Android 3.x Honeycomb is the version of Google’s mobile operating system specifically designed to take advantage of the unique features of tablets, including larger batteries, larger screens, and higher resolutions. The Motorola XOOM was Google’s launch device to introduce Honeycomb, and was one of the first devices that was promised to get an update to Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0.

In this video we’ll take a quick look at some of the similarities and differences between Android 3.2 Honeycomb and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on the Motorola XOOM.

The official OTA Ice Cream Sandwich roll-out for the XOOM should be available for your XOOM shortly, but if you just can’t wait, you can flash the update on your XOOM today. Here’s how:

0. These instructions are only for XOOMs running HTK75D (non-US versions will probably break if you try)

0. You’ll need a USB host cable ($5-$20 on Amazon) and a thumbdrive.

1. Download the update (Google, Mirror) and copy it to the root of your thumb drive.

2. Connect the thumb drive to the USB host cable, then plug the cable into your XOOM.

3. Turn your XOOM off (full power-down, not just sleep)

4. Turn your XOOM on and tap (ONLY TAP, not hold) the volume-down button until you get a list of options..

5. Select Android Recovery.

6. Tap volume-up to reboot into recovery.

7. Hold power and tap volume-up when you see the green Android screen, this will take you too the recovery menu.

8. Select apply update from USB drive.

9. Select your update .zip from the menu.

10. Follow the rest of the instructions and be patient while the XOOM boots for the first time.

Some sites are claiming these instructions only work for the 3G/4G XOOM and not for the WiFi version, but they worked just fine on my WiFi XOOM.

Enjoy!