Google's new version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich launch expected by November 2011

Google has been working on a single operating system to rule them all called the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) / Android 2.4. Its their attempt to have Smartphone’s and Tablet’s share the same operating system and apps. Currently, Google has a different version for tablets (Honeycomb) and a different one for handsets (Gingerbread) but ICS will change all that soon.

What we expect from ICS is a lot of new and nifty features that were previously only available in the tablet version on the handsets like a completely new user interface, tabbed browsing, a revamped launcher and then some. It is expected to work on all Android devices, even old Samsung, HTC and Sony Ericsson devices.

Some cool features that we expect is face recognition for video calls, USB hosting function allowing users to plug their handset to their Xbox or Playstation and play using their phone. The USB hosting feature will also allow keyboards and mice to be connected to the phone, though I don’t know what good that would do. Maybe they can play games using a keyboard or mouse. Techie’s are weird like that

Expected launch date is October or November 2011. I have my fingers crossed hoping that ICS works with my HTC Desire since Gingerbread isn’t really working out without rooting the phone. Unless I buy the HTC Sensation or Increidble, just can’t decide with new phones coming out every few months.