Finally, It must have been a collective sigh when Android launched its sleekest version of the OS so far. Launched at I/O Developers’ The annual conference, Jelly Bean 4.1 did not disappoint Android users who praised how fast and smooth this new version was.
You can find a list of all Jelly Bean 4.1 features are on this listbut here are some highlights:
project butter – Thanks to development codenamed Project Butter, Jelly Bean 4.1 now offers a faster and smoother interface. You’ll notice a more responsive dial pad and smoother call log scrolling. Switching between screens and applications also becomes smooth and easy.
New Animation – You can now rearrange apps and widgets by dragging them with your finger; other icons move around comfortably. You’ll also notice resizable widgets and nicer animations. If you want to remove a widget, simply “select” it and fling it to the edge of the home screen.
Google Voice Search – Just like Siri… only with better answers.
Google Now – Another major improvement to Siri, Google now uses Google’s “knowledge graph” to allow you to look up instant answers to questions. Google Now is more than just a search function. This opt-in service also tracks your behavior, so it can send you updates it finds useful. Information like your favorite Olympic team’s performance, time it takes to get to work, flight schedule updates, local currency conversions, etc. appears as a card in the Google Now app and can also be seen in the notifications menu . Google Now works like a personal assistant on steroids; for example, it tells you when to leave (taking traffic and public transport schedules into account), so you won’t be late for meetings.
Improved Notifications – Jelly Bean 4.1 is the perfect upgrade for notification services like RingCentral, which sends fax and voicemail notifications to your phone. Never miss an important message again; Jelly Bean lets you preview emails, reply to calls, and send texts in the notification tray. If you want to turn off notifications from an app, simply touch and hold the notification to identify the app and disable notifications or uninstall the app.
Android light – Easily transfer videos and photos with Android Beam. You can also pair your phone and tablet to Bluetooth® devices that support the Simple Secure Pairing standard by simply placing the two of them together.
Map – Cache some maps for offline viewing. You also get indoor walking directions, Zagat ratings and reviews, and information about local deals through Google Offers.
Unfortunately, despite all these developments, not many devices are able to experience Jelly Bean 4.1. As expected, the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, and Nexus 7 are getting their first taste of the new Jelly Bean. A few days ago, US users also received an upgrade to their Motorola Xoom with a Wi-Fi tablet — you may remember that Google bought Motorola Mobility last May.
HTC also confirmed that it plans to roll out Jelly Bean 4.1 to its HTC One phones, while Asus also made an official announcement that the Asus Transformer Prime tablet will be updated with the new Jelly Bean. The rumor mill has also spread the news that Samsung is already testing an upgrade for the Samsung Galaxy S2 and S3 smartphones.
For now, it looks like Jelly Bean 4.1 is only available for high-end devices. If you want to get it on your device, you might want to consider buying a new phone or tablet.
Image Credit : TechCrunch
