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

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 getting Premium Suite upgrade

by Alex Dobie

Nov 23, 2012

Samsung continues its tradition of hefty upgrades for its Galaxy Note line with the announcement of a new "Premium Suite" upgrade pack for the Galaxy Note 10.1. The upgrade pack, which als...

Article

Jelly Bean update starts pushing to Wifi Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

by Alex Dobie

Nov 22, 2012

If you decided to take Samsung up on its bargain basement prices for the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Wifi-only edition, then there's some good news for you this Thanksgiving morn. The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean ...

Article

Android 4.2 OTA update and factory image live for 'yakju' Galaxy Nexus

by Richard Devine

Nov 20, 2012

Good news for those of you waiting patiently on Android 4.2 for the 'yakju' variant international GSM Galaxy Nexus. We're seeing reports from Android Central Forums members that the OTA ...

Article

Amazon Appstore update pushing out, fixes Android 4.2 login issue

by Richard Devine

Nov 20, 2012

Since Android 4.2 started getting into peoples hands, whichever device it may be on, the Amazon Appstore has been experiencing an extremely irritating bug. Whatever happens, the Appstore application...

Article

Android 4.1.2 firmware for international Galaxy Note 2 leaks

by Alex Dobie

Nov 20, 2012

Samsung continues to push ahead with Android OS upgrades for its leading smartphones, and the latest leaked build to emerge demonstrates Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean on the international Galaxy Not...

Article

HBO Go app updated for Android 4.2 and Nexus 10

by Jerry Hildenbrand

Nov 20, 2012

Home Box Office has updated their Android app to support Android 4.2 and the Nexus 10 this evening, allowing plenty of folks (including yours truly) to go into couch potato mode. Besides these two b...

Article

Santa's going to be mad, Google forgot about December

by Richard Devine

Nov 18, 2012

We all know -- and hopefully accept -- that with any new version release of Android, there's bound to be a few little bugs hidden within. While Google will test, test and test again, there's...

Article

HD Widgets updated with Android 4.2 lockscreen compatibility

by Andrew Martonik

Nov 16, 2012

We saw just yesterday that Beautiful Clock Widgets was updated to support Android 4.2's new lockscreen widget functionality, and now HD Widgets is following today with its own update. There are ...

Article

Popular Science picks Google Now as the Innovation of the Year

by Richard Devine

Nov 15, 2012

Since its launch alongside Android 4.1 Jelly Bean back at Google IO in the summer, Google Now has become an intriguing, and in some cases integral part of every day life. Android nerds aren't th...

Article

Samsung Galaxy S2 Android 4.1.2 test firmware leaks

by Andrew Martonik

Nov 15, 2012

Coming on the heels of a leaked build of Android 4.1.2 for the Samsung Galaxy SIII (S3), the folks over at SamMobile have published a leak of the software for the Galaxy SII (S2) as well. The G...

Article

Unlock the hidden 'BeanFlinger' daydream in Android 4.2

by Alex Dobie

Nov 15, 2012

Android 4.2's "daydreams" are neat little screensaver-like apps that can run when your phone or tablet is docked or charging. Out of the box, there are five stock daydreams available, ...

Article

Advanced search operators now work in GMail 4.2

by Andrew Martonik

Nov 15, 2012

The GMail power users among us may be aware of some of the more advanced search operators that are at our disposal. Things like typing "from:david has:attachment" and getting relevant sear...

Article

Beautiful Clock Widgets app integrates with Android 4.2 lockscreen

by Andrew Martonik

Nov 14, 2012

One of Android 4.2's forward-facing feature improvements was the lockscreen, which now has a system for integrating widgets of the users choice. In the stock shipping software, there's an an...

Article

White 64GB HTC One S goes on sale in Taiwan, runs Jelly Bean out of the box

by Richard Devine

Nov 14, 2012

We're not going to lie, we're pretty envious of this one. According to ePrice, what we have here is the latest HTC One device to go on sale in Asia, specifically at this time in Taiwan. On t...

Article

Yes, text does look a bit different in Android 4.2

by Alex Dobie

Nov 14, 2012

Stronger text and improved kerning in the new version of Jelly Bean Do things look a bit ... different ... since upgrading your Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 7 to Android 4.2? Turns out there's one ...

Article

More devices get stable CyanogenMod 10 builds; CM10.1 to be based on Android 4.2

by Alex Dobie

Nov 14, 2012

Yesterday we brought you news that the first "stable" builds of CyanogenMod 10 had begun rolling out. Today a whole bunch of devices have stable CM10 builds waiting for them over at the of...

Article

T-Mobile Galaxy S3 getting Jelly Bean update

by Alex Dobie

Nov 14, 2012

Good news for T-Mobile USA Samsung Galaxy S3 owners this morning, as it seems a new over-the-air update for the device brings it up to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Numerous sources are reporting tha...

Article

CyanogenMod 10 stable builds starting to show up for various devices

by Alex Dobie

Nov 13, 2012

Update: Stable builds for many more devices are now showing up on the CM download site. Hit the source link to view the growing list. Additionally, an update by the CM team on Google+ confirms that ...

Article

Nexus 7 Android 4.2 update download link now live

by Andrew Martonik

Nov 13, 2012

Nexus 4 and 10 orders continue to roll through the time zones as the Android 4.2 download links start to come in as well. We've seen one go live for the GSM Galaxy Nexus, and now we've got o...

Article

First look at the lockscreen widgets in Android 4.2

by Phil Nickinson

Nov 13, 2012

Lock screen widgets work, and they work well – but there also are some troubling security concerns Finally, we get our first real look at the new lockscreen widgets in Android 4.2. This is...