Android 4.1 Jelly Bean: the new features

21. appleDOESNT.com posted on 27 Jun 2012, 19:28 22 7

Google Now is faster, quieter, better. Sorry Siri, no one actually wants to talk to you and your silly little apple engineer out LOUD answers (except at parties to see what funny answers those engineers came up wih :/ )...

But what we do want is something faster, quieter, better... voila, Google Now does it again. I have already been talking to my phone for years to get answers via google searches and this just 1 ups it.

61. sgtdisturbed47 posted on 30 Jun 2012, 14:28 1 0

We've watched this phone OS evolve into a powerhouse, but a lot of people have been reluctant to switch to Android because of stability and lag issues. Now, with JB, hopefully this will change a lot of peoples' minds.

Reason being is because the phone ecosystem is pretty stagnant. You have BB (pretty much dead), there's Windows phone (just now making a grand re-entrance), iOS (silky smooth, but no flexibility unless you Jailbreak)), and Android (always changing and very flexible, but stability issues). With the refinement of Android, to the point where it's silky smooth and non-stop reliable, this will force Apple to re-think the iOS platform, possibly to the extent of adding a lot more customization options (within reason) and more flexibility. They already have the smooth and stable aspects nailed down, now they need to open it up and let us OWNERS of the phone make modifications without having to Jailbreak.

37. gixxerrider311 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 21:07 8 1

I agree! Google is definitely making a big improvement on their OS, I like Androids for how open source they are and how much you can expand its capabilities. I'm personally an iOS user but I really don't go into debate on which OS is better, they're just different. Great job Google!

56. Forsaken77 posted on 28 Jun 2012, 15:06 1 0

Totally Agree. JB isn't really adding new features, it's making the old ones more stable.

9. Non_Sequitur posted on 27 Jun 2012, 15:57 4 1

I'm getting the GNex from Google Play for Christmas now. Definite must. Unless a new Nexus phone comes out on Google Play for $400 off contract. I'd love to have an HTC One Nexus or a Moto Droid Nexus (hopefully with Maxx version).

10. CivicSi89 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 15:59 4 1

Yeah man. I normally just buy my phones because i hate being under contract for so long. The RAZR and RAZR MAXX are great as well. But that price point for the Galaxy Nexus is just insane. But i do love the 2GB of ram in the Galaxy III. and i love the build quality and sexiness of the HTC OneX. so yea. im torn. haha.

13. JunitoNH posted on 27 Jun 2012, 17:02 1 0

If your lucky!!!! they might as well just bypass ICS and go straight JB.

29. InspectorGadget80 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 20:07 1 1

of course and i'm still stuck on AT&T :(

74. TheSherbs posted on 09 Jul 2012, 09:49 0 0

If you have an Android running ICS, shouldn't you be able to upgrade to JB regardless of AT&T? I am an Android noob and work with iOS mainly, but I figure since AT&T cannot control when the iPhone updates its OS, can it control when Android updates? (I am being serious, and NOT trolling, or trying to start a flame war). I thought Androids could update outside the confines of "provider network"?

76. WizardKnight posted on 10 Jul 2012, 12:20 1 0

the answer is yes and no...

yes they can go outside the confines of the providor/manufacturer... but they can't update the manufacturer provided system on their own.

there are many custom builds of android (ROMs) for all phones. in order to update from say ICS to JB without an official carrier update, you'd need to install one of the custom ROMs that based off of that updated build. This isn't just for updates. Independent developers put their own spins on android, focus on certain things (battery life over performance or vice versa). So there are many reasons to root and go custom.

77. TheSherbs posted on 10 Jul 2012, 16:07 0 0

Thanks for the information. So to get the official JB update on the "X carrier" phone, it would have to be downloaded via an offical "X carrier" update? The alternative being to root the phone and find a custom ROM tailored to your particular tastes, correct?

That being said, (Again no trolling or flaming, just understanding) how exactly is Apple able to get around those restrictions?

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78. jmblaney86 posted on 10 Jul 2012, 20:35 1 0

its not that they get around those restrictions its that android isnt like apple in the sense its one device, since android has a variety of devices using it, such as samsung and say HTC for example, both has there own UI's like SENSE and TouchWiz, the andorid update usually becomes a joint effort from the "X carrier" and manurfacturer, i have Droid Razr Maxx soon to have SG3 thanks to the 30 day exchange policy, i just recieved ICS last week or so because Motorola and Verizon released it, Motorola updated ICS with their MotoBlur UI in mind, i hope im explaining this correctly, but since apple only has to worry about one device they basically update their phones all at once, BUT if you notice a Verizon update version is a different Build number than say AT&T, so although apple only has to update their main iOS, they do still have to make it compatible with the "X Carrier"

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59. sniper1087 posted on 29 Jun 2012, 14:26 1 0

Is an incremental upgrade so it is not going to be as hard to jump from ics to jb, which they should be able to do hopefully.

14. MorePhonesThanNeeded posted on 27 Jun 2012, 17:04 2 4

Seems like the Dual Core phones get the 2GB of RAM and the Quad Core SGS3 comes with 1GB of RAM. If you didn't notice the Nexus 7 comes with 1GB of RAM and it runs JB so perhaps you might want to check details before running off with crazy assumptions. Bring it on Google, I notice that only Dual Core phones and up can run JB without hiccups.

46. jackhammeR posted on 28 Jun 2012, 01:53 1 0

maybe so. That were my concerns. But something is not right if samsung claims there may be some problems, don't you think?

17. KingKurogiii posted on 27 Jun 2012, 18:25 1 0

Samsung wasn't sure what JB was going to bring. nobody knew anything about JB before today except for Google and ASUS, the 2GB was just a precaution.

