Daily News Courier

Galaxy S II ICS update coming March 10, says Samsung Philippines

It looks like the Galaxy S II's Ice Cream Sandwich update may be imminent. Samsung has just announced on its official Philippines site that the long-awaited update will finally land this Saturday, Mar. 10. Today's news follows a Facebook post from Samsung Israel last week, which suggested a Mar. 15 launch in that country.

In the past day or so we've seen HTC update a couple of its leading 2011 devices to the latest version of Android — ICS for the Sensation and Sensation XE is slowly trickling out, starting with users in Germany and Nordic countries.

So it's definitely ICS update season, and we look forward to seeing the new OS work its way onto more devices in the weeks ahead. The (international) Samsung Galaxy Note and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc series are due to be updated before the end of the month.

Source: Samsung Philippines; via: Engadget

HTC to give fans and developers an early taste of ICS on international Sensation phones

HTC will give some customers an early preview of its Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates, a spokesperson for the manufacturer has told us. This will start with the HTC Sensation and Sensation XE in Europe (sorry, Tmo Sensation 4G owners), and leaves open the possibility that it'll be extended to other popular handsets in the future.

"HTC knows how excited many of its customers are about the latest technology and HTC products. They want to help support that excitement and say "thanks" by providing early access to the latest software for some of HTC’s loyal fans and developers, beginning with a preview of the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) software upgrade for the HTC Sensation and HTC Sensation XE in Europe."

Further details will be announced through HTC's official Twitter and Facebook accounts, though it's expected that members of HTC's "Elevate" beta program be first in line for the preview.

HTC recently announced that it'll roll out the finished Ice Cream Sandwich updates for the original Sensation, as well as the XE, XL and 4G variants by the end of March, so even if you're not among the lucky few to get the preview version, you shouldn't have too long to wait.

Android Central international round-up – Feb. 11, 2012

As Mobile World Congress approaches, we're starting to see more rumors and speculation about future devices. In addition to news of what's looming on the horizon, we've also had plenty of launches and release dates for Android phones and tablets that've already been announced.

Here are a few highlights from the past week in international Android developments –

Features

• Announcing the Android Super Challenge on HyperQuiz winners!

News

• Australia to get LG Prada 3.0 in April, coming to Vodafone
• Is Google planning to open a retail store in Dublin?
• HTC says first Ice Cream Sandwich updates coming in March, adds more phones to the list
• 'Berry pink' Galaxy Note reportedly coming by early March
• Phones4U to offer on-contract handset upgrades every six months
• HTC, Vodafone Germany to launch first 4G LTE phone — the HTC Velocity
• Galaxy Nexus now available on Videotron, C$150 on contract
• Motorola confirms UK Motoluxe launch for late February
• White HTC Sensation XE revealed, due Feb. 20 in the UK
• Huawei Ascend P1 S reportedly coming to China in late March
• Toshiba AT200 'Excite' tablet launches in the UK, is Carphone Warehouse exclusive
• Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II LTE rumored for Telstra in Australia
• Fresh HTC Ville pics give a clearer look at HTC Sense 4.0
• White Galaxy Nexus is official, coming to the UK from Feb. 13
• Latest Galaxy S III rumors suggest May launch, 7mm thickness

Got an international story? Tip us at the usual address!

Android Central international round-up – Feb. 11, 2012

As Mobile World Congress approaches, we're starting to see more rumors and speculation about future devices. In addition to news of what's looming on the horizon, we've also had plenty of launches and release dates for Android phones and tablets that've already been announced.

Here are a few highlights from the past week in international Android developments –

Features

• Announcing the Android Super Challenge on HyperQuiz winners!

News

• Australia to get LG Prada 3.0 in April, coming to Vodafone
• Is Google planning to open a retail store in Dublin?
• HTC says first Ice Cream Sandwich updates coming in March, adds more phones to the list
• 'Berry pink' Galaxy Note reportedly coming by early March
• Phones4U to offer on-contract handset upgrades every six months
• HTC, Vodafone Germany to launch first 4G LTE phone — the HTC Velocity
• Galaxy Nexus now available on Videotron, C$150 on contract
• Motorola confirms UK Motoluxe launch for late February
• White HTC Sensation XE revealed, due Feb. 20 in the UK
• Huawei Ascend P1 S reportedly coming to China in late March
• Toshiba AT200 'Excite' tablet launches in the UK, is Carphone Warehouse exclusive
• Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II LTE rumored for Telstra in Australia
• Fresh HTC Ville pics give a clearer look at HTC Sense 4.0
• White Galaxy Nexus is official, coming to the UK from Feb. 13
• Latest Galaxy S III rumors suggest May launch, 7mm thickness

Got an international story? Tip us at the usual address!

HTC promises Ice Cream Sandwich for short list of phones in 2012

HTC has finally given some cold-hard assurances about which of its current crop of phones can expect to receive the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. In a post to its Facebook page in the wee hours of the morning, HTC confirmed that it plans to deliver Ice Cream Sandwich to the following phones:

• HTC Amaze
• HTC EVO 3D, EVO Design 4G
• HTC Sensation, Sensation XE, and Sensation XL
• HTC Rezound

These phones are part of the “first wave of devices,” signaling that more phones could snack on Ice Cream Sandwich once more testing is done and the company has time to see if they will be able to fit Android 4.0 on previous generation devices. In the meantime, these phones can count on receiving the update so long as there aren’t any last minute complications like the Gingerbread debacle.

We expected that only the flagship devices released in 2011 could have realistic hopes of ICS, but perhaps others can have a slim, measured, tempered, tiny bit of hope that HTC will extend the upgrade to other phones in early 2012. Here’s HTC’s statement in full.

HTC Facebook via Engadget

HTC knows how excited our fans are to get their hands on Google’s latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, so we’re thrilled today to announce the first wave of HTC phones that will receive upgrades: We can confirm the brand new HTC Vivid, on sale beginning today, is upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich. In addition, Ice Cream Sandwich is coming in early 2012 to a variety of devices including the HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation XL and HTC Sensation XE, as well as the HTC Rezound, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G and HTC Amaze 4G through close integration with our carrier partners. We’re continuing to assess our product portfolio, so stay tuned for more updates on device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Ice Cream Sandwich.

Comments

• I purchase three Thunderbolts in April and they can’t be … by Chas
• Are you kidding me no evo 4g ? by Omari Watson

Related Stories

• Will the LG Optimus 2X, G2X, or Optimus 3D get ICS? LG says the jury’s still out
• Androinica asks: Was Ice Cream Sandwich worth the hype? [Poll]
• Android 4.0 Ice Cream highlights and new features you may have missed from the demo

Verizon

Well, it looks like a tester that goes by the YouTube name of worldofjohnboy, has decided to give us all a tease of the HTC Rezound in a nearly five-minute unboxing presentation. Seemingly every tech journalist in the free-world has referred to this device as the HTC Vigor at one point or another. Judging from the video, this phone is more than likely a