Samsung has the perfect new year pick-me-up -- it'll push out the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update for the powerful Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note early next year. But users of the Galaxy Ace and original Galaxy S may get a serious headache to learn their phone will miss out on the upgrade altogether.
"The platform update for Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note will start in the first quarter 2012, and other Galaxy devices will soon follow," reads an entry on Samsung's official blog. We knew the S2 was getting ICS already, but it's useful to have a timeframe to work from. Let's hope it's the beginning of the quarter rather than the end.
That full list of other devices to get the upgrade is: the Galaxy R, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Galaxy Tab 8.9, the Galaxy Tab 7.7, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (the dual-core variant of the 7.0) and the Galaxy S2 LTE, which isn't available in the UK.
We asked Samsung for an explanation as to why certain devices are being upgraded and others not, and we'll update this story when it responds. Also uninvited to the ICS party are the Galaxy Fit, and the super-budget Galaxy W and Y. It may be that these older or cheaper phones don't have the grunt to mix it Ice Cream Sandwich-style, or Samsung just doesn't think it's worth the effort.
Ice Cream Sandwich brings a host of new features, including the ability to unlock the device using facial recognition and resize widgets on screen. Yesterday we reported the Nexus S is being updated to Ice Cream Sandwich over the next month, but if you don't want to wait you can get it right now by following our handy guide.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus was the first handset to come with Ice Cream Sandwich, and once its pesky volume bug had been fixed, we absolutely loved it.
Are you looking forward to Ice Cream Sandwich? Or have you already got it? Is your phone missing out? Let us know your opinions in the comments below, or over on our Facebook page.
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Comments 14
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anonymous 20 December, 2011 11:32
Although the SGS is missing out on an official update to ICS there is plenty of development going on over at XDA porting the OS across to the phone anyway. I won't be losing to much sleep over it ;)
ace9988 21 December, 2011 12:23
The ace was launched this year though......seems a bit too harsh selling it and then not offering to upgrade it
anonymous 22 December, 2011 17:37
I don't know that I want an upgrade to my SGSII stock Android/Touchwiz.... for now. It really is an integrated instrument. It's reliable and plays Flash no problem (even when ICS gets Flash, it's to be not-the-full-deal in some way)... plus it has a great desktop notes widget I can use for shopping lists. ICS improvements will really have to have some draw to them.. I'll avoid it for a while and wait for any stories to emerge.
anonymous 25 December, 2011 17:51
even i too upgrade my SGSII STOCK ANDROID /TOUCH WIZ ............4 NOW.
anonymous 29 December, 2011 17:45
damn it...it not available for galaxy w
anonymous 29 December, 2011 20:16
never bieng samsung costumer again
anonymous 1 January, 2012 08:19
Y samsung is not aware of... dat galaxy ace is the largest selling smartphone in mid range phones..if samsung is not ready or dnt want to upgrade galaxy ace to ice cream sandwich den y i purchase dis phone which is upgrade to nly gingerbread..it is useless dat is no upgrades in future..very bad news..i will suggest other customers not to buy samsung smartphones...
anonymous 3 January, 2012 05:40
am eagerly waiting for ICS upgrade on my S II
anonymous 4 January, 2012 09:36
Just bought the Galaxy Note with LTE.. cannot wait for the update!
anonymous 4 January, 2012 13:07
Just download go launcher ex and then the ICS Theme for it. You can even download the go locker ICS Theme. Fully Customisable. Brilliant to pass time until the official ICS update is rolled out.
anonymous 6 January, 2012 09:13
samsung made me unhappy...why ace is not getting ICS???
anonymous 15 January, 2012 02:07
10.1v, no updates to 3.1 even....
anonymous 16 January, 2012 08:34
I don't understand why people are getting all hot under the collar because of the update. If you wanted ICS you should have waited for a phone that as it, its not going to be all singing all dancing anyway, nothing can be. So get on with your lives and don't be so bitter and twisted, or bored, whatever it is that makes you complain over a nothing matter, YOUR PHONE STILL WORKS Y'KNOW!!
anonymous 29 January, 2012 15:04
buy a basic phone and expect the world... noobs