40. ananya22 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 21:40 2 0

What do you care you idiot? They are not asking you to pay for it seperately are they???they are giving you better hardware and even better software but youre still whining jack*** . Amd they dont need to add the ram to make it smooth. gnexus is getting the update isnt it?. Youre such a fool. Why comment and provoke people to make fun of you? Idiot. This is a reply to comment no. 12 i dont know why its placed here when i hit the reply button on jackhammers comment.

45. jackhammeR posted on 28 Jun 2012, 01:49 1 1

shut up kid. You are the cash cow for google. It's not about better hardware. If you want newest software buy newest hardware. Fine. That's how it is. I'm talking about optimalization. What in the name of God could be so resource hungry to use more than 1 g of ram?
Are you a fanboy? Obviously. My disagreement with google's policy is my concern and I can speak freely about it douchebag. You don't like it? Don't comment.

68. DePenguin posted on 01 Jul 2012, 19:14 0 0

No, YOU shut up. Never has Google said that they require 2 GB. That's ALL rumor and speculation. Do not spread crap around unless you can 100% confirm it's true. If you can send me a link of Google specifically saying this, then I will retract my statement; until then, good day.

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62. OptimusOne posted on 30 Jun 2012, 19:56 0 0

since there was an ipad 2, apple could sue samsung for using 2 gbs of ram because there was the number 2 in it's description

70. cdnfreak posted on 03 Jul 2012, 13:28 0 0

I believe it was Samsung that did it and not Google. But who cares, more ram is definitely better. especially considering the fact we couldn't have quad core.

18. snotyak posted on 27 Jun 2012, 18:28 9 0

They're alphabetic dessert names. It's pretty easy to see the pattern....

63. OptimusOne posted on 30 Jun 2012, 19:58 1 1

its ok its ok

apple fanboys are known for having lower reasoning and logic skills.
just look at taco and what steve jobs did to him

give him some slack feel pity

66. The.Average.Fanboy posted on 30 Jun 2012, 21:33 0 1

Given your grammar, I sense irony in that comment. It's a little rude to insult such a large population. Especially when that population includes universities, flight services, and military services. You'd think that Google would've taught you not "to be evil", but I guess kids like you don't understand the concept of the complex infrastructure of industry and marketing in general.

69. DePenguin posted on 01 Jul 2012, 19:15 0 0

Unlike the stuck up people at Apple, Google's employees and engineers like to have fun. Hence the naming of the OS versions, and all the easter eggs both in Google search and in Android itself.

23. tedkord posted on 27 Jun 2012, 19:31 9 1

Just when iOS almost caught up, they're suddenly choking on Android's dust again.

28. InspectorGadget80 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 20:07 5 1

and pretty soon they will copy another feature like they did with out notification bar

67. The.Average.Fanboy posted on 30 Jun 2012, 21:38 0 1

Correction, my good man. The notification bar actually originated from Jailbreak developers FOR iOS. Google mainstreamed it, Apple's consumers wanted it, and Apple responded.

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26. wendygarett posted on 27 Jun 2012, 19:53 5 2

Yup, just the minor update...
but overall
ios6 = fail
surface/wp8 = amazed
android 4.1 = nothing special
even so, android still awesome :)

30. mas11 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 20:10 6 1

It's a performance update, Jelly Bean isn't meant to be revolutionary, it's an under the hood update.

31. taco50 (banned) posted on 27 Jun 2012, 20:20 4 7

iOS 6 didn't get the same respect and got trolled and when android does the same you guys are happy. SMH.

32. Sackboy117 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 20:43 3 2

It's because your applying a different theme. iOS 6 was considered a "fail" by the people here because it was expected to deliver features that would kick Android's butt, but since it didn't it got trolled on. On the other hand, Jelly Bean compared to iOS was viewed as to be superior because of the comparative analysis of both OSes.

If you were to look at iOS alone and didn't compare it to Android, then iOS 6 did add some great features to iOS 5 which it didn't have before.

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39. mas11 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 21:36 4 1

Because Apple said it was the best mobile OS, which is complete bulls**t considering that Android already has most of those "new" features.

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60. Non_Sequitur posted on 29 Jun 2012, 15:20 0 0

It was actually a pretty major update in some parts. A lot of new features. Not just updates to Siri.
When has iOS EVER had a major update? Oh, yeah. iOS 4 to iOS 5, when they copied the notification bar.
What frydaexiii said. When Apple has 0.X updates, they hardly do anything. When they have an X.0 update, they hardly do anything.

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35. protozeloz posted on 27 Jun 2012, 20:56 5 2

minor updates that Apple will copy and market as major updates... I can see you already claiming how awesome offline voice typing is.....

4.1 was said so be a ""little improvement" update hence the 4.X on it, not worth a hole number and is still quite good

38. cfprelude posted on 27 Jun 2012, 21:16 3 1

exacly - apparently ifans don't realize that... still, very impressed!

43. ilia1986 posted on 27 Jun 2012, 22:36 2 1

I see no human being here, just a delusional troll

52. frydaexiii posted on 28 Jun 2012, 09:03 1 0

Because it's Android 4.1 not Android 5.0. Any X.0 update is expected to bring big things, Apple brought none. and since we're talking about 0.X updates, what exactly did iOS 5.1 bring? Bug fixes & a stolen camera slider from sense.

53. VladUK posted on 28 Jun 2012, 09:05 1 0

You can only dream about it, as I'm sure that Samsung wont bother to update GS2...

64. OptimusOne posted on 30 Jun 2012, 20:00 0 0

just get a custom rom

there is one already for gsII