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Unwrapping Ice Cream Sandwich (week in review)

Google's updated mobile operating system debuts, while Apple's new iPhone racks up stellar sales results. Also: RIM trouble.

Steven Musil Night Editor / News
Steven Musil is the night news editor at CNET News. He's been hooked on tech since learning BASIC in the late '70s. When not cleaning up after his daughter and son, Steven can be found pedaling around the San Francisco Bay Area. Before joining CNET in 2000, Steven spent 10 years at various Bay Area newspapers.
Expertise I have more than 30 years' experience in journalism in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
Steven Musil
3 min read

We finally got our first taste of Ice Cream Sandwich--the latest version of Google's Android mobile operating system.

Samsung Electronics and Google took the wraps off the Galaxy Nexus, the latest Android handset to carry the flagship smartphone moniker, during a Samsung event in Hong Kong. It also marked the debut of the latest version of Android, known as Ice Cream Sandwich. (Each iteration of Android is named in alphabetical order after a sweet treat).

Savoring the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (photos)

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For Samsung, the introduction of another flagship Google phone underscores its growing influence as an Android vendor. While the company was slow to shift away from basic phones and move into the smartphone game, it has more than made up for lost time with the success of its Galaxy line of Android mobile devices, particularly with its recent line of Galaxy S II phones in the U.S. It also made the previous Nexus phone, the Nexus S.

Google execs also took the stage to announce the next version of its mobile operating system--officially known as Android 4.0--which is clearly designed to unify the Android experience.
•  Ice Cream Sandwich First Take
•  Ice Cream Sandwich adds tons of new features
•  Android Ice Cream Sandwich versus iOS 5: Killer features
•  Ice Cream Sandwich to follow Galaxy Nexus release

More headlines

Sergey Brin: I was wrong about Google+

On stage at Web 2.0 Summit with Google head of social Vic Gundotra, co-founder Brin talks about the rocky start for the search giant's latest social play.
•  Web 2.0 Summit goes beyond the Web (roundup)

Steve Jobs biographer: Jobs refused surgery

CBS has posted the first clip from the "60 Minutes" interview with biographer Walter Isaacson, who discusses Jobs' decision to attempt natural treatments for his tumor ahead of getting it surgically removed.
•  Jobs, Schmidt weren't pals after all, bio shows
•  Steve Jobs felt Android was a 'stolen product'
•  How can Apple replace Steve Jobs' celebrity? It can't.
•  Apple closes stores, celebrates life of Steve Jobs
•  Apple launches Steve Jobs tribute page
•  Jobs' memorial filled with humor, music, report says

Yahoo's Levinsohn: What problems? Let's talk about U2!

Yahoo Executive Vice President Ross Levinsohn says he's "incredibly bullish" about Yahoo because of its ability to personalize media for people.
•  Yahoo for sale? Don't ask interim CEO Tim Morse
•  Ballmer on not buying Yahoo: 'Sometimes you're lucky'
•  Yahoo CTO Raymie Stata resigns

Apple sells 4 million iPhone 4S units in first weekend

The latest phone from Apple sets a record, as sales worldwide for the first three days double those for its predecessor, the iPhone 4.
•  AT&T activates 1 million iPhone 4S devices
•  iPhone 4S parts cost $188, study finds

Despite strength, Apple earnings miss the mark

Fueled by strong sales of the iPhone, Apple reports revenues of $28.27 billion but misses Wall Street analysts' expectations.
•  Intel revenue tops $14 billion for first time
•  eBay rides mobile commerce to strong earnings
•  Yahoo raises outlook, delivers bit of good news

RIM unveils its next-gen mobile OS: BBX

Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis made the case for developers to stick with RIM, saying BBX will combine the best of BlackBerry and the PlayBook tablet.
•  RIM's latest misstep: Its new BBX name is already taken
•  BlackBerry BBX OS: What it really is

BlackBerry freebie: RIM apps to placate for outage

Research In Motion says it will give BlackBerry owners over $100 in free "premium apps" to thank customers for their "patience."
•  Hey, RIM! Time to step it up with better BlackBerry freebies

Bad Siri! She'll let anyone use a locked iPhone 4S

But security firm Sophos says there's a simple fix--just change the default Siri setting in Passcode Lock.
•  Apple's Siri won't win over Miss Manners
•  An interview with Siri (podcast)
•  Siri leaks your pet name to contacts, PootieBear

Also of note
•  Google offers encrypted Web search by default
•  Google confirms Gmail's pending makeover