The carrier has just confirmed on their website that the Sensation 4G has ‘just completed its testing process’ and the next step is for them to finalize an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. According to their notes it will be happening ‘very soon’, although there’s no solid indication just yet unfortunately.

For a device that released almost a year ago though, it is great news you have to say. Some of you may have given up hope with more glamorous HTC handsets out there like the EVO 4G LTE, but its nice to see that a device 12 months old can still rock it with the best and handle the latest version of Android.

There’s no word on whether this will be a specific update to Android 4.0, or if T-Mobile are planning to update the handset to the very latest version of Android 4.0, which is Android 4.0.4 as seen on the GSM Galaxy Nexus and other select handsets. Obviously we hope it is the latter, but we have a feeling that some of you will just be delighted that you’ll be getting the ICS interface makeover first and foremost.

There’s also a chance that some of you with a rooted Sensation 4G are already enjoying a custom version of Ice Cream Sandwich. If this is the case, let us know how well your build is holding up at the moment. Are you experiencing any bugs or not? Hopefully we’ll have an update soon with an exact indication on when the rollouts will begin.

Since Google launched the new operating system with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus late last year we have only seen a handful of devices receiving the upgrade. Now though it is being reported by the Android Police that owners of the HTC Sensation should start checking their device for updates as the over the air rollout of the software has begun.

Currently it is not known if the upgrade is being pushed out officially or if someone has pressed the start button by mistake, as HTC has so far been unusually quiet about the availability of the update. As usual you can keep informed about the new software via the XDA forums, where many users have reported getting the new operating system.

Meanwhile it is being reported by GSM Arena that owners of the HTC Sensation XE in Germany and the Nordic countries are also receiving the new Android operating system. This should mean the rest of Europe will also get the update shortly with the rest of the world following after. The size of the download is reported to be almost 300MB in size, so it is advised you do it via a Wi-Fi connection.

Have you received the ICS update yet on your HTC Sensation?

As the Android Community is reporting the new operating system will be available as an “early access preview” within the next 48 hours, and basically means that this is a limited public beta test ahead of the official over the air update coming out at the end of next month.

Rival company Motorola runs what it calls Soak Tests that provides access to the software to a select number of users. This means actual users get to try out and test the software and can report any bugs before it is released to the general public.

This new move by HTC will begin in Europe for a few hundred lucky users, and could quite possibly shortly follow for the US version of the Sensation.

The company has also revealed the same process will be used for other devices in the future, and that they will to continue to work on the overall performance of the operating system. Users will also get the chance to use Android 4.0 with HTC’s Sense overlay.

There is a chance that some of these updates may get worked on by developers so ICS builds may find themselves on the likes of the T-Mobile Sensation among others. HTC along with Samsung seem to be getting their acts together and keep their customers updated about Android Ice Cream Sandwich.

Earlier today we heard that Motorola had updated their roadmap for the ICS update, with many handsets seemingly left waiting for ages before it will arrive. Do you have the HTC Sensation or Sensation XE?

What will be good news for many HTC owners is that a number of devices have now been added to the list that will get upgraded to Android 4.0. First to receive the upgrade will be the HTC Sensation, and according to PC Mag it will arrive by the end of March.

This includes the HTC Sensation, Sensation 4G, Sensation XE, and will be followed shortly after by the HTC Sensation XL. The company has been pretty good in keeping its customers updated with its ICS plans. Other devices already set to get the updated software include the HTC EVO 3D, HTC Amaze 4G, HTC RVO Design 4G, and the HTC Rezound, which will be updated later in the year.

But there is some more good news for owners of previously unmentioned HTC handsets as the company adds more devices to its ICS roadmap. Also getting the update later this year will be the HTC Incredible S, HTC Vivid, HTC Desire S, and HTC Desire HD. The company has promised more information regarding the upgrades in the coming weeks.

Ever since Google released the Galaxy Nexus that first launched Android ICS, a number of handset manufactures have begun announcing their upgrade plans. The operating system takes a while to arrive on various devices because of the complex testing and other processes the carriers and manufacturers have to undertake.

There will be some of the Android 4.0 features that older handsets won’t support though such as NFC connectivity. The operating system does support an updated web browser but many owners may opt for the new Chrome beta we told you about recently. This news will bring a cheer to many owners of older HTC smartphones and we will just have to wait now for a more specific release date.

Do you have one of the HTC devices just added to the update list?

HTC has announced it is to offer a white version of its popular Sensation smartphone, and it will come running Android Ice Cream Sandwich straight out of the box. The new model will become available from March 1st, and according to TechRadar it will also be the first in the model range to offer Android 4.0.

There is a chance the newly colored Sensation may also be the first HTC smartphone to come packing the enhanced Sense 4.0 UI. What will be good news for owners of the Sensation XE and Sensation XL is that the handsets will be getting the Android ICS update “soon”, according to a Dutch press release.

This news comes only a few weeks after HTC said it would start offering a smaller number of smartphones to its customers to try and lower confusion. Now HTC are offering customers the White and original HTC Sensation, the HTC Sensation XE, and the Sensation XL with its massive 4.7-inch display.

There was no actual date given for the ICS update and as always may depend on carrier specific offerings of the handsets. Do you own one of the HTC Sensation range?

