One of the biggest news breaks of recent days is the fact that the next Android iteration is likely not going to be Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie as we had all been thinking for the last few months. Despite the fact that Google itself had never officially announced or actually named Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie (rather, it was more of a media construct that we all just kept going with because it kind of made sense), Key Lime Pie seemed about ready to come out of the oven -- we thought -- by Google I/O. Apparently, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is actually what will be sweetening our devices instead.
Even though Android 4.3 Jelly Bean was not specifically brought up (as of Thursday, May 16) at Google I/O, there are nonetheless reports telling us that the new OS will likely come out as early as June and probably no later than August.
In addition to the fact that Know Your Mobile says that a new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean build is likely coming "very shortly" to Bluetooth Special Interest Group (BSIG), AndroidAndMe reports that a statement made by BSIG after the Google I/O keynote explained that the next Android update (whatever it might be) is on the way and will introduce Bluetooth Smart functionality.
Bluetooth Smart is already supported by BlackBerry, Microsoft and Apple, so it's about time it's coming to Android. That this new functionality might be coming to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean specifically is further bolstered by a posting on Twitter by a member of the group who says, "android API 18 and nexus 4 will support Bluetooth LE in 'a couple short months.'"
Does this mean that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean could come out as soon as June? Considering the summer season opener is only a "couple short months" away, why not?
The real question now is which device will be the one to come with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean first. Which will be the flagship Android 4.3 Jelly Bean device?
"It was thought Google would announce the new build at Google I/O on some new flagship Nexus hardware and a variety of devices were rumored including a Nexus 5 handset, Nexus 4 LTE reboot, a re-designed Nexus 7 with Full HD display and a Nexus 11 tablet," Know Your Mobile says. "But, none of these turned up."
Being that the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S4, which has already received some complaints for coming out at a time in which some pretty snazzy new tech is right on the horizon (making the device more or less "pre-obsolete"), the phone could certainly use a boost with the latest/greatest Android OS. Perhaps it will therefore be the aforementioned Android 4.3 Jelly Bean flagship device.
"Google has already announced it will be launching a Samsung Galaxy S4 via its Google Play store which will run stock Android and this is pegged to arrive in June - it's plausible this could be the flagship device for Android 4.3," Know Your Mobile concludes.
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