Ice Cream Sandwich Launch Delayed

From PC World: Google and Samsung mysteriously pulled the plug Friday on the expected release of a new version of the Android operating system code named Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).

The new release of Android is highly anticipated because it is expected to tie the smartphone version of the operating system, known as Gingerbread, and the tablet flavor, called Honeycomb.

An event billed as "Samsung Mobile Unpacked" was scheduled by Google and Samsung for next Tuesday at the CTIA show in San Diego where ICS and a new Samsung phone running it were expected to be unveiled. However, the companies have canceled the event.

“Samsung and Google decide to postpone the new product announcement at CTIA Fall," the companies said in a statement. "We agree that it is just not the right time to announce a new product. New date and venue will be shortly announced."

While the companies didn't elaborate on their reasons for the cancellation, a number of events could have influenced it.

The companies may be concerned that the death this week of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs could cast a pall over the event.

They may have expected Apple to release a revolutionary iPhone 5 instead of the evolutionary iPhone 4S and want to reconsider their marketing strategy.

Some last minute hang-ups popped up with the operating system, phone or both and they just need more time to iron them out.

Even with the postponement, the companies still have plenty of time to fulfill Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt's promise that ICS will be released in the October/November time frame.

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