Android Central

Android version 4.1-4.2, codenamed Jelly Bean, is the current version of Google's mobile OS. Jelly Bean puts a renewed focus on UI speed and responsiveness, while further enhancing the UI introduced in Android 4.0. There's a completely redesigned notification API, allowing notifications to be expanded to include widget-like functionality. A re-vamped Google search interface includes the ability to pose questions directly and have them answered in voice. And a new Camera app allows shots to be easily reviewed and deleted. In addition, the new Google Now predictive search service puts data like location and search history to work to provide relevant real-time information.

Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) made its debut on the Nexus 7 tablet at Google I/O in June 2012. This was followed by a maintenance upgrade to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean later in the year, coinciding with the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 launch. Android 4.2 featured new lock screen widgets, more improvements to the stock Android camera app, gesture-based typing and new quick settings shortcuts accessible via the notification bar.

Keep watching Android Central's coverage for all the latest news on Jelly Bean upgrades for existing devices.

Jelly Belly live wallpaper
Article
by Chris Parsons
Aug 03, 2012
Personally, I'm not really a fan of live wallpapers but I am a fan of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and arguably more importantly, Jelly Belly jelly beans (except the Harry Potter ones, those are kinda...
Multiple User Accounts
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by Richard Devine
Aug 03, 2012
Something a lot of us really want to see in Android, is support for multiple accounts on a device. With the ever increasing uptake of tablet use, it would be pretty awesome to be able to have one ta...
Android Central
Article
by Alex Dobie
Aug 02, 2012
The CyanogenMod team has announced that it won't be able to officially support phones powered by first-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon chips in version 9 or 10 of its popular custom firmware. The...
Android Central
Article
by Alex Dobie
Aug 01, 2012
Archos took to its official Facebook and Twitter accounts today to give us our first glimpse of its upcoming Gen 10 tablet, ahead of the official announcement later this month. The manufacturer said...
Android Central
Article
by Andrew Martonik
Aug 01, 2012
Low-cost chip designer MIPS has announced today that they're releasing the "World’s Lowest-Cost Android 4.1 ‘Jelly Bean’ Tablet" at the surprisingly low price of...
Android Central
Article
by Alex Dobie
Jul 31, 2012
​Info suggesting no 2011 Xperias would get Jelly Bean was given "in error." In a statement on its official product blog, Sony has reassured Xperia smartphone owners that it's sti...
freedom
Article
by Jerry Hildenbrand
Jul 27, 2012
The Jelly Bean 4.1.1 images for selected Nexus models have been released by Google, allowing you to roll back to a safe, factory state no matter how bad you've f&%^#d up your Nexus. The part...
Android Central
Article
by Jerry Hildenbrand
Jul 26, 2012
We've received a few reports that folks with a stock Wifi Xoom (U.S. Models) are getting their Jelly Bean update pushed this afternoon -- enough of them for us to say with confidence that i...
Android Central
Article
by Andrew Martonik
Jul 25, 2012
Following closely behind their first "Getting Started" tutorial for the Nexus 7, Google has produced another video to help new users gets acquainted with the device. The short video p...
MLS MatchDay 2012
Article
by Andrew Martonik
Jul 25, 2012
So let’s say you like soccer. Maybe you also live in the US. And just maybe you have a phone running Google’s latest-and-greatest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It’s a stretch, we know, b...
Android Central
Article
by Chris Parsons
Jul 25, 2012
After a little bit of a delay, Motorola and Google are now pushing out the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update to Motorola Xoom WiFi owners who signed up for the testing process. Overall, it's Jelly...
Intel
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by Richard Devine
Jul 25, 2012
In not particularly surprising, yet reassuring news, Intel has confirmed that they are indeed working on a port of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for use on their Atom chips. While we're still waiting f...
Android Central
Article
by Alex Dobie
Jul 25, 2012
Wanting to get your hands on the Google Nexus 7 in the UK, but come up empty-handed so far? Carphone Warehouse sends word that it'll be stocking the highly-anticipated (and highly-demanded) Jell...
ZTE N880E
Article
by Sean Brunett
Jul 24, 2012
ZTE has announced that they have released a new version of their N880E smartphone, and it comes with Jelly Bean (4.1.1) onboard. This is a big step for ZTE and the N880E, as it was just released in ...
Jelly Bean
Article
by Chris Parsons
Jul 23, 2012
Just in case you needed any other sort of confirmation that the soak test happening for the Motorola Xoom WiFi in the U.S. was indeed Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, we managed to score the full and compl...
Motorola Xoom
Article
by Chris Parsons
Jul 23, 2012
If you're a Motorola Xoom WiFi owner who's been waiting for Motorola to roll out their previously mentioned software update, you'll want to check your emails. Emails being sent out to re...
Galaxy S III
Article
by Jerry Hildenbrand
Jul 22, 2012
According to the fine folks at Sammobile, we might be seeing the Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy S III as soon as August. We're certain that Samsung is in the process of figuring out the update...
Jelly Bean for the Optimus S
Article
by Jerry Hildenbrand
Jul 20, 2012
  The LG Optimus One line will never die. I have a feeling that one day, far into the future where apes control the planet and man is farmed like livestock, The little Optimus that could wi...
Android Central
Article
by Alex Dobie
Jul 20, 2012
We broke the news yesterday that some GSM Nexus S models were starting to see their Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update rolling out, and now we have the official confirmation from Mountain View. Go...
Google Sound Search widget
Article
by Richard Devine
Jul 20, 2012
One of the many added goodies within Jelly Bean, is the Google Sound Search widget, sometimes referred to as Google Ears. It's really simple, but also a really nice touch to have built in to the...