Google is expected to release the latest edition of its Android mobile operating system (OS), entitled Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), later this year. Unlike Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) for which only tablets need apply, this OS will  operate on smartphones as well as tablets.  

Because the upcoming Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) release will support “big screens, small screens, and everything in between”, a tooth-rotting predicament will surface for developers whose sweet Honeycomb apps assume that they’re running on a large screen tablet, even when they are employed on an ICS-operating smartphone.

“This assumption is currently true, but will become false with the arrival of ICS, because Android apps are forward-compatible — an app developed for Honeycomb is compatible with a device running ICS, which could be a tablet, a phone, or something else,” stated Scott Main, lead tech writer for developer.android.com in a blogpost.

Main’s advice is for app developers that have developed tablet apps for Honeycomb, to do one of two things. Either they can prevent installation on smaller screens or preferably, support smaller screens with the same APK (Android application package file). For a detailed explanation of how to go about doing this, read the Android Developers blogpost.  

 

In related news Google also recently released the latest version of its Chrome web browser and acquired German group buying site DailyDeal, to expand its group buying services into Europe.