Back in August we told you how HTC purchased a majority stake in Beats Audio, the headphone and audio equipment brand which Dr. Dre created in 2008, at the time we thought that HTC would bring better quality internal speakers to its devices – however the new HTC Sensation XE comes with custom made Beats headsets

The image below gives us a glimpse of the custom headset which you get with the Sensation XE, the official description says that these headsets feature an aluminium unibody and some red coloring – we are told that software has been tuned to deliver the “ultimate mobile audio experience”. The image below also shows that there are some controls on the headset’s cable – it looks like the headset will also act as a hands free kit.

Obviously this new Sensation spin-off will boast better multimedia capabilities as it features Beats Audio – but we can also confirm that it has a faster processor and higher capacity battery than the original. The HTC Sensation features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and a 1520 mAh battery, whilst the Sensation XE features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 1730 mAh battery.

You can find out more information about the HTC Sensation XE here, we wouldn’t be surprised if HTC released more “XE” versions of smartphones in the future, those who don’t care about top-end performance and high-quality audio can stick with the standard release, whilst people who want a great audio experience and super-fast performance can opt for the XE release. Do you think this would be a good idea for HTC?

According to an article on Phandroid.com some owners have been reporting of some issues surrounding the devices big touchscreen. Some have found the screen becoming unresponsive, and won’t pick up quick button presses or swipes. Sometimes the screen won’t even register any input at all, which is not only frustrating but also dangerous in an emergency situation.

It is not known how many units the problem is affecting, but on my HTC Desire HD I have once experienced this problem and it was after the handset was updated to Android Gingerbread. A T-Mobile customer has said the carrier is aware of the issue and is waiting to hear back from HTC. Below you can see a video by the team at Android Police showcasing the problem on a HTC Sensation.

At present there is now fix available, with factory resets and replacement handsets not fixing the issue. This has led to many wondering if it is a software problem, which Sense ROMs experienced the same problem on the G1. If it is a software issue then HTC can easily fix the problem with an OTA update. Hopefully it won’t take long before the company does fix the problem and stop the frustrations experienced by some HTC Sensation owners.

On the XDA developer’s page there is a long thread of owners complaining about the problem, with some possible solutions included. Bizarrely one quick fix is giving the device a quick squeeze, and other users have pointed the finger at what surface the handset is placed on while charging. These fixes only seem temporary and there is an OTA fix rumored to be in the works.

Have you had any issues with your HTC Sensation?

For years the US has always got their handsets first, so seemed like justice had been served when they got the S II first. There is no date set yet for its release in North America, but there have been photos circulating of the Sprint and Verizon versions. Now the Bionic is not out yet across the pond, but do not think that the UK will see a release first, as most rumors suggest an August release in the US.

This would be considered a great move, as there are not as many Motorola handsets in the UK compared to the likes of Samsung and LG. The Droid Bionic would certainly make a great addition, as it is a beast in terms of features. You have a large 4.3-inch screen along with a dual-core processor, as well as 4G. However, this would be an issue for a UK version, as the likes of Vodafone and Orange are not even set up for the technology.

It is hard to say what Motorola would do as a way to make up for the lack of said feature – Fonehome suggests a free microSD card with large storage. The Droid Bionic would be a worthy contender to the Galaxy S II, although let us not forget that this is the handset that has been beating the iPhone 4 in sales in the UK.

If Motorola were to release their handset in the UK, then there are two things that we would like to point out. The first is that we believe that it would be Vodafone who would get the handset, but also how Samsung already has another rival planned, the Galaxy S II+. We cannot be certain how much truth there is to this, but we can tell you that the phone will have one major spec bump, and that is a possible dual-core 1.5GHz processor.

In recent years Motorola seemed to disappear into obscurity, so nice to see that they have finally got their act together and have some of the best Android handsets on the market. Nice to see that Samsung and HTC are now getting a run for their money – wonder what happened to LG?

A recent tweet from the official Three UK Twitter account read “Right all the #HTC Sensation is available for pre-order http://ow.ly/5k1nD in store as of Monday“, if you follow the link provided in the tweet (here) you can pre-order yours.

If you check out our previous post you can see all of the details regarding contracts and price plans, to recap you get this dual-core beast for free when you agree a 2-year deal costing you £37 per month, this gives you 2000 voice minutes ,time, 5000 texts, and unlimited data. There is also a £30 per month option, this gives you 500 mins, 5000 texts and 1GB of data monthly, but we don’t think that the data allowance will be adequate for most users.

I am a Three customer and I am due an upgrade, there are a few options I am currently weighing up, but I must admit the HTC Sensation is my favorite so far, how about you?

Best Mobile Contracts are reporting that the handset has been added to the preorder deals on the Three website, and is available for free on two different contracts from the carrier. First up is the One Plan with a two year contract. For £37 per month you will get 2000 minutes of talk time, 5000 texts, and an unlimited amount of data.

The next deal is the Text 500 plan which will give you 500 minutes of talk time, 5000 texts, and 1GB of data. This costs £30 per month over two years. The handset is listed for a June 29th delivery date, so not much longer to wait.

We originally reported the handset coming to the Three network back in May for a release date sometime this month, and the handset is set to be a much sought after device as it becomes available on more networks.

Are you getting the HTC Sensation?