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Android 4.1 Jelly Bean could be headed to more devices

Phones from HTC, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S3, could be among the next to get an Android refresh.

Eric Mack Contributing Editor
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Eric Mack
2 min read
Watch this: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean a sweet Android update

Google's latest sweet Android 4.1 update, better known as Jelly Bean, looks to be rolling out to more devices, even as many are still waiting to be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Earlier today, HTC confirmed that Android 4.1 is coming to its HTC One X, One S, and One XL.

Not confirmed but just as compelling is the report from SamMobile that Samsung has begun testing Jelly Bean for the Galaxy S3 and could push an update to its new flagship phone later this summer. A little harder to believe is the report's additional contention that testing is also under way on the Galaxy S2, and that it could also receive Android 4.1 if all goes well with its successor device.

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Jelly Bean could also come to dominate the low-end tablet market as well, with word that devices using chips from ARM-competitor MIPS will soon be able to run Android 4.1. IDG News Service reports that the effort to port Jelly Bean onto the hardware is coming directly from MIPS itself.

That's not to say some more high-end tabs wont get the bean treatment. Asus has confirmed that the Transformer Prime and a few of its Transformer Pads (the TF300 and TF700) will also be updated to Android 4.1.

Google had already announced that the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S would receive Jelly Bean, and we've heard from numerous Galaxy Nexus owners who have already received the update. There seems to be less luck so far for many of the Nexus S faithful, however.

If you're one of the chronically impatient, or you dream of Jelly Bean on a device with no hope of getting an official update, there could be a hack for you. So far there are Android 4.1 ports from the likes of CyanogenMod or the xdadevelopers forum for Samsung Galaxy S III - 16GB - marble white (Verizon Wireless)the Galaxy S3, the Kindle Fire and the Nokia N9.

Altogether, that's one pretty sweet bag of beans -- but it would be all the more delicious with some word of Motorola or LG's update plans, which have yet to be forthcoming.