[Galaxy S II General] AMDPOWERFIST:
This is for people who in multiple threads keep asking:

"whats new in ICS"....

"whats the difference between gingerbread and icecream sandwich"....

etc etc etc etc etc etc

This is a basic, copy & paste job from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history#4.0.1

THESE ARE FOR STOCK ICS - SOME CHANGES WILL BE MADE IN THE RELEASES FROM SAMSUNG FOR THE SGS2

Android 4.0 – codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich – was previewed at the May 2011 Google I/O event, and officially launched at the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich release event on 19 October 2011.

ICS version - 4.0.1

The Galaxy Nexus introduced Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The SDK for Android 4.0.1 was publicly released on 19 October 2011. Google's Gabe Cohen stated that ICS was "theoretically compatible" with any Android 2.3.x device in production at that time. The source code for ICS became available on 14 November 2011, three days before the Galaxy Nexus was released. New features included:

Enhanced speed and performance

Virtual buttons in the UI, in place of capacitive or physical buttons

Separation of widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar manner to apps

Easier-to-create folders, with a drag-and-drop style

A customizable launcher

Improved visual voicemail with the ability to speed up or slow down voicemail messages

Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar

Offline search, a two-line preview, and new action bar at the bottom of the Gmail app

Ability to swipe left or right to switch between Gmail conversations

Integrated screenshot capture (accomplished by holding down the Power and Volume-Down buttons)

Improved error correction on the keyboard

Ability to access apps directly from lock screen (similar to HTC Sense 3.x)

Improved copy and paste functionality

Better voice integration and continuous, real-time speech to text dictation

Face Unlock, a feature that allows users to unlock handsets using facial recognition software

New tabbed web browser, allowing up to 16 tabs

Automatic syncing of browser with users' Chrome bookmarks

Modern Roboto font

Data Usage section in settings that lets users set warnings when they approach a certain usage limit, and disable data use when the limit is exceeded

Ability to shut down apps that are using data in the background

Improved camera app with zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, panorama mode, and the ability to zoom while recording

Built-in photo editor

New gallery layout, organized by location and person

Refreshed "People" app with social network integration, status updates and hi-res images

Android Beam, a near-field communication feature allowing the rapid short-range exchange of web bookmarks, contact info, directions, YouTube videos and other data

Hardware acceleration of the UI

Resizeable widgets – already part of Android 3.1 for tablets, but new for cellphones

Wi-Fi Direct

1080p video recording for stock Android devices

ICS version - 4.0.2

The Android 4.0.2 update was released on 28 November 2011, and fixed minor bugs on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, the launch of which was later delayed.

ICS version - 4.0.3

The Android 4.0.3 update was first released on 16 December 2011. It included a number of bug fixes and optimizations, and offered improvements to graphics, databases, spell-checking and Bluetooth functionality, along with new APIs for developers, including a social stream API in the Contacts provider. Other features included Calendar provider enhancements, new camera apps enhancing video stabilization and QVGA resolution, and accessibility refinements such as improved content access for screen readers.