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Android ICS update for Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is now available via Kies

By
July 3, 2012

When we heard a couple of weeks back that Samsung was planning to update pretty much its entire portfolio of Android tablets to Ice Cream Sandwich in July and August, we were willing to bet big money that the actual updates will not start until the end of July, at the earliest.

However, Sammy has pleasantly surprised us all a couple of hours back, when it officially kick-started the promised Android 4.0 rollout with a tasty Ice Cream Sandwich software package for the Galaxy Tab 7.7.

Adopters of the 7-incher shouldn’t however wait for automatic prompt messages to encourage them to install the ICS update, because the upgrading process will not happen over-the-air. Instead, you’ll have to download Samsung’s Kies PC software, connect your tablet to a Windows-running desktop or laptop and look for the Android 4.0 install package.

If this whole thing seems like too much trouble for you, or you’re just not fans of Samsung’s Kies program, the guys over at SamMobile have been kind enough to make the firmware update available for download at this link.

As you’ll notice by visiting the SamMobile page, the update is unfortunately not yet available for all Galaxy Tab 7.7 models. In theory, only users from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and the UK owning a GT-P6800 tablet will be able to flash the new software package at this time.

However, as several people over on XDA-Developers’ forum are stating, the update actually works on Galaxy Tab 7.7 tablets purchased from other countries as well, so you might want to give it a try even if you live in other parts of Europe. Then again, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 GT-P6810 is itself on Samsung’s official updating list and will probably get its own scoop of ICS in only a few days, so why risk it after all?

The Galaxy Tab 7.7 is still one of the best 7-inchers around, even with more than half a year gone after its release. The Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution screen is the tablet’s highlight and the primary reason why we’re actually very excited to see how will Android 4.0 look on it. That being said, if you’ve installed ICS on your Tab 7.7, please drop us a comment and let us know what you think of the update. A couple of pics would be appreciated as well, so don’t hesitate to leave links in the comments, too.