Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

     Google I/O, the company's annual developer-focused conference, was held late last week and introduced a number of innovations for Google's various projects. Some of those that were on display include; the Nexus 7, the Nexus Q, Project Glass, Google Chrome updates, and most significantly, Android 4.1. While early reviews have been positive; the question remains whether the new software is enough to bring consumers to Google's Galaxy Nexus smartphone. Google will also need to contend with Apple's recent injunction, which blocks the sale of the popular handset in the U.S. (for more details on that story click here). Litigation aside, let's take a closer look at Android update 4.1, more popularly referred to as Jelly Bean.

     Many people speculated that the Jelly Bean update would bring the version number for Android from 4.0 to 5.0, a move which Google has postponed until it's next major overhaul of their operating system. While the version number may seem like a minor detail when discussing the update, it's key to understanding the developments which were implemented in the new software. The overall look of the OS is very similar to Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), in fact when placed next to a device running 4.0 the average consumer would have a difficult time distinguishing between the two. Through the Jelly Bean update, Google has refocused it's efforts on a smoother running OS, a vital improvement that was sorely lacking when compared to both Windows 7 and the IPhone.

The Jelly Bean update will be coming to consumers mid-July. It will also be preloaded on the upcoming Galaxy 7 tablet.

     The importance of an OS that runs smoothly throughout a handset can not be understated. Consistent fluidity is one of the reasons that the IPhone continues to be such a success today. Android has received harsh criticism in the past for problems with device lag and consistent performance within a handset. Google has addressed these concerns through Project Butter, software which lets the CPU and graphics run in parallel. Project Butter has a huge impact on the speed of a device, allowing the interface to run at 60 frames per second. Graphics are also triple-buffered so that transitions and scrolling moves along quickly. Jelly Bean also includes the developer-friendly Systrace, which diagnoses performance and helps eliminate any remaining bugs in the OS. Systrace is also a part of the Jelly Bean SDK, so that coders can get their apps running in conjunction with the update.

Google I/O 2012 developer conference held from June 27-29 in San Francisco.

     Some of the other features included are an updated gallery, a new predictive keyboard, offline maps and homescreen tweaks. The notification bar has also been given a new look and now provides users with a lot more information such as; email details and news updates complete with images. While these changes greatly improve the OS, it's important to devote some time to Google Now, the feature most likely to garner buzz around Jelly Bean. While the software is likely to gather comparisons between it and Apple's Siri, Google Now actually goes much further than Siri does and is an improvement in nearly every way.
   
     Google Now uses your search history, calender and location to give you the information you need when you need it. By holding down the home key and swiping up you activate the service and entire an entirely new portal on your phone. When you're working within Google Now you'll see a list of scrollable "Cards" which provide you with information such as news, weather, sports scores, transportation schedules, navigation routes or appointments. The more you use the service the better it gets at predicting what information you need when. Some of these results come from what you search for, such as a favorite sports team, while others are location based. The Cards can populate on their own, such as when retrieving weather, or can be configured while you're on the move, such as train station schedules. Google Now watches what you do online and uses that knowledge to become smarter and more reliable at predicting what information you need.

     Jelly Bean may not be the complete overhaul that ICS was months ago, but it doesn't need to be. The update brings along much needed changes to the OS and improves on ICS in almost every way possible. The new notification tray gives users more information and the ability to respond to emails and share images directly within it. The keyboard has modeled itself after SwiftKey and is much better because of it, while Project Butter has given new life and speed to Android's devices. Google Now has the potential to change the way that people interact with their phones and how they get the information they need. Jelly Bean is here and with it comes a bounty of treats for Android users.