Android Tablet Update

Many are waiting to see what Samsung will unveil on May 5th, but those who currently own a Samsung phone are probably just as interested to know when their current phone will be updated to Android 4.0. Fortunately for U.S. customers, Samsung has just updated a support page on its site, revealing a comprehensive list of handsets which will be updated to Android 4.0 “as quickly and smoothly as possible.”

Samsung is in close communication with both Google and our carrier partners to upgrade devices to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as quickly and as smoothly as possible.Samsung

Samsung’s list includes handsets and tablets from all major U.S. carriers – except for T-Mobile. Samsung’s support page claims that they are “in close communication with T-Mobile to ensure that eligible devices are upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in the coming months”  and will update us once more details are available. While the majority of Samsung’s most recent devices were named, Samsung failed give us specific dates as to when the Android 4.0 updates will be rolled out.

Will my device be updated?

As you are no doubt aware, Samsung was first out of the gate with Android 4.0 on first the Galaxy Nexus and then the Nexus S, but those are Nexus devices and that was to be expected. They have, in my opinion, been slightly less forthcoming than some of the other major manufacturers about their plans for the rest of their lineup.

The sheer number of devices they have released is no doubt at least partially to blame and despite often releasing the same line of phones (e.g., Galaxy S II) across many carriers, there are minor hardware variations in each that render the shared name less meaningful.

Latest Android 4.0 update news from Samsung

• 4/16/12 - Samsung Galaxy Note Premium Suite introduced in Ice Cream Sandwich video
  Detailed video shows off new Premium Suite features included in the Android 4.0 update for the Samsung Galaxy Note.
• 4/5/12 – Android 4 now (FINALLY!) available for Nexus S 4G Google releases Android 4.0 update for the Samsung Nexus S 4G on Sprint
• 3/5/12 - Galaxy S II getting Android 4.0 update on March 15th in Israel, rest of world to follow?
  Samsung Israel’s Facebook page is updated, revealing a March 15th update date for the Galaxy S II

Samsung devices currently running Android 4.0

Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Global/LTE)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (unreleased)
Samsung Galaxy S II (Global)
Samsung Nexus S (Global/AT&T/T-Mobile/Sprint)

Samsung devices officially named to receive the Android 4.0 update

Samsung Galaxy Note (Global)
Samsung Galaxy Note (AT&T)
Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T)
Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
Samsung Captivate Glide
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (AT&T)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Verizon)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 (Verizon)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Wi-Fi
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi

Samsung devices expected to receive the Android 4.0 update

Samsung Galaxy S II (T-Mobile)
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD
Samsung Galaxy Blaze 4G

Samsung devices not expected to receive the Android 4.0 update

Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S Captivate
Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7
Samsung Galaxy R
Samsung Exhibit II 4G
Samsung Gravity Smart
Samsung Dart

Last week, the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket was prominently featured on AT&T’s Android 4.0 update list and today we’re seeing the very first leak. The Android 4.0.3 build is very similar to what European Samsung Galaxy S II customers were treated to a few weeks ago, save for AT&T’s bundled applications. While the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket Android 4.0.3 update looks nothing like Ice Cream Sandwich on the Galaxy Nexus, it does feature all of the system tweaks which make the Android 2.3 seem so dated.

We don’t know when AT&T and Samsung will officially be making the Android 4.0.3 update for the Skyrocket available to the public. No major flaws have been found in the leaked build, but AT&T may still have a few rounds of testing left to finish up. It may be exciting to see Android 4.0 updates finally trickling out to consumers, but lets not forget that Google released the code over six months ago. It will probably be another 3-6 months before Samsung, Motorola and HTC deliver on all their Ice Cream Sandwich promises.

Do you think AT&T will update the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket to Android 4.0 before T-Mobile rolls out the same update to the HTC Sensation 4.0 (expected before the end of March)?

AT&T is the least popular wireless carrier in the US among Android fans, so it was a little bit of a surprise to see them issue an upgrade to Android 4.0 for the HTC Vivid earlier today. AT&T took the opportunity to too their own horn by saying, “HTC Vivid will be the first U.S. smartphone to receive Ice Cream Sandwich as an update and the first to be issued by a wireless carrier.”

Some of you might point out that the Samsung Nexus S on T-Mobile started to receive Android 4.0 last year, but that update came from Google and it was halted after some issues were discovered. Still, it’s pretty ironic that the AT&T HTC Vivid with Sense UI is being upgraded to Android 4.0 before the vast majority of Nexus S devices. Who saw that coming?

Android 4.0 will also be coming to 10 other devices in the coming months. The list includes:

• LG Nitro
• Motorola ATRIX 2
• Motorola ATRIX 4G
• Pantech Burst
• Pantech Element
• Samsung Captivate Glide
• Samsung Galaxy Note
• Samsung Galaxy S II
• Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

No one likes waiting for software updates, but at least AT&T is being forthcoming with the devices they plan to upgrade. This information is valuable to customers and our own buyer’s guides since it lets us know which devices will continue to receive software support.

If you are on AT&T, did your Android device make the cut?