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Tag: Jelly Bean

  • Jelly Bean And KitKat Both See Small Gains In February

    The Android ecosystem is constantly changing as users adopt new versions of the mobile OS. For a while now, Jelly Bean has been king after taking the majority rule from Gingerbread. While Jelly Bean will remain the new Gingerbread for quite some time, KitKat is starting to see some growth.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers, Google reports that Jelly Bean is now on 62 percent of all devices. Last month, it was on 60.7 percent of all Android devices. Interestingly enough, Android 4.1 saw a minor decline as more users moved onto versions 4.2 or 4.3.

    As for KitKat, it saw a small bump from 1.8 percent to 2.5 percent. More and more devices from last year are beginning to get KitKat upgrades so we can expect to see this number rise more in the coming months. The impending launches of KitKat devices, like the Galaxy S5 and all new HTC One, should help lead KitKat to more marketshare as well.

    Jelly Bean and KitKat Both See Small Gains In February

    Both Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich saw either a 1 percent or nearly 1 percent decline in February. Both versions continue to grow more obsolete as devices launch with at least Jelly Bean these days. It can be assumed that Gingerbread is only sticking around thanks to the millions of devices around the world that still run the aging mobile OS.

    Now that we’re three months in the new year, we can also start speculating as to when Google will unveil the next version of Android. We usually bet on Google I/O, but that wasn’t the case last year. In fact, Google unveiled Android 4.3 after I/O and then released KitKat in October. Of course, Android 4.5 being unveiled at Google I/O isn’t out of the question. At this point, however, it seems a little unlikely.

    Image via Android Developers

  • Jelly Bean Now On Over 60 Percent Of Android Devices

    In January, it was revealed that Jelly Bean was on nearly 60 percent of all Android devices. The huge bump in Jelly Bean devices could be attributed to a healthy holiday period for Android. With the holidays over, one might assume that Jelly Bean’s growth would slow down. As you may have heard once or twice, it’s never good to assume.

    For February, the Android distribution chart shows that Jelly Bean is now on 60.7 percent of all Android devices. Like usual, Android version 4.1 makes up the largest amount of Jelly Bean devices at 35.5 percent with versions 4.2 and 4.3 following at 16.3 percent and 8.9 percent respectively.

    Jelly Bean Now On 60 Percent of android devices

    As you can see, KitKat hasn’t grown that much in the past month with Android 4.4 only adding .4 percent to its total. That’s to be expected though as there’s not many devices out yet with the latest version of Android and OEMs won’t be launching KitKat devices until later this year.

    In the meantime, we can continue to chart the downfall of Gingerbread. The once mighty Android 2.3 is now only on 20 percent of all Android devices. Ice Cream Sandwich isn’t falling quite as rapidly as it only lost .8 percentage points in the last month. Both will continue to decline in use, however, as more affordable Jelly Bean and KitKat devices enter the market.

    As for the future, we’ll probably continue to see Jelly Bean become the dominant player much like Gingerbread once was. KitKat will see some growth later this year as more devices are released, and everything else will either stagnate or decline. Google may even drop Google Play support for Froyo thus ending its time on the charts.

  • Jelly Bean Now On Almost 60 Percent Of All Android Devices

    At the beginning of December, it was revealed that Jelly Bean was on 54.5 percent of all Android devices. At the time, it seemed likely that Jelly Bean would reach 60 percent marketshare thanks to the holiday season. While it didn’t quite reach that point, it’s getting awfully close.

    In the latest Android stats released today, Google reports that Jelly Bean is now on 59.1 percent of all Android devices. Most Jelly Bean users are on versions 4.1 or 4.2, but use of 4.3 is climbing as it has jumped from 4.2 percent to 7.8 percent in just a month.

    Jelly Bean Now On Almost 60 Percent Of All Android Devices

    As you can see, KitKat is still chugging along with a 0.3 percent increase in 30 days. The newest OS is still not available on a lot of devices so growth will be slow for a while. As for Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich, both versions are still slowly losing ground to Jelly Bean. By next month, Gingerbread may finally make up less than 20 percent of the entire Android ecosystem.

