Two tech blogs have obtained information and images regarding Google's upcoming “Ice Cream Sandwich” version of Android, apparently from a common source. The release will feature a new, blue-themed user interface, a revised launcher for applications and widgets, and a panorama mode for cameras, among other new features mentioned by Android Police and RootzWiki.

Google's "Ice Cream Sandwich" release of Android was first named publicly by the company's Andy Rubin (right) back in January. Since then, few details of the upgrade have leaked, but observers expect it to combine the present-day 2.x (phone-oriented) and 3.x (tablet-oriented) versions of Android into a unified release that may bear the 4.0 version number.

There have also been reports that the launch device for Ice Cream Sandwich will be a Samsung-built phone known as the "Nexus Prime." This device will include a Texas Instruments OMAP4460 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, according to various rumors.

Now, purported screenshots of Ice Cream Sandwich have leaked and were posted Aug. 11 by Android Police and RootzWiki. The sites acknowledge having received the images — which show the operating system running on a Nexus S — from a common source, in whom they have the "utmost confidence."

Ice Cream Sandwich will feature a new launcher
(See RootzWiki for larger images)

The pair of images offered by RootzWiki (above) show what appears to be a new apps/widgets launcher, plus an icon that "looks like a tray with multiple apps in it." Those offered by Android Police (below) are less revealing, but do confirm the Ice Cream Sandwich name and a build number IRK36B.

The currently leaked build is IRK36B
(See Android Police for larger images)

Both sites cite their source as saying Gmail has been totally re-themed to go with the new release, while another new feature provides integral panorama support for phones' cameras. Since the user interface changes won't increase hardware demands too greatly, most phones that are less than a year old will be able to run Ice Cream Sandwich, and the Nexus S will receive it via an update, the authors add.

According to RootzWiki's anonymous author, Ice Cream Sandwich will ship with Google Shopper software and NFC support, presumably also supporting Google Wallet payments. No doubt, the Nexus Prime will include a built-in NFC chip, just as the Nexus S already does.

Jonathan Angel can be reached at [email protected] and followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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