A kill switch for crapware
Ice Cream Sandwich increases control over what can run on your phone, including bloatware that handset makers love to preload on devices. A new setting allows apps to be disabled, removing the icon, preventing it from running on the system and providing the option to re-enable later.
Taking screenshots
Spell-check
Accessibility
You may never use these features, but it’s impressive nonetheless that Ice Cream Sandwich is designed to be usable even by people who are blind or visually impaired. An “explore by touch” mode makes it possible to navigate without seeing the screen using audible feedback. An update to the browser also now supports reading Web content aloud.
Visual voicemail
Support for visual voicemail is now native to Android. You’ll probably still have to pay your carrier to access this extra feature, but integrating voice transcriptions, audio files and more from multiple providers directly into the phone app is a big step forward.
Live effects for video
The healthy side of Ice Cream Sandwich
Android 4.0 can connect to devices that use a Bluetooth Health Device Profile. In other words, with the help of a third-party app, Ice Cream Sandwich can connect to wireless medical devices and sensors. That means your Android phone can monitor your vitals at the gym or elsewhere.
And don’t forget to check out this comprehensive rundown on the big improvements from PCWorld’s Armando Rodriguez, including the lowdown on the new People app, NFC capabilities and the face unlock feature.
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