    As we progress through 2014, expect to see KitKat grow as more devices with the OS enter the market. While the devices shipping in early 2014 will probably have 4.3, the devices shipping later this year will most likely get 4.4. After all, it takes OEMs a while to test these new versions of Android and slap their own skins over them.

    2014 may also be the year that Android makes the jump to non-traditional devices, like cars. Last week, Google revealed that it had partnered with auto and tech companies to form the Open Automative Alliance. The initiative is seen as a way to get Android into cars without having drivers rely on the dangerous habit of playing with their phone while on the road. It will also help Android break out of its mobile ecosystem and become an operating system that powers everything.

    Image via Android Developers

  • After A Month, KitKat Is On 1.1 Percent Of All Android Devices

    In late October, Google released the newest version of Android – KitKat. Like all new Android releases, the only devices getting KitKat are Google’s own Nexus phones and tablets. As such, you can expect its first few months of growth to be a little slow.

    KitKat made its debut on the Android distribution chart today with the newest version of Google’s mobile OS showing up on 1.1 percent of all devices. Compared to Jelly Bean’s first few months, KitKat is actually doing pretty well for itself. That’s mostly due to more people owning Nexus devices now than they did in the middle of 2012 though.

    KitKat Is On 1.1 Percent Of All Android Devices

    As for the other versions of Android, Jelly Bean continues its reign over the Android ecosystem with it being installed on 54.5 percent of all devices. Gingerbread retains its second place standing at 24.1 percent, but Ice Cream Sandwich is not far behind with 18.6 percent. With Christmas coming up, both Gingerbread and ICS stand to lose a lot of marketshare as Jelly Bean devices are likely to find themselves in more hands after the holidays.

    So, what does the future hold for Android? KitKat adoption probably isn’t going anywhere that fast as most Jelly Bean users are still on version 4.1. Mobile carriers are slow to upgrade these devices, and it might be a while before some devices are upgraded to versions 4.2 or 4.3. With the reduced system requirements of KitKat, some carriers may choose to just upgrade some devices to version 4.4. If that happens, KitKat may just grow a bit faster than its predecessor.

    Still, we won’t be able to see where things are heading until after Christmas. In early January, we’ll be able to see a mostly accurate representation of how many new Android devices were activated over the holidays. My bet is that Jelly Bean is going to see some explosive growth while KitKat only sees minor growth.

  • Jelly Bean Is Now On A Majority Of Android Devices

    Last week, Google finally unveiled Android 4.4 KitKat alongside the new Nexus 5. While a new version of Android is certainly cause to celebrate, most of the world is still going to be using Jelly Bean for the foreseeable future. That’s a good thing though as a majority of the world’s Android devices are now running Android 4.1 through 4.3.

    In the latest update to the Android distribution numbers, Google shows that Jelly Bean is now on 52.1 percent of all Android devices. Unsurprisingly, version 4.1 is still the dominant form of Jelly Bean with it running on 37.3 percent of all devices. Version 4.3 has also seen some relatively strong growth as it now commands 2.3 percent of the Android ecosystem despite being introduced back in July.

    Jelly Bean Is Now On A Majority of Android Devices

    It’s been almost a year and a half since the first version of Jelly Bean was introduced at Google I/O 2012. Since then, Android has become the dominant mobile OS on the planet, and it has even started to appear on more than just mobile devices. In the last year, Jelly Bean became the OS of choice for a new line of handheld and home gaming consoles, like the Nvidia Shield and Ouya.

    As for the future, it’s looking pretty bright for KitKat. Google announced last week that it intends to make KitKat available to all Android devices regardless of their specs. This should help eradicate Gingerbread from its still powerful position on the Android distribution charts as it has only remained relevant due to the large number of low-end devices that are sold in emerging markets like China and India. With Android 4.4, the latest version of Google’s mobile OS will finally be able to run on these devices thus allowing low-end device manufacturers to stand on equal footing with the big guys when it comes to which Android version they can offer consumers.

    [Image: KIT KAT/YouTube]

  • Jelly Bean Is Now On Almost Half Of All Android Devices

    Earlier this year, Jelly Bean was slowly working its way up the Android distribution charts as Gingerbread sat atop its near majority share. Slowly but surely, those roles have reversed with Jelly Bean now on the brink of being on a majority of Android devices.

