Jelly Bean

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.

Article

Sony Xperia T Jelly Bean update rolling out now

by Andrew Martonik

Feb 01, 2013

Just one day after passing through certification at the PCTRB forum, the Jelly Bean update for the Xperia T has started pushing out to users. This is an unusually quick turnaround from certification...

Article

Xperia T/TX/TL Jelly Bean firmware certified ahead of release

by Alex Dobie

Jan 31, 2013

Sony's first round of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-based firmware has passed through certification at the PCTRB forum, a usual indicator that the update is just a few weeks away from being pushed...

Article

Acer Iconia B1 budget tablet appears at UK supermarkets for £99

by Richard Devine

Jan 31, 2013

Unveiled to the world at CES, the Acer Iconia B1 is Acer's play at hitting the budget tablet space. While not offering bleeding edge specs, the B1 does offer a stock Jelly Bean experience o...

Article

Motorola RAZR i getting Jelly Bean update, starting in France

by Alex Dobie

Jan 29, 2013

Looks like the Intel-powered Motorola RAZR i is finally getting that promised Jelly Bean update. French RAZR i owners over on XDA are reporting that they've received the 300MB over-the...

Article

How to tag Wifi access points as mobile hotspots on your Android device

by Alex Dobie

Jan 29, 2013

There are many reasons why you might want to use a mobile hotspot with an Android device. Maybe you're using a tablet without a mobile data connection of its own. Perhaps you're traveling ov...

Article

Five apps to take advantage of Daydream in Android 4.2

by Andrew Martonik

Jan 27, 2013

Daydream was pretty quickly glanced over by most people when it was announced as part of the Android 4.2 release, but luckily some developers have started to make apps using the new feature. The lat...

Article

Sony releases Jelly Bean alpha for Xperia T

by Alex Dobie

Jan 25, 2013

The official Sony Xperia T Jelly Bean update might still be a few months away, but in order to give developers a sneak peek at what's ahead, Sony has released an early alpha ROM for the device. ...

Article

Big News - a simple and well-designed news widget

by Andrew Martonik

Jan 24, 2013

There are plenty of news readers and widgets out there, but not many do their job as elegantly as Big News Pro. Since moving to a new design language with Ice Cream Sandwich, we've been looking ...

Article

Jelly Bean OTA out now for HTC One X devices on Telus

by Andrew Martonik

Jan 23, 2013

Canadian carrier Rogers started its OTA rollout for the One X earlier this month, and now Telus has started pushing it as well. Stated on the official HTC Canada twitter account, the updat...

Article

International Galaxy S2 gets Jelly Bean update and new Nature UX

by Alex Dobie

Jan 23, 2013

The official Jelly Bean update for the international Samsung Galaxy S2 (GT-i9100) has started to roll out, starting with unlocked handsets in Spain. The update is based on Android 4.1.2, and f...

Article

LG Optimus G begins its worldwide availability rollout with Jelly Bean on board

by Andrew Martonik

Jan 21, 2013

LG has just announced plans to roll out its latest flagship, the Optimus G, globally to 50 new countries. The Optimus G may seem like "old news" to some of us -- the phone has been availab...

Article

CyanogenMod 10.1 'M-Series' builds now available for select devices

by Andrew Martonik

Jan 21, 2013

A handful of select devices are getting CyanogenMod 10.1 "M-Series" builds starting today. These builds are meant to be released less frequently, and are considered stable for daily use. Y...

Article

Xperia S Jelly Bean firmware to bring display mirroring, phone finder and new lock screen

by Alex Dobie

Jan 18, 2013

We got our first look at Sony's new Jelly Bean-based Android firmware last week on the Xperia Z. While visually similar to earlier Sony software, there were new features waiting to be disco...

Article

Samsung gives details on Note 10.1, Galaxy Tab 2 updates

by Phil Nickinson

Jan 18, 2013

The Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 actually started pushing a few days ago, but today Samsung's giving us the full details on the updates. They're length...

Article

4.2 update for the Sprint Galaxy Nexus is live on Google's servers, ripe for the picking

by Jerry Hildenbrand

Jan 16, 2013

The Android 4.2 update (JOP40D) for the Sprint flavored Galaxy Nexus is now live and hosted by Google. We've not yet seen any reports of an OTA, but adventurous types can manually download the u...

Article

AT&T starting to push Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update OTA

by Andrew Martonik

Jan 16, 2013

After 6 weeks of availability only through Samsung Kies desktop software, the Jelly Bean update for AT&T's version of the Galaxy S3 is finally available over the air, as noted by the folks i...

Article

U.S. version of the Galaxy Note 10.1 getting its Android 4.1.2 update

by Phil Nickinson

Jan 15, 2013

Good news for those of you with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. Not only do you have a pretty good tablet with pretty great stylus (excuse us -- "S Pen) interaction, today you're getting an u...

Article

AT&T Galaxy Rugby Pro Jelly Bean OTA rolling out now

by Andrew Martonik

Jan 15, 2013

AT&T is pushing out a Jelly Bean update to the Galaxy Rugby Pro (remember that one?) that should be hitting devices starting today. Running Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, this durable mid-ra...

Article

Jelly Bean still rolling out to Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, 7" model now joins the fun

by Jerry Hildenbrand

Jan 11, 2013

The Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.1) update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 that started back in early December is still rolling out across the globe, and users of the 7-inch model in the Americas are n...

Article

Samsung unveils the Galaxy S2 Plus, minor spec bump over the original

by Richard Devine

Jan 10, 2013

Samsung has today introduced another new Android smartphone to add to its portfolio, and you'd be right in thinking it looks an awful lot like the Galaxy S2. That's because it does, and this...