Here we go again. The current version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, is on barely a handful of Android phones and along comes Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the next generation of Google software for mobile phones and tablets. Jelly Bean is built-in on the Google Nexus 7, but when will your phone get Jelly Bean?
That's the very reasonable question posed by CNET reader Jordan Peck today, who specifically wondered when his HTC Sensation XE will get updates to both the latest version of HTC Sense and Jelly Bean. We asked HTC, and here's what HTC said:
"We are excited about Google's unveiling of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but don't yet have an announcement about HTC devices running the new OS version. Watch this space for more information".
No announcement as yet. So why have we brought you this snippet of what can only charitably be described as news? Because if there's one thing we learned from this year's Ice Cream Sandwich debacle it's that any word from manufacturers, no matter how inconclusive, is better than none.
Secondly, we want you to know we've already begun chasing manufacturers to find out about Jelly Bean updates. This is not a definitive answer to the Jelly Bean question, but the first step towards revealing when your phone will get that all-important update.
And we figured while you're here we can ask you for your opinion on the subject of updates. A year since Ice Cream Sandwich was first unveiled, the vast majority of Android phone are still on the previous version, Gingerbread. With the arrival of Jelly Bean, those phones are two updates behind -- does that mean manufacturers have let us down, or have we developed an unwarranted sense of entitlement to always have the latest software? Will you feel cheated until you get Jelly Bean, or are you happy living in the now? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
We'll keep you posted on Jelly Bean updates as soon as we hear from HTC, Samsung, LG and the rest. For now, Jelly Bean is scheduled to arrive on a lucky few devices in mid-July, including the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Motorola Xoom -- and of course, the Nexus 7.
For more on the subject, check out our guide to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and our guide to every version of Android.
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Comments 17
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Choccie Milk 28 June, 2012 19:01
I think the biggest problem with ICS was the number of phones still being released with Gingerbread even over half a year after ICS release. It would be nice if google could say 4 months after Jelly Beans release no one's allowed to release a phone with ICS. Because of Android's open source nature I'm not sure if they could do this but it sod in my opinion result in a much quicker rise of Jelly Bean's slicr of the Android pie.
ace9988 28 June, 2012 19:28
I don't see HTC updating anything before the One range.....unless they are willing to bring out a single version of sense for both the one series and older phones without imagesense (which is stopping the older phones having sense 4.0 officially)
anonymous 29 June, 2012 01:25
I think Google should take over updates like windows and apple. They need to work with manufacturers who wish to layer it with their UI like almighty HTC to make their UI compatible before the release date so that everything will be uniform.
Singlemattress 29 June, 2012 01:51
I approve HTC - a very smart phone but HTC is difficult to update new apps like Iphone...so sad!!!single mattress
anonymous 29 June, 2012 03:58
ace9988 by the time jellybean gets to the htc one series key lime pie will be out or coming out so dont be expecting jellybean anytime soon
Saudademaru Envy 29 June, 2012 04:07
I feel that since phones cost so much money and/or we are locked into a 2 year contract they should keep quickly updating them. They don't need to make a million phones and especially low end phones...screw making cheap low end ones, just buy an older phone if that's what you want. Anyway, they should at least keep the phones open and easy for hackers/modders to get custom versions on them if the companies are going to be too lazy/cheap to update it themselves.
anonymous 29 June, 2012 08:55
The majority of HTC phones will be updated to ICS by the end of July. HTC announced this on their twitter page. Not long to wait now.
anonymous 29 June, 2012 10:10
Anonymous, the question is regarding Jelly Bean (4.1).
Not Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0).
anonymous 29 June, 2012 13:21
I am happy with ice cream sandwich but since I updated my HTC sensation it has become very unstable
anonymous 6 July, 2012 13:11
Updates to me are not about having the "new thing" but about the improved performance and functionality that updated software will bring to a phone that I've invested a considerable amount of money in and expect to keep for several years. The only negative thing about the Android experience is having to wait for updates. First the manufacturer has to test and then the carrier. My carrier was very slow to release Gingerbread and I waited 4 months longer than others with the same device. Unacceptable. I know there are different problems with releasing software that has to work on different devices but this is one issue that Google needs to address.
anonymous 11 July, 2012 15:49
Since the ICS update my sensation has become unstable aswell. As has my friends sensation Xe. I'm worried that a jellybean update might make it worse.
anonymous 12 July, 2012 01:11
"anonymous 11 July, 2012 15:49
Since the ICS update my sensation has become unstable aswell. As has my friends sensation Xe. I'm worried that a jellybean update might make it worse."
Try updating again, my Sensation XE got a second update a few days ago that seems to have fixed all the bugs and instabilities that came with ICS.
anonymous 3 August, 2012 11:11
mm, waiting for the update fro Sensation XE
anonymous 4 August, 2012 05:19
I feel that all the Android updates are just scams from manufacturer. Each time they roll out something new, they're going to let the old phones rot and make you buy a new one to enjoy new softwares. Microsoft CAN update their Windows Phones all over the OEMs to 7.5, why Google can't?
anonymous 16 August, 2012 15:25
Had a play with JB on the Galaxy Nexus, and it pisses on ICS for speed (I mean, same device, side by side, noticibly snappier).
I have a Sensation XE which was a rock on 2.3, but since the original update to ICS I have been plagued with rediculously poor battery life, and the magical missing music/pictures/video debacle which took several restarts for the memory card too pop back into existence! The latest update a few weeks ago was an improvement, but still not great!
Hoping JB comes to the Sensation XE ASAP, partly to improve my experience with my device (which I still love btw) and others in a similar situation!
anonymous 24 November, 2012 17:15
The way most companies behave when it comes to updates, is unacceptable.
It's not fair on their customers who support them despite the fact that they're other platforms that release updated uniformly and quickly.
I have had enough with HTC. I had my share of there handsets (5) and they always lag behind on updates. If my handset doesn't get the latest of the android flavour I will have no choose but to get an iPhone, Since most of google programs are on IOS.
anonymous 13 December, 2012 17:32
HTC is worst in upgrading software. While on other hand samsung gives regular updates even to low end devices like samsung galaxy y.