    In the latest Android distribution chart released today, it’s revealed that Jelly Bean is now on almost half (48.6 percent) of all Android devices. Compare that to Ice Cream Sandwich (20.6 percent) or Gingerbread (28.5 percent) and you see that Jelly Bean is now without a doubt the new king of Android.

    Jelly Bean Is Now On Almost Half Of All Android Devices

    Jelly Bean can’t celebrate just yet, however, as it’s still not over the 50 percent threshold. Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich will undoubtedly continue to decline in usage, but Jelly Bean will soon have a new version of Android to compete with.

    So, will KitKat present any immediate threat to Jelly Bean’s dominance? It’s not likely as Android 4.4. will likely only be available on Nexus devices for the first few months of its existence. This year’s best selling Android handsets are only just now upgrading to Android 4.3 so who knows when they’ll make the jump to Android 4.4.

    The launch of Android 4.4 may present an interesting look at how Android distribution evolves though. Over the past year, we saw Jelly Bean emerge as only a tiny blip on the distribution charts when it first launched to now being on almost over half of all Android devices thanks to its proliferation on devices like the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One.

    Will KitKat see the same amount of support next year when Samsung, HTC and other Android handset manufacturers launch their new flagship devices? It’s certainly possible, but we’ve also learned throughout the years that handset manufacturers stay one generation behind where Android currently is. That helped with the proliferation of Android 4.1 this year, but it may just mean that next year’s devices will ship with Android 4.3 instead of 4.4. If that becomes the case, it may be a while before we see KitKat make any significant progress on the Android distribution charts.

  • Android May be Too Much For Low-Priced Smartphones

    As the high-end smartphone market begins to be locked up by Apple, Samsung, LG, and others, smartphone manufacturers are now looking to the low-end market segment for growth in the industry. In particular, growing demand for low-priced smartphones is predicted to grow rapidly in countries such as China, Brazil, and India.

    However, a new report from DigiTimes Research predicts that the growth in low-end smartphones may loosen Android’s iron grip on the global smartphone market. The report states that newer versions of Android may not be suitable for the low-end hardware that will go into coming entry-level smartphones.

    Though consumers may want the benefits of Android Jelly Bean, this may limit how low-cost manufacturers can go with their hardware choices. Older versions of Android, which could easily run on low-end hardware, may not have the features consumers are looking for.

    The report also states that manufacturers are now considering alternative smartphone operating systems to even further decrease hardware specs. Platforms such as the new FireFox OS and Tizen are now being evaluated. DigiTimes also stated that Apple’s iOS may have less of a problem running on entry-level iPhones, which are expected to be announced next month.

    (via DigiTimes)

  • Jelly Bean Dominates The July Android Distribution Numbers

    Last month, we saw that Jelly Bean had finally overtaken Gingerbread as the most dominant Android operating system on the market. The slow death of Gingerbread has been well documented over the last year, but it looks like Jelly Bean is really starting to pick up the pace.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers for the end of July, it’s revealed that the first iteration of Jelly Bean – Android 4.1 – is on more devices than Gingerbread. Last month, it took the combined efforts of both Android 4.1 and 4.2 to dethrone Android 2.3.

    Getting into specifics, Jelly Bean as a whole is now on 40.5 percent of all Android devices. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on over 50 percent of all Android devices at the end of August. Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread continue to cede ground to Jelly Bean as both have dropped to 22.5 percent and 33.1 percent marketshare respectively.

    Jelly Bean Dominates The July Android Distribution Numbers

    Next month will see the debut of Android 4.3 in the distribution numbers. You can expect the numbers to be pretty low as only Nexus devices will have been upgraded by then. Many handset manufacturers are still working on upgrading their devices to Android 4.2 so it will be a while before we see Android 4.3 gain any prominence.

    Of course, the distribution numbers also tell us that we may be getting closer to the launch of Android 5.0, or Key Lime Pie. Google can only refine Jelly Bean so much. As more people adopt the latest OS, they’ll want something new. That something new may just be found in Key Lime Pie.

