HTC Desire S Android 4.0 update arrives

The Gadget Show  Tuesday 04 September 2012

Last year’s HTC Desire S was a popular Android smartphone thanks to its beautiful metal design, and today, it just got smarter. At long last, just ten months after Google first revealed Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich”, HTC has rolled out an upgrade for it.

HTC’s been pretty slow about bringing Android 4.0 to last year’s phones, so it’s good to see this upgrade arrive. The new software adds clever features such as individual notifications you can swipe away, a new keyboard and support for Google’s excellent Chrome browser.

Sadly, you won’t find this HTC Desire S Android 4.0 update ready to install straight over the air. It’s one HTC has clearly designed only for hardcore fans, so proceed strictly at your own risk.

How to get the newest version of Android now

Head on over to htcdev.com and you’ll now see an official version of Android 4.0 for the HTC Desire S available for unlocked models of the phone. It’s a hefty 404MB download, and one that’s a little bit tricky to install (You’ll need to boot into something called “recovery” mode – there are instructions on the site) – and you’ll invalidate your warranty by doing so.

This version is only for unlocked phones not attached to any network, so if you’re after a HTC Desire S Android 4.0 update on Orange or Three (H3G on htcdev.com), for instance, you’ll have to wait until that version appears on this list.

Will you be having a go with this manual HTC Desire S Android 4.0 update? Should HTC have made it easier? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.

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