We can’t wait to get our hands on Android 4.0 – on any device, whether it’s a Galaxy Nexus, a custom ROM on some of the phone out there, or a tablet like the Transformer Prime, which will supposedly get ICS by the end of the year. But if you can’t wait any longer, here are some official videos from Google that show what Android 4.0 is all about.
Multi-tasking
Multi-tasking has been one of Android’s major competitive advantages over iOS. It took iOS years before it even incorporated a limtied form of multi-tasking, and Android 4.0 improves even more on Android’s multi-tasking system, making it easy to use multiple applications in the same time and switch between them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJyVNrxGonU&feature=player_embedded
Widgets
Another main advantage of Android over iOS has always been the availability of widgets, which allow you to see a lot more information at a glance on your home screen. Android 4.0 brings expandable widgets that can become as large as you want them to be, and you can also interact with them without entering the application.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XjRE_R9UDY&feature=player_embedded
Face Unlock
Face Unlock is a unique feature to Android, and it brings the convenience of opening your phone just by looking at it. It’s not the most secure method to lock your phone in the world, but unless someone has your picture and plans on stealing your phone, you should have nothing to worry about. Plus, it’s something cool to show your friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDfmkMDue6c&feature=player_embedded
Panorama Mode
Panorama modes have existed before in other 3rd party apps, but it’s always been kind of a pain to use, because you had to match the sides of the pictures. Android 4.0 brings a new way of taking panorama pictures, by simply gliding your phone in the air, and letting the software handle the photo stitching to create your panorama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmOR4DkWMM8&feature=player_embedded
Android Beam
Android Beam feature takes advantage of NFC technology to allow phones to communicate with each other and send each other different information, like contact info, links, and so on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCw1ilMzCH4&feature=player_embedded
Android has come a long way in the past few years, from the ugly duckling of the mobile ecosystem, to becoming not only the most powerful and most popular mobile OS, but also an OS that is very smooth, easy to use and enchanting.