  • Jelly Bean Is Finally On More Android Devices Than Gingerbread

    Over the last year, we’ve seen Android 2.3, or Gingerbread, slowly lose its majority share of Android distribution. Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich, helped start the decline of Gingerbread, but it was Android 4.1/4.2, or Jelly Bean, that really helped kick Gingerbread to the curb.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers released on Monday, Google revealed that Jelly Bean is finally the dominant Android operating system. By combining both Android versions 4.1 (32.3 percent) and 4.2 (5.6 percent), Jelly Bean is now on 37.9 percent of Android devices. Gingerbread is still hanging onto second place, however, with 34.1 percent.

    Jelly Bean Has Finally Eclipsed Gingerbread

    As you can see above, Ice Cream Sandwich, much like Gingerbread, is ceding ground to Jelly Bean as more and more Android users upgrade to devices that use the latest OS. As this trend continues, developers will be able to better target Jelly Bean and ICS devices without having to worry about Gingerbread users.

    Next month’s numbers will undoubtedly see the continued rise of Jelly Bean, but it will also hopefully mark the introduction of Android 4.3. The newest version of Jelly Bean is rumored to be coming out this month alongside the rumored new Nexus 7 tablet. Google will upgrade its own Nexus devices to Android 4.3 first, but it shouldn’t take long for carriers to start upgrading some devices to the newest Android version.

  • Android 4.3 Leaks For Galaxy S4, Available Now

    It seems that we’re close to an Android 4.3 reveal as the latest operating system has been leaked for the Galaxy S4. It’s still an early testing build, but you can install it if you have the necessary hardware.

    Before we get to that, however, let’s take a look at what Android 4.3 is and isn’t. Google’s latest mobile OS is still called Jelly Bean. It still has the same design of previous Jelly Bean builds. On the other hand, it isn’t a major upgrade. Instead, it brings a small number of enhancements to the already almost perfect Jelly Bean.

    So, what are those enhancements? It appears that the biggest update is the inclusion of Bluetooth LE support. Beyond that, there’s been a few tweaks to the camera interface and the inclusion of the share button in more apps. Those expecting a bigger and better Android aren’t getting it in this update.

    Even so, Galaxy S4 owners can start playing around with Android 4.3 right now. SamMobile has confirmed that the leaked Android 4.3 test build works on both the Nexus version of the Galaxy S4 as well as the regular TouchWiz version. They note that flashing this custom ROM will void your warranty, but that may be a small price to pay to be on the cutting edge of Android.

    While Galaxy S4 owners start testing out Android 4.3, the rest of us will have to wait for an official announcement. According to sources speaking to GottaBeMobile, we won’t have to wait long. Google plans to unveil Android 4.3 in July with the first build coming to – surprise – the Galaxy S4 Nexus Edition.

  • HTC One Nexus Edition Is Official, Will Cost $599

    It was rumored last week that HTC would release a Nexus Edition of its popular HTC One handset after the news of a Nexus Edition of the Galaxy S4 was received with such positive buzz at Google I/O. Now HTC has went and confirmed that rumor.

    HTC announced today that a Nexus Edition of the HTC One will be available starting June 26. It will be sold exclusively in the Google Play store, and will cost $599. For those keeping track at home, that’s $50 cheaper than the HTC One Developer Edition.

    Just like the Galaxy S4 Nexus Edition, the HTC One Nexus Edition will ship with the latest version of Jelly Bean (Android 4.2.2) instead of HTC’s own Sense software. You could install your own custom stock Android ROM on the SIM unlocked or Developer Edition, but the Nexus Edition comes with the official Google support that the Nexus experience offers.

    Still, you’re free to make your own choice about which HTC One device you want. You my want to try out the new HTC Sense on the One before you make the jump to stock Android. To compare the three HTC One models available, check out this handy chart:

    HTC One Nexus Edition

  • HTC One Nexus Edition With Stock Android May Be In The Works [Rumor]

    One of the pleasant surprises out of this year’s Google I/O was the announcement of a Nexus edition of the Galaxy S4. Now Google may be working on a similar deal with HTC.

    Anonymous sources speaking to Geek say that HTC is now working on a version of the HTC One that will ship with stock Android 4.2.2 instead of its HTC Sense software. If true, it could potentially be a major win for HTC as it’s aiming to capture more of the market that’s been cornered by Samsung in recent years.

