Leaked video shows Sony Xperia S running Android 4.0 (ICS)
updated 06:42 am EDT, Mon May 28, 2012
Leak surfaces ahead of official ICS update for Xperia S
A leaked video (embedded below) has surfaced from Asia showing Sony’s current Android flagship, the Xperia S, running Android 4.04 (Ice Cream Sandwich). As the video shows, the company has managed to keep the look and feel of its custom Android launcher intact, while bringing with it all of the additional fluidity and function of ICS. Sony has revealed in its latest ICS update blog that the Xperia S is due to get its official install of current Google Android operating system by the end of June, although it has not officially made the beta release of the update public.
Among the features that Xperia S users will be able to enjoy from the end of next month include the stock ICS treats including the ability to access the camera function directly from the lock screen. Face Unlock and Android Beam also carry across. However, Sony has baked in a few extra features of its own, including its new Walkman music app, as well as a revamped Gallery app. Both of the new apps will also accept additional gesture inputs allowing the user to increase or reduce the size of thumbnails.
For users who can’t bear to wait another month for the ICS update to roll out to their Xperia S, Sony has released an officially sanctioned bootloader unlocker for most of its Xperia handsets. However, it does warn that unlocking the bootloader on a device could void its warranty, while also washing its hands of any issues that users may run into. It will allow users to install custom Android 4.0 ROMs if there is one compatible with their device, although we haven’t seen one appear for the Xperia S as yet.
