Samsung Galaxy Tab range finally getting Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung is finally bringing the delights of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to its range of Galaxy Tabs, just in time for us to immediately start asking when they’re going to get the more recent version, Jelly Bean.

The slates that will see the update include the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Tab 7.7 and the Tab 8.9, Pocket-lint reports, with the 10.1 update available immediately. If you have the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, you already have Ice Cream Sandwich, so run along and enjoy it.

If you’ve got a Tab 10.1, you should find the update available as an over-the-air package or you can plug it into a computer to use the Kies software. The update is over 200MB though, so you might want to make sure you’re on a good Wi-Fi connection at home, rather than demolish your 3G data allowance.

Although it’s nice to see the new software being pushed out to the slates, it’s difficult to thank Samsung too heartily, given that Ice Cream Sandwich has been out a long time and has already had its top spot usurped by the even more recent Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

In light of the enormous uproar Samsung caused with delayed ICS updates to its Galaxy S2 smart phone, I’d have thought it would want to make sure future updates rolled out in a more timely fashion.

Still, Ice Cream Sandwich has enough extra features to keep you satisfied for a little while. You’ll be able to enjoy better folders on your home screens, a more attractive widget preview section and you can ditch the built-in browser for the super-speedy Google Chrome, which is a present well worth waiting for.

If you particularly want Jelly Bean, however, you’d be better off scouring the Android forums for custom ROMs to install or looking at getting the awesome Google Nexus 7 by Asus, which shows off stock Jelly Bean. It’s a delightful piece of software and well worth checking out.

Since these tablets are only just receiving updates to ICS, you shouldn’t expect a Jelly Bean update for quite some time.

Do you have a Tab 10.1? Are you annoyed at how long it’s taken to get the ICS update? Are you already pining after Jelly Bean? Let me know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.

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