    Of course, there is one question we must ask – why bother with a Nexus edition of the HTC One when people can already buy the HTC One developer edition and flash their own custom ROMs on the device? Well, some people adore the vanilla Google experience, but don’t know how to install custom ROMs. Letting HTC and Google do all the work for them could boost sales of HTC’s flagship while getting the definitive Google experience, ads and all, into the hands of more users.

    So, when can you expect to see the fabled Nexus edition of the HTC One arriving in stores? It’s said that we’ll get an announcement within the next two weeks with a release following later in the summer.

    It should be noted that this is merely a rumor for now, but Geek broke the news that Google would be releasing a Nexus edition of the Galaxy S4 before its announcement at Google I/O. I wouldn’t be surprised to see HTC follow suit.

  • Your Old Galaxy S III May Soon Look More Like A Galaxy S4

    Samsung has another hit with the Galaxy S4, but not everybody buys the latest and greatest mobile devices. Some people are perfectly content with buying last year’s Galaxy S III. Luckily, they won’t have to be jealous of the Galaxy S4 for much longer as many of the same features will soon be added to the S III via software update.

    SamMobile got its hands on the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy S III and found that it contains many of the software features introduced with the Galaxy S 4. Unfortunately, that means many of the new features of the S4 that are dependent on hardware won’t be making it over. Despite that, there’s still some good stuff in store for those who are deciding to hold onto their Galaxy S III.

    Here’s the list of new additions courtesy of SamMobile:

  • New S4 Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, two Unlock effects (Ripple and Light), improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message
  • New Screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo
  • Daydream
  • Driving mode
  • Actionable notifications
  • New Additions in Notification Center
  • Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the S4)
  • Addition of Voice controls (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature)
  • Gallery modes have white background (When changing gallery modes to 3D the background changes to white)
  • Full screen Samsung apps
  • New S-Voice (from S4)
  • New smart switch widget

    • If you’re more of a visual kind of person, SamMobile has also released a video walkthrough of the new Galaxy S III firmware:

    On a final note, you can grab the firmware here if you can’t wait for Samsung to release it. The leaked 4.2.2 update is still an early build, however, so amateurs may want to wait for Samsung to release the official update later this year.

  • Google To Sell Galaxy S4 With Stock Android [Google I/O 2013]

    Google To Sell Galaxy S4 With Stock Android [Google I/O 2013]

    At the end of the Android portion of the Google I/O 2013 keynote, Google’s Hugo Barra announced that it will start selling a new Android device on its Play store. Those expecting a Nexus device were in for a surprise though.

    Barra announced that it will be selling the Galaxy S4 with stock Android instead of Samsung’s TouchWiz software. This version of the Galaxy S4 will come with all the features one expects from stock Android, and it will receive updates directly from Google.

    More importantly, Google’s own version of the Galaxy S4 is sold unlocked, and can be activated on AT&T and T-Mobile. It’s the first official LTE phone to be sold on Google Play. As expected, the bootloader is also unlocked.

    Those expecting a subsidized Google Play price are going to be disappointed though. Barra announced that the stock Android Galaxy S4 will be available on Google Play for $649 on June 26.

  • Looks Like We’ll Be Seeing Android 4.3 At Google I/O

    UPDATE: Nothing to see here, folks. The only big Android announcement during the keynote is that Google will start selling a Galaxy S4 equipped with stock Android (4.2) via its Play store.

    At Google I/O 2012, Google introduced the world to Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean. It later updated Jelly Bean to version 4.2. Now at Google I/O 2013, it looks like Google will be updating Jelly Bean again to version 4.3.

    The Verge reports that a page on Google’s Android developer Web site referenced Android 4.3 before being removed. It was still available via cache for a while with a listing for security enhancements in the newest version of Android, but nobody was actually able to catch what those security enhancements were.

    Regardless, we still know next to nothing about Android 4.3. Knowing it exists is a start, but there’s not been much in the way of leaks in regards to new features. Some are suggesting that the latest update will just be a minimal update with support for Bluetooth Low Energy and better OpenGL for Embedded Systems 3.0. The latter jibes with other rumors suggesting that Google will announce some new gaming initiatives for Android at the conference.

    It’s important to note that Android 4.3 will most likely still be called Jelly Bean. Android boss Pundar Sichai already said that Google wouldn’t be showing off a new version of Android so a small update to Jelly Bean is the only thing that makes sense. Those looking for Key Lime Pie (or Kandy Kane) will have to keep waiting.

