Android Jelly Bean 4.1 is officially available now for the flagship Android handset, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The official rollout started yesterday evening (10th July 12) and is coming over the air to handsets running the latest Ice Cream Sandwich update that was released at the start of the year.
Initially the update is only coming to HSPA+ smartphones (in the US there are non HSPA+ Nexus handsets available) via an over the air download in the US, and then to the all the other Samsung Galaxy Nexus variants and the Samsung Nexus S afterwards.
In a blog posting Google has stated:
“If you’ve got a Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ device, you will receive a prompt alerting you to the update over the next several day,” the company posted on the Google+ Nexus page.
“Up next for Jelly Bean: all Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, Motorola Xoom and of course, Nexus 7, which will ship with Jelly Bean later this month.”
The quick update has come in light of the recent ban on the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus handset due to an Apple patent infringement lawsuit that has been raging on for some months, but Google has pushed its new Jelly Bean update (infringement-free) out of the blocks a little faster than expected to save a loss of sales.
Google claims that Jelly Bean is the fastest and smoothest version of Android to date, and they’re right. A little piece of software known as ‘Project Butter’ allows the Android OS to manage your device’s processor and battery much better, pulling on more power only when you’re touching the screen. What this means is not only super-fast and smooth menu transitions and the opening, closing, and switching of apps, but a decent battery life as well.
You can take a look at our exclusive hands-on review and images here and see the new Google Android 4.1 Operating System running on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
The update should be coming through to the Galaxy Nexus handsets in the coming days so make sure you keep checking for software updates on the handset.
If you want to try get your hands on a new Samsung Galaxy Nexus check out our price comparison tool below.
Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.