AT&T formally starts offering Android 4.0 to HTC Vivid users
updated 03:35 pm EDT, Thu March 22, 2012
Suggests all owners download and install update
AT&T officially is making Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) available to HTC Vivid owners. Although the carrier is recommending that all users update their devices, the upgrade is not automatic. Owners must connect to a Wi-Fi network and then start the download through an update check.
The update provides new features specific to HTC as well as enhancements included in the generic Android 4.0 release. The standard improvements include Face Unlock, that uses facial recognition to enable access to the phone. Also included is advanced voice and text entry features such as improved voice-to-text processing and spell checking. The UI now sports resizable widgets and a fully customizable launch bar with HTC's own cosmetic changes. Improvements to the e-mail system include support for the EASv14 standard for Exchange as well as the ability to store text and create nested subfolders.
A key HTC-specific improvement to the phone is support of Beats Audio. Bluetooth mice and keyboards can now pair to the phone.
The update unofficially had been available from HTC as of last week. AT&T has not indicated if it intends to proactively push the Android 4.0 release out to its HTC Vivid owners at a future date.