  • Jelly Bean Is Now On A Quarter Of All Android Devices

    Over the past few months, Jelly Bean has been on a meteoric rise as it latches onto more and more Android devices. At the same time, Gingerbread use has been slowly declining. With a new way of reporting distribution numbers, Google will hopefully hurry both trends along.

    For its April report of Android distribution numbers, Google says that the reporting mechanism has changed from Android activations to only devices that visit the Google Play store. The change will more accurately reflect “those users who are most engaged in the Android and Google Play ecosystem.”

    With this new method of reporting, Jelly Bean use has risen by almost 10 percent to 25 percent of the entire Android ecosystem. Ice Cream Sandwich saw a minor rise in use as well with it now sitting at 29.3 percent.

    Gingerbread continues its path of decline with only a 39.8 percent share of the Android ecosystem. Even with the new method of reporting, Gingerbread only saw a decline of less than five percent. It will still be a while before we see Jelly Bean or Ice Cream Sandwhich become the dominant player in the Android ecosystem.

    Jelly Bean Is Now On A Quarter Of All Android Devices

    It will be interesting to see what the Android ecosystem looks like a few months after Google launches the new version of Android later this year. Distribution reporting may also be thrown off if rumors of an Android notebook turn out to be true. Both scenarios will likely create a very interesting year for Android.

  • Jelly Bean, ICS Combine Their Powers To Take Down Gingerbread In February

    Last month’s Android distribution numbers showed that Gingerbread was on the way out. Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean still had a bit to go, however, before they were finally able to eclipse the outdated mobile OS. Turns out the Android 4.0 and up club only needed one more month to do so.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers, Gingerbread is shown to be at an all time low of 44.2 percent. It’s still higher than the separate distribution percentages of both Ice Cream Sandwhich (28.6 percent) and Jelly Bean (16.5 percent), but they barely best Gingerbread when combined (45.1 percent).

    Jelly Bean, ICS Combine Their Powers To Take Down Gingerbread

    Aside from Gingerbread’s dominance being semi-officially over, it should be noted that this is the second month in a row where Jelly Bean saw the only growth. Ice Cream Sandwich is beginning to decline as more Android 4.0 devices are upgraded to Android 4.1. Android 4.2 also saw a slight bump.

    Google is expected to show off the next version of Android at this year’s Google I/O in May. It will be interesting to see what Android distribution looks like before then. Getting more people on Jelly Bean, or at the very least Ice Cream Sandwich, should be a priority for Google before then. Supporting Gingerbread is good for consumers, but it’s not good for the developers straining themselves to support multiple versions of Android.

  • Jelly Bean Continues To Grow, Gingerbread And ICS Hit With Small Declines

    Back in January, we finally saw Gingerbread fall below 50 percent in Google’s Android distribution numbers for December. At the same time, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean both saw increases. Now only one Android version is seeing continued growth.

    In the latest Android distribution numbers, Jelly Bean has grown 3.4 percent to a total of 13.6 percent of the entire Android market. The increase can be attributed to any number of things including the Galaxy S III finally being upgraded to the latest version of Android. Sales of Google’s Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets likely contributed to the increase as well.

    Jelly Bean Continues To Grow, Gingerbread and ICS Decline

    What about the other versions? Surprisingly, Ice Cream Sandwich is down, but only by .1 percent. Android 4.0 ended January with 29 percent of the market compared to its 29.1 percent from last month. This is probably an anomaly as ICS will most likely continue to grow as those with cheap Gingerbread handsets will upgrade to now cheap ICS handsets throughout the year.

    Speaking of Gingerbread, the Android OS that won’t die is still falling slowly as it only lost a few percentage points over the month. Android 2.3 now holds 45.6 of the Android market. It will only continue to decline as more users upgrade to devices with Android 4.0 or 4.1/4.2.

    It will be interesting to see how the Android market continues to evolve over the course of the year. I have a gut feeling that Gingerbread’s days are numbered, and that its overall distribution will see a huge decline sometime in the middle of the year. Google’s expected rollout of Key Lime Pie (or Kandy Kane) may also have an impact on overall distribution numbers later this year.

