Google Now Distributing Updated Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2
The latest build of Android "Jelly Bean" brings a horizontal mode to 7-inch tablets.
Jean-Baptiste Queru, Google's chief release engineer, has announced that the company is currently releasing Android 4.1.2 "Jelly Bean" to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Queru said that this is a minor update to Android v4.1.1 which was released back in July, around the same time Google's Nexus 7 tablet began shipping to customers.
"As a note to maintainers of community builds running on Nexus 7: please update to 4.1.2 at the first opportunity," he said. "Future variants of the grouper hardware will have a minor change in one of the components (the power management chip) that will not be compatible with 4.1.1."
The system update will bring a welcome change to Nexus 7 owners: landscape orientation on the Home screen for 7-inch tablets. It will also bring improved performance and stability, and fix bugs. There are also reports that the inability to connect to WPA enterprise wireless networks is now fixed. Other than that, Google isn't really offering details.
Android Police reports that v4.1.2 has already started rolling out to the Nexus 7 tablets. Other devices slated to receive the new Jelly Bean include the Nexus S, the Galaxy Nexus and the Motorola Xoom tablets. These images also show the new build running on the supposed LG Nexus phone.
Google's latest build seemingly backs up a previous rumor that Asus and Google may launch a dock this holiday season. Speculation sparked with the discovery of the candy cane Easter egg found in Android 4.1, indicating that Google may release something major within the next few months. Then Asus reportedly confirmed that the four pogo charging contacts will connect to an audio dock which will allow the Nexus 7 to sit horizontally. Users will be able to watch movies while the tablet recharges.
Impatient Nexus 7 owners ready to update their tablet can take the manual route as shown here. The current OS installation on the device will need to be Android 4.1.1 build JRO03D in order to receive the manual update, and owners will need adb to actually install the update from a connected desktop or laptop. Otherwise, the newer Jelly Bean should arrive soon.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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Belardo landscape orientation for OUR phones would be nice too. On my Atrix HD - it goes to that mode IF its used in the car dock. It looks nice and would be handy for this to happen (user option) for our phones... especially since our menu keys now rotate.Reply
The MC Droid with the keyboard also operates in landscape mode when typing. -
tripledouce Time to see if any ROMS are being made for my EVO 4G Since Sprint doesn't seem interested in updating it.Reply -
luciferano belardolandscape orientation for OUR phones would be nice too. On my Atrix HD - it goes to that mode IF its used in the car dock. It looks nice and would be handy for this to happen (user option) for our phones... especially since our menu keys now rotate.The MC Droid with the keyboard also operates in landscape mode when typing.Reply
My Samsung goes into landscape when I use its keyboard. However, I've noticed that there are a few apps that don't directly support it. They all work, but not always in landscape and I have this one app that always closes itself if I open or close the keyboard. I do agree about it looking better.
Granted, my phone is like three years old and running 2.2.2, so the problems might have been fixed at any point since then :) -
kawininjazx How about you fix the issue where the 16GB Nexus 7 slows down when the memory is full.Reply -
danwat1234 It would be nice to be able to lock the screen through on-screen menus rather than either waiting for it to timeout or having to (or accidentally) press the button on the side. This way that button could be disabled and I could lock the screen on my GS3 with on-screen menus.Reply -
kanaida lol... landscape? :) almost any rom will let you do this, even if your tablet is a triangle.Reply -
sundragon Just installed on my Nexus 7... I feel bad for my buddy with a Droid Bionic running Android 2.3.x - Google needs to make regular updates a requirement of the licence agreement to vendors.Reply
The update works well. Landscape is nice.