ICS: What’s Different and New?

Congratulations on updating your device to 3.26.502.56. You might have some questions about the newupdate and how you can take advantage of all the cool things that the Ice Cream Sandwich update hasto offer. This article hopes to address just that.

Common Tasks and Navigation

Notifications

Task On Gingerbread On Ice Cream SandwichNotification bar on lock screen Notification bar is not accessible

on the lock screen.

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You can access your notificationbar on the lock screen by simplydragging it down.

Dismissing Notifications Clear all notifications at oncewith the Clear button

Clear all notifications at oncewith the Clear button

OR

Dismiss individual notificationsby swiping left or right on thatnotification

Homescreen

Task On Gingerbread On Ice Cream SandwichEditing and Deleting Widgets Edit/Delete options are at the

bottom of the screenEdit/Delete options are at thetop of the screen

Folder Creation Create a folder first through thePersonalize menu or tapping andholding on an empty space onthe home screen, then add apps

Place one app/shortcut on top ofanother on the home screen toquickly create a folder (up to 16apps in a folder)

Launch Bar Not customizable and only has 3options (All Apps, Phone andPersonalize)

Replaced with All Apps and 4default options(app/shortcut/folder) that is fullycustomizable by drag & drop.

Voice/Text Input

Task On Gingerbread On Ice Cream SandwichVoice Input Engine Basic. Can only take 2-3

sentences at a time. Would haveto keep activating if dictating along message.

Advanced. More robust and canbe used to dictate an entireemail. Intelligent enough torecognize pauses, breaks andpunctuation.

Changing Text Input Tap and hold on a text input areafor a second and wait for Inputmethod. Tap on Input to select.

Drag down notification bar andtap Select input method tochoose your input.

Spell Checker/Custom Words Basic. Advance.

Apps

Task On Gingerbread On Ice Cream SandwichAccessing Recent Apps Press and hold Home button to

see last 8 apps

OR

Drag down notification bar toscroll through your last 8 apps

Press and hold Home button tosee all your recent apps

OR

Drag down notification bar toscroll through your last 8 apps

Closing Apps Use the built-in Task Manager toclose out apps one by one or allat once.

While viewing your recent apps,swipe left or right on the appyou want to close

Desktop/Mobile Viewing Enabled or disabled in Internet >Settings

Can be enabled directly fromInternet menu

Settings All on one page Grouped for your convenience

Cool Tips & Tricks

What’s New: Beats Audio

Enhance your music and video experience with Beats Audio. Whenever a media file is played using thedefault media players or most third party applications, the Beats Audio indicator will appear in thenotification bar. Simply tap the notification to enable or disable Beats Audio. You can also turn BeatsAudio on or off in the Settings menu.

Note: Beats Audio will only work when headphones or a speaker is connected. This is to ensure the bestpossible audio quality.

What’s New: Face UnlockEasily unlock your phone with your face.

To use Face Unlock, you will need to create an alternative password in the form of a PIN (numeric) orPassword (alpha numeric). This is to help you unlock the device during the times when your device isunable to recognize your face.

Face Unlock can be accessed through Settings > Security > Screen lock

What’s New: Incognito Browser ModeBrowse in private without leaving a trail

While incognito mode is meant as a way to browse without leaving a trail behind, always exercisecaution when browsing the web. If you are not familiar with a website or comfortable with providingyour information, do not proceed.

To open a window in incognito mode, from Internet, tap the Menu button and choose Windows. Tap themask icon located in the top right to open a new incognito window.

What’s New: Calendar ZoomEasily see all your events on a busy calendar by pinching outwards.

By pinching inwards, you will be zooming out of your day’s event and thus will be able to see moreevents at a glance. When you pinch outwards, you will be zooming in on your events and thus see moredetails about each event.

What’s New: Data Network MonitoringQuickly determine how much data you have used.

You can also use this feature to track your Wi-Fi feature as well. To display your Wi-Fi, tap the Menubutton > Usage settings > check Show Wi-Fi usage.

Like the Mobile tab, the Wi-Fi tab will show you overall usage (but on Wi-Fi) as well as how much dataeach app consumed.

However, unlike the Mobile tab, the Wi-Fi tab does not have the ability to set a limit nor are you able tochoose when to reset data count.

Note that this feature is to provide you with a gauge with regards to your data usage. It is by no meansan accurate measure of what your carrier counting against you. Always check your bill or online accountto see how much data you are being charged.

What’s Different: Restrict Background Data

For users who were toggling background data, this feature has been renamed and moved. To get to thisfeature, go to Settings > Usage > tap the Menu button > Usage settings. It is now called Restrict

background data and checking it would disable background data, if you uncheck the option, it wouldenable.

What’s Different: Folders on Launch Bar

If you place a folder in your launch bar, it will also appear on your lock screen. Dragging it into the ring tounlock will result in your device unlocking to your home screen and opening the folder for your nextaction/tap.

What’s Different: Launch Bar and Lock Screen Shortcuts

Your launch bar is linked to the 4 shortcuts on your home screen (if you have them set up to display it).Changing an app on the launch bar will also change the app in the same location on the lock screen.

What’s New: Resizable Widgets

With this feature, some widgets can be resized to fill up the space. Not all widgets can be resized and itis up to the individual developers to implement it.

