Difference between Android 3.1 and 4.0

Android 3.1 vs Android4.0

Android is currently the most popular mobile operating system competing successfully with the smartphone giant Apple. Sometimes the updates on Android software can be seriously prodigious and revolutionary. Let’s check out the basic differences between two of Android’s most popular versions – the Android Honeycomb 3.1 and the Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 to check how high the new addition has leaped above its predecessor.
The Android 3.1 is known as the Honeycomb and was released officially on March 2011. The Android 4.0 was released in the same year in the month of October. The first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was available on Samsung Galaxy Nexus handset. The main reason for the introduction of Honeycomb 3.1 was to design a good operating system for Android tablets. The main priority for both these operating systems was that they would be used on larger screened touchscreen devices.

Both of these operating systems have soft keys for Back, Home and Recent Apps and both offer customizable home screens which the user can customizer according to his taste and put in shortcuts to apps and widgets. Navigating between these home screens talk of a spectacular 3D experience. A list of recent applications can be seen on both these versions of Android. “Roboto” typeface was introduced in the Android 4.0 for the higher resolution screens where it would be used. This was not present in the Honeycomb 3.1.

An advantage of Android 4.0 is that it features an ‘open microphone’ experience and they can answer their calls, check out the notifications and browse through music files while listening to the music and do not need to unlock the screen for these functions. If you’re using Android 3.1, these actions cannot be performed unless the lock screen is unlocked. The camera application of Android 4.0 has been improved and one can access the camera app directly from the lock screen. This was not featured in the Honeycomb 3.0. Besides, the camera app also features “Live Effects” on the Android 4.1 and is able to replace the background of images or videos with another image and acquired great appeal from the users. This feature is not found in the Honeycomb 3.1.

The new software from Android is definitely a worthy upgrade. But there is no reason for users to go out and buy a new device only because it supports Android 4.0. And Honeycomb users can wait till they get their hands on the Jellybean or KitKat operating systems running more advanced Android OS.

Key Differences between Android 3.1 and 4.0:

Android 3.1 was introduced for Android tablets, whereas Android 4.0 was introduced keeping in mind the requirements for both tablets and smartphones.
Android 4.0 uses “Roboto” typeface, which is not used in the Honeycomb 3.1.
Android 4.0 uses ‘open microphone’ interface allowing multiple functions without unlocking the lock screen. Android 3.1 does not exhibit this feature.
The camera app in Android 4.0 can be accessed from the lock screen, but 3.1 does not have this feature.

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