Good news for owners of the HTC Sensation and HTC Sensation XE -- it looks like those smart phones are beginning to see updates to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich rolling out.
HTC confirmed to Engadget that the update, which also brings HTC Sense 3.6, has appeared in Nordic countries, while Recombu notes that German site HTCinside.de has seen the update appearing on its Sensation XE.
So it would appear that the update is about to be made available everywhere. I've contacted HTC for confirmation on the Nordic update, and I'll let you know if I hear anything regarding an update in the UK.
I'd expect the update to appear a bit later if your HTC phone is tied to a network. Generally it's the SIM-free devices that are treated to the latest version first.
The update itself is reportedly pretty hefty at 297MB, so if you do see it appearing on your phone's screen, it might be an idea to connect to Wi-Fi before beginning the download.
In February, HTC confirmed that the HTC Sensation and Sensation XE would be getting Ice Cream Sandwich before the end of March, so assuming the update arrives in the UK soon, it will be on schedule. The Sensation XL update will follow, with the HTC Desire HD, Incredible S, Desire S and Evo 3D getting updated "later this year".
Samsung, meanwhile, recently teased Galaxy S2 owners with a 10 March date for the Android 4.0 update posted on an official website, only to claim via Twitter that the date was incorrect.
I've had a sneak peek at HTC Sense 4.0, running on the upcoming HTC One X, a surprisingly slick quad-core mobile due to land in April. I've embedded a video below for your viewing delight.
Are you happy to wait patiently for Ice Cream Sandwich? Or are manufacturers making us wait too long? Tell me in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 16
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anonymous 9 March, 2012 15:32
What would be interesting is to see how this ultimately affects the number of Google+ sign-ups. ICS prompts people to sign up for accounts so you'd assume there will be a fairly significant boost in Google+ sign-ups as more phones get upgraded to ICS.
We'll never really know the impact this has since Google only ever releases user counts on a quarterly basis...and even then it would be difficult to know how much impact the ICS rollouts specifically had.
jimmyjam 9 March, 2012 15:52
Am awating this now! Has taken a ridiculous amount of time so hope its slicker for future upgrades.
ace9988 9 March, 2012 16:40
why is it so long for the evo 3d....especially since it shares the same internals as the sensation xe apart from the cameras and the screen -.-
and don't tell me "get your phone rooted and the world is open to you" because mine is and even there, the camera software is propriety and its not available on most models if you install a custom ICS ROM.
AndyC 10 March, 2012 07:49
Why don't google flex their muscles and force manufacturers to do vanilla ics upgrades earlier. Then wait for individual manufacturers overlays such as sense. It would make a lot more sense, and keep a few hundred million Android users a lot happier!
anonymous 10 March, 2012 13:41
Bring out updates from the ThunderBolt. Make Landon happy :3
ace9988 10 March, 2012 17:49
I have a better idea rather than that andyC....example: before google made the announcement of ICS back in november, they should've handed the source out to manufacturers so that they can make their skins. Then it can be pushed out at the same time, instead of google announcing it and we wait for 5 months now and now ice cream sandwich. do all the planning and coding before announcing it...rather than announcing it and showing it off...then making people wait the best part of a year before they get anywhere
anonymous 11 March, 2012 23:24
Most people don't realize that aside from the enhanced browser, the main features of ics are already in htc sense 3.5. Such as going straight to the cam from lock-screen, zero shutter lag, and the task manager. But sense 3.5 has some features that ics DOESN'T have. Like the ability to swap entire homescreens with one long-press, 360 degree homescreen rotation in both directions, more shortcuts, more camera features, and slow-motion video recording. So i'm in no hurry to get the ics upgrade to my rezound anyway.
anonymous 13 March, 2012 02:29
i just want it to hurry up and get to the state as fast as it can
anonymous 15 March, 2012 14:14
"Most people don't realize that aside from the enhanced browser, the main features of ics are already in htc sense 3.5. Such as going straight to the cam from lock-screen..."
Not exactly. There's Roboto, Face unlock, New notification bar, New camera (with panorama), New scrollable widgets, Improved 'multi' tasking or app switching, new folder's for apps, Data usage history. That's just the ones I can think off.
anonymous 30 March, 2012 22:34
HTC sensations xe, o2 UK. no update yet. I know o2 is alway the last one to update.
anonymous 2 April, 2012 15:55
Now i'am interesting to buy htc sensation xe ( because i was waited too long for the latest music based phone by HTC but the latest one series does not have beats headphones ).........so i shall also get the ICS updates perfectly.......or not?
my mean ICS updates is also applicable for the new customers, not only prior who already have sensation xe.........?
reply me on my email id..........
anonymous 3 April, 2012 02:34
I have a Sensation XE, "Unbranded" on O2, gone into the updates in settings and it says no updates available. Is it due any day now, or should we be seeing it already? Thanks..
John
anonymous 10 April, 2012 15:33
Just got my update for Sensation XE on Orange (UK) this morning - it's like I've got a new phone! Loving the new font, folders, home screen editing/ removal and new toolbar. It's pushing Google+ a bit, but it's easy to ignore if you're not a user.
anonymous 16 April, 2012 12:38
I have a HTC Sensation XL which is 'unbranded' but I have an Orange Sim Card in it. Checking for the update daily but still no luck! Hoping that now the XE is getting it, it will be any day soon!
anonymous 25 April, 2012 14:56
how long would it possibly take for the ICS update to appear if you are tied to a network?
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