  • Android Is Finally Free Of Gingerbread’s Deathlike Grip, ICS And Jelly Bean Quickly Catching Up

    At the beginning of December, Gingerbread was on the cusp of finally dropping below 50 percent in terms of Android distribution numbers. The holidays provided a perfect opportunity for later versions of Android, like Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, to finally take hold. The latest Android distribution numbers for the end of December do not disappoint.

    In the latest Android distribution figures released by Google today, it’s revealed that Gingerbread has finally dropped its deathlike stranglehold on the Android market. Android 2.2-2.3 now only makes up 47.6 percent of the entire Android market. Android 2.2, or Froyo, also saw a marked increase of over one percentage point to a new low of 9 percent.

    Old dinosaurs finally showing signs of death isn’t the only good news out of last month’s numbers as Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean are finally starting to take hold in a big way. Ice Cream Sandwich climbed up one percentage point to a new high of 29.1 percent of the entire Android market. In even bigger news, Jelly Bean has finally reached 10 percent of the entire market with 9 percent of users on Android 4.1 while 1.2 percent are on Android 4.2.

    Gingerbread Finally Relinqueshes Its Majority Hold On Android Distribution

    In other interesting news, older versions of Android seem to be finally dying out. Last month, Android 1.5, or Cupcake, was only at 0.1 percent, but now it’s finally died out. Android 1.6, or Donut, is held on last month at 0.2 percent, but it could possibly die out in January. That would finally phase out the version 1.x Android operating systems, and we could move on to phasing out all the Android 2.x operating systems. It’s more likely, however, that the tablet focused Android 3.x operating system will die out before Gingerbread ever gives up the fight.

  • $99 Acer Android Tablet is on the Way

    It’s been rumored for a while now that Google is developing a $99 version of its Nexus 7 tablet. Those rumors were based on manufacturing reports from Taiwanese gadget makers, such as Google’s Nexus 7 partner Asus. Now, it seems that a different Taiwanese company has beaten Google to the punch.

    Today, phoneArena is reporting that Acer is building a 7-inch tablet called the Acer Iconia B1. Judging by the device’s hardware specs, it’s clear that the device will sell for a relatively low price.

    According to the report, the Iconia B1 will have a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 8GB of storage. It will also sport a low 1024 x 600 resolution screen. The tablet is also rumored to have Bluetooth and GPS capabilities, a microSD card slot, and some sort of wireless data connectivity, judging by an FCC filing that shows a SIM card slot. It will arrive running the latest version of Android, 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

    With the iPad Mini beginning to pick up steam and challenge Amazon in the 7-inch tablet market, now would be the time for new players to try their hand at entering that market. When Apple, Amazon, and Google begin refining their designs for the iPad Mini, Kindle Fire HD, and Nexus 7 next year, there won’t be much room for any other companies to sell a significant number of mini tablets.

    (via BGR)

  • LG Rubs In The Fact That You Can’t Buy A Nexus 4 With Jealousy Inducing Video

    The Nexus 4 has been sold out for quite a while now. The best thing to do is try to ignore the allure of Google’s latest smartphone. Google isn’t making it easy though as the company recently posted a video showing off Jelly Bean’s impressive Photo Sphere feature. LG is far crueler, however, as it’s showing off just how awesome the Nexus 4 in its entirety is.

    Everything on display can be found in the newest version of Jelly Bean, but the OS is only available on Nexus devices at the moment. Sure, you could download a custom ROM, but LG really sells the Nexus 4 here. It just makes you want to buy one, but alas, you can not as the device is still sold out.

    In fact, the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are all sold out. These are the only devices, aside from the widely available Galaxy Nexus, that officially support Android 4.2 at the moment. It’s almost like Google is telling you to root your Galaxy S III and install an Android 4.2 custom ROM. Most carriers are now just getting to Android 4.1 so it will undoubtedly be a while until carriers upgrade everyone to the newest flavor of Jelly Bean.

    Until LG fixes its hardware distribution, you can pick up Nexus 4 smartphones at inflated prices on eBay. The gadget scalpers are in full force offering Nexus 4 devices for the low price of $550 when the MSRP is only $300. At that price, you’re better off just buying a Galaxy S III and installing a custom Jelly Bean ROM.