Many expected to see Android 4.3 Jelly Bean unveiled at Google I/O 2013, particularly after the company accidently confirmed the update ahead of the conference on its developer website. Server logs indicated that the new Android version had a build number beginning with "J," suggesting that the update would be another iteration of Jelly Bean.
Unfortunately, the updated OS never materialized at the Google I/O. In the run up, it was widely speculated that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean would debut on the Nexus 4 and although this didn't happen last week, the rumor gained new credence a few days ago when pictures taken at the Thailand Mobile Expo 2013 appeared to show none other than the Nexus 4 running Android 4.3.
The photos were first posted on the XDA-Developers forum by a user with the handle "challeen." They show what looks to be a display model Nexus 4 and the candid shots reveal the handset's "About phone" screen as well as a new camera UI. The screenshots reveal that the Android version is 4.3 and the build is designated "JWR45B." Another poster with the handle "innocent36" uploaded additional photos that provided a clearer look at the baseband version, which is "m9615a-cefwmazm-2.0.1700.74." According to Android Police, this indicates that the update is likely intended for GSM devices.
The redesigned camera UI is a pretty significant overhaul. A "see-through viewfinder" is one of the biggest changes and should allow users to capture photos more easily. New icons for contrast, rotation and HDR have also been added.
While the existence of a Nexus 4 running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean now seems to have been independently confirmed by two posters on the XDA forums, there's still the possibility that the pictures are fake. Either way, an official announcement from Google regarding the timeline of the update is probably just around the corner.
