Android 4.1 vs 4.2 Jelly Bean
Android OS v4.2 is a minor update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and thus Google has decided to keep it under the same name Jelly Bean. However, it’s an important update nonetheless. This isn’t specifically targeted in taking down Apple iOS 6 or Window Phone 8; instead it builds on its own core competencies like notifications and adds convenience and simplicity in to an acute perspective. Let us check these two operating systems and find out what upgrades the minor update has to offer.
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Review
Android 4.2 was released by Google on the 29th of October at their event announcing the two new Nexus devices; Nexus 4 and Nexus 10. Jelly Bean is a practical combination of Ice Cream Sandwich and Honeycomb for tablets. The major difference we found out can be summed up with the Lock screen, camera app, gesture typing and multi user availability. We will look at these features in depth to understand what they offer in Layman’s terms.
One of the most important features introduced with v4.2 Jelly Bean is the multi user capability. This is only available for tablets which enable a single tablet to be used among your family very easily. It lets you have your own space with all the customization you need starting from the lock screen to applications and games. It even lets you have your own top scores in the games. The best thing is that you don’t really have to log in and log off; instead you can simply and seamlessly switch which is just great. A new keyboard has been introduced that can make use of gesture typing. Thanks to the advancements of Android dictionaries, now the typing app can offer you suggestions for your next word in the sentence which enables you to type the whole sentence using the selection of words offered by the app. The speech to text ability is also improved, and it is available offline as well, unlike Apple’s Siri.
Android 4.2 offers a new immersive experience with the camera by offering Photo Sphere. It’s a 360 degree photo stitching of what you have snapped, and you can view these immersive spheres from the smartphone as well as share them on Google + or add them in Google Maps. The camera app has been made more responsive, and it starts super quick, as well. Google has added a component called Daydream for idling people where they display useful information when idling. It can get information from Google current and many more sources. Google Now is also alive than ever making your life easy for you before you even think about making it easy. It now has the ability to indicate photogenic spots nearby and to track packages easily.
The notification system is at the core of Android. With 4.2 Jelly Bean, notifications are fluid than ever. You have expandable and resizable notifications all in one place. The widgets are also improved, and now they automatically resize depending on the components added to a screen. Interactive widgets are expected to be facilitated more in this operating system, as well. Google hasn’t forgotten to improve the accessibility options, as well. Now the screen can be magnified using three tap gestures and visually impaired users can now interact with the fully zoomed screen, as well, such as typing when zoomed in. The gesture mode enables seamless navigation through the smartphone for blind users along with the speech output.
You can simply beam photos and videos with Adroid 4.2 Jelly Bean on your smartphone. It’s easier than ever and more simple and elegant too. Google Search component has also been updated, and as an overall, the operating system has become faster and smoother. The transitions are silky, and an absolute pleasure to experience while the touch responses are more reactive and uniform. It also allows you to stream your screen wirelessly to any wireless display which is a cool feature to have. Right now, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is available in Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. We are hoping that the other manufacturers will also release their updates soon.
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Review
There is a common saying among techies when it comes to Windows OS; the proceeding version is always slower than the predecessor. Fortunately, that’s not the case for Android. So Google can proudly announce Jelly Bean as the fastest and smoothest Android yet, and as consumers, we certainly can embrace it gladly. When we look at what’s new in Jelly Bean, there are differences in the developer’s point of view, and then there are more tangible differences that anyone can see and feel. I will not go in to length about the API difference and concentrate on tangible differences.
The first thing you will notice is that, JB is quicker to respond to your touch. With their intuitive UI, Google guarantees an effortless operation with the lowest touch latency. JB introduces the concept of extending vsync timing across the UI. What this means in layman’s terms is that, every event in the OS will in sync with this vsync hearbeat of 16 milliseconds. Normally, when we use the phone after a period inactivity, it can tend to be sluggish and slightly less responsive. JB has also said goodbye to this with the added CPU input boost that ensures the CPU is dedicated for the next touch event after a time of inactivity.
Notifications bar has been one of the major interests in Android for a long time. Jelly Bean brings a refreshing change to the notification framework by allowing applications to use it with more diversity. For instance, now any application can display expandable notifications that have support for content types such as photos and dynamic content. I’m sure consumers will have a plenty of things to play around with the notification bar when applications pick the scent of this new goody. The browser is also improved, and some added language support enables more consumers to embrace Android in their mother tongue.
When we look at the Stock applications, Google Now is undoubtedly the most talked about app. It is so popular because of its ardent simplicity. Google Now features information that has any importance to you at any given time. It is a learning application which can quickly adapt to your habits and display the information you want as cards. For instance, you go on a business trip, and you’re out of country, Google Now will show you the local time and the relevant exchange rates. It will also volunteer to assist you in reserving an air ticket back home. It can also act like a personal digital assistant like Apple’s famous Siri. Besides these apparent differences, there are a lot of new features and changes at the back end, and we can safely assume that consumers will have enough and more apps that would use these features to come up with cool things.
A Brief Comparison Between Android 4.1 and Android v4.2 Jelly Bean
• The Notification bar has been improved in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
• The camera application is more fluid and offers Photo Sphere option in Android 4.2.
• The capability to be used by many users for a single tablet is added in 4.2 Jelly Bean.
• A smarter keyboard and typing app along with gesture typing is introduced in 4.2 Jelly Bean.
• The Google Search, Google Now, and Daydream have been improved and introduced in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
• The operating system quality and speed have increased as an overall in Andrid 4.2.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is better than Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This is a simple deduction achieved by looking at the version numbers if you may. However, even if you take a good look internally, you would retain the same impression. Hence, unless you have an old handset that doesn’t meet the minimum requirements of 4.2 Jelly Bean (if that is the case, your smartphone having 4.1 Jelly Bean is also an improbability), this update is going to make your life better by making your smartphone smarter and more immersive.