Google has announced the latest version of its mobile platform, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, at its annual I/O event in San Francisco, with it appearing alongside the first device to run it, the Google Nexus 7 tablet.
However the Nexus 7 won't be the only device which will end up running the sugary named update, with a host of phones and tablets set to receive the upgrade. Google has also announced that it plans to have Jelly Bean running on the Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus and Motorola Xoom in mid-July.
Update: the Nexus S started receiving updates to Android Jelly Bean in Asia on 19 July, with more markets set to follow soon after.
The Motorola Xoom is an unusual choice, as it's already been usurped by the Xoom 2, and in the UK Carphone Warehouse claims that the Nexus 7 will be the only tablet running Android 4.1 for four months.
If the Ice Cream Sandwich roll out is anything to go by, then manufacturers are likely to take their sweet time about getting Android 4.1 out to consumers, and some devices may miss out.
We've contacted all the major players in the Android market, to find out what their plans are for the Android Jelly Bean upgrade, here's what we've heard so far;
Android Jelly Bean: Samsung
Update: The official Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for theSamsung Galaxy S3 has begun rolling out to handsets in Eastern Europe.
Samsung says Android 4.1 is "gradually being introduced to other markets" - although there's no exact dates for the UK or US at this time.
The Korean firm has also confirmed it will be bringing Jelly Bean to the following devices in due course: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 & Tab 2 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy SII,Galaxy Note, Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy S Advance, Galaxy SII LTE, Galaxy Music, Galaxy Chat, Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace Plus, Galaxy Mini II and Galaxy S Duos.
Android Jelly Bean: HTC
HTC has announced it will be bringing Jelly Bean to at least three of its models, which is good news for those that like newer handsets:
"We know HTC fans are excited to get their hands on Google's latest version of Android. At this point in time, we can confirm that we have plans to upgrade our HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S to Jelly Bean," a HTC spokesperson told us.
"Please stay tuned for more updates regarding device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Jelly Bean."
Update: The latest reports suggest the One X will see Android 4.1 pop up in October, although HTC are yet to officially confirm anything.
Android Jelly Bean: Motorola
Motorola has confirmed that it has not released its plans regarding the Jelly Bean update yet.
However Google said it was planning on getting Jelly Bean onto the Xoom tablet in July.
Android Jelly Bean: LG
Back in February at MWC 2012, we spoke to LG regarding the Jelly Bean update and the manufacturer confirmed it would guarantee an upgrade to Android Jelly Bean for all compatible 2012 handsets.
We will have to wait and see if it delivers on that promise.
Update: A spokesperson for the firm has told TechRadar: "LG will continue to support the latest android platforms, across LG devices however at present an exact date is not yet confirmed."
Update 2: Sources at LG tell us the relevant phones in the range will be updated to Jelly Bean by Q1 2013, with the roll out beginning in Q4.
Android Jelly Bean: Asus
During MWC 2012, Benson Lin, Asus' Corporate Vice President told TechRadar: "Asus is very close to Google, so once they have Android 4.1 I think there will be a high possibility that we will be the first wave to offer the Jelly Bean update."
The Transformer Pad 300 has now been given the Jelly Bean treatment - so make sure you hit software update check if you're still on Ice Cream Sandwich.
Update: A post on the Asus Facebook page has confirmed that it will be bringing the Android 4.1 update to the Transformer Pad Infinity and Transformer Prime "soon".
TechRadar spoke to Asus, and a spokesperson said "the Jelly Bean rollout to the Infinity and Prime will happen in days rather than weeks."
Some lucky soles in Sweden have already started to get Android 4.1 on their Transformer Prime tablets.
Android Jelly Bean: Sony
Sony has confirmed that a host of Sony Ericsson Xperia handsets from 2011 will not be getting an update to Android 4.1, which means the likes of the Sony Xperia Arc Sand the Xperia Mini Pro will miss out.
As far as Sony's plans for Jelly Bean go Sony Mobile's UK product manager, John Cooper said: "We currently don't have anything to announce regarding Jelly Bean for the Xperia S."
Update: However fear not, as Sony has now retracted this comment, posting the following response on the official Sony Xperia blog.
"A quick note – during a Q&A session last week on our Sony Mobile GB Facebook page, a local spokesperson gave information out in error on our Android 4.1 Jelly Bean software development and rollout for 2011 Xperia smartphones.
"We are actively investigating Android OS upgrades for all devices, but in the meantime, our Ice Cream Sandwich rollout for Xperia S and 2011 Xperia smartphones continues as planned."
Android Jelly Bean: Acer
According to Dutch site Tablet Guide, Acer will be updating some of its Android tablets to Android 4.1, although it was unable to say which models would be lucky enough to get it and when it would start rolling it out.
Android Jelly Bean: Toshiba
Toshiba has confirmed that it will be providing Android Jelly Bean to its AT200 and AT300 tablets, although no time frame was given for the roll out.
We spoken to Toshiba, who said it was unable to comment on the Jelly Bean update at this time.
Android Jelly Bean: ZTE
A ZTE spokesperson has told TechRadar: "Although Google has released information about Jelly Bean, Google is yet to publish the source code release date.
"Therefore it is currently impossible to estimate a date for the ZTE Jelly Bean upgrade at this point in time. Based on historical forecasts, Google requires 1-2 months to complete the source code release before manufacturers can begin to develop Jelly Bean based versions of devices."
Not wanting to be left behind, ZTE has launched the first Android Jelly Bean handset in China, and third in the world, in the form of the ZTE N880E. It's unlikely to make it to other territories, but it shows manufacturers can get Jelly Bean out the door quickly.
Android Jelly Bean: Intel
Intel has confirmed that it is working with Google on a Jelly Bean port for its Atom processors, which will allow the latest version of Android to run on handsets and tablets with Intel inside, such as the Orange San Diego.
There's currently no sign of a release date, so we're going to have to wait for more information on the progress of this project.
And the rest
We're stilling waiting to hear from other Android device manufacturers including Huawei and Panasonic.
Make sure you bookmark this page, as we'll be updating this article as and when we hear back from manufacturers regarding their plans for the Android 4.1 update.
In the meantime, take a look at our hands on Android 4.1 review to see what the jelly Bean update will be bringing.
Source : techradar[dot]com
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