To resize a widget, tap and hold on a widget until the screen vibrates. At this time, you can move thewidget around the screen if you want or release your touch. You will notice 4 double arrows around theperimeter of the widget. Drag a double arrow in the direction shown to increase or decrease the widgetin that direction. Repeat the process until you have the size that you want. Tap anywhere on the screenor tap the Back button to set your widget.

What’s Different: Gmail

Many apps get improved with ICS and Gmail is one such example. With ICS, you now have morefunctionality in the Gmail app. For example, while reading an email, you can swipe left or right to get tothe older or newer message. If you do not know what the individual icons in the app represent, you cantap and hold on any of them to get its name.

What’s Different: Unknown Sources

To install 3rd party apps without using Android Market (e.g. through an APK file you downloaded fromthe web), you will need to have Unknown Sources checked. This option has moved in ICS and you cannow find it in Settings > Security.

What’s New: App Info

You can easily access information about an app that you have recently launched. Bring up the RecentApps by pressing and holding your Home button. Tap and hold on the application you want to see moreinformation about and choose App info. The next screen will show a wealth of information from thedevice, from how much space it is taking up on your phone to the permissions it has access to. You caneven move an app to the SD card (to save space) or even uninstall it completely from your device.

What’s New: Disable an App

You can now disable an app if you no longer want it (but are unable to uninstall it). Disabling an appremoves it from All Apps and prevents it from launching. To disable an app, go to Settings > Apps > Alland scroll down to the app. You will see the Disable option.

Note: If you do not see a Disable option, it means that the app can either be uninstalled or is corefunctionality and cannot be disabled.

What’s New: App Association

If you have more than 1 app installed for a specific function (e.g. web browsing), you can choose whichapp launches every time you tap on a web URL from other sources such as emails and text messages. Toconfigure your app association, go to Settings > App association and choose which options suits youbest. If an app that you want to use is installed but not available as an option, it means that is it notpossible (e.g. you will not be able to choose an audio only app for videos).

What’s New: Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard

You can now use a Bluetooth mouse (and keyboard) with your device! If you find the point speed to be atad too fast (or slow for you), you can adjust its settings. Go to Settings > Language & keyboard andchoose pointer speed.

What’s Different: Bluetooth Received Files

To view your Bluetooth received files, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the Menu button and chooseShow received files. Due to the way ICS handles he creation of folders, you are not able to create afolder on your device for Received Bluetooth files.

What’s New: Rename Bluetooth Devices

You can now rename your Bluetooth devices to something that is more familiar to you. For example,HandsFreeLink can now be In-Car Bluetooth.

To rename a Bluetooth device, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn on your Bluetooth device (if notalready turned on).

Tap on the settings icon to the right of the device you want to rename.

Tap Rename and enter a new name for that device. Tap OK to save your change.

What’s New: Wi-Fi Direct

With Wi-Fi Direct, you can now transfer files from one Wi-Fi Direct capable device to another, just likeyou would with Bluetooh, but with much higher transfer speeds. To use this feature, both devices justneed to be within proximity of each other.

You can access Wi-Fi Direct from Settings > More

Note: While using Wi-Fi Direct, you will not be able to use Wi-Fi to connect to another network forinternet access.

What’s Different: USB Debugging

From users looking for the USB Debugging and Stay Awake option which was usually accessed throughSettings > Applications > Development, they can now access it through Settings > Develop option

What’s New: End Calls With Power Button

You can now use the Power button to end a call. To activate this option, go to Settings > Accessibilityand check the box for Power button ends call.

What’s Different: Auto Rotating Screen Option

Auto-rotate screen is now located under Settings > Accessibility

What’s New: Configure the Tap & Hold Delay

If you are always activating the alternate menu of your device because your tap is being recognized astap and hold, you can increase the delay. Go to Settings > Accessibility and choose between Short,Medium or Long for Touch and hold delay.

What’s New: Web Script Installation

Certain web sites require the installation of web scripts. However, these can be harmful if you are notfamiliar with it and has thus been disabled by default. If you would like to enable web scriptsinstallation, go to Settings > Accessibility and tap on Install web scripts. You will be asked to confirm thatyou want to allow this option.

What’s New: Choosing Which Google Account to Backup to

If you have multiple Google accounts set up on your device, you can choose which account to backupyour settings to. Go to Settings > Privacy and tap on Backup account to select your account.

What’s Different: Volume Profiles

There are now only 3 sound volumes that you can adjust.1. Alarms2. Ringtone & notifications3. Everything else (media, navigation, games, etc.)

FAQs

Q. What happens to my applications after the upgrade?A. Your applications will still be there. Please go into the Market application and check to see if there areany newer updates for your applications.

Q. I had an app that was working prior to the update and now it doesn’t.A. Some 3rd party application providers have not updated their application to work with ICS. Removethe application, and check the Market to see if an updated application is available. Alternatively, youcan check the application’s website to find out about their ICS plans contact the application’s developerdirectly..

Q. Will I need to set up my phone again?A. Nope, all settings should be preserved through the update process.

Q. How can I get this update?A. This update will be rolled out in the coming weeks. Your device will be notified when the update isavailable.

Q. How can I update my device?A. Please refer to this article: <article link>.

Q. Can I go back to the previous version?A. No, all updates to ICS is final.