galaxy S from having the ICS update.  This point out the fact that if TouchWiz is removed from Galaxy S, the device might be capable of running the vanilla version of Ice Cream Sandwich without much trouble even though the experience will not that perfect. 

There is going to be a vex in the minds of Samsung Smartphone and Tablet users due the barring of Ice Cream Sandwich for Galaxy S and Tab. Users are expecting a third party developer to come up with some new techniques to make these devices portable with the new OS. Other players like Motorola and HTC will be coming up with their ICS updates for their Smartphone and Tablets in another three to six months.