Despite most people expecting the next version of Android to be 5.0 Key Lime Pie, there have been some claims that the next version of Android Google is working on will be another version of Jelly Bean; Android 4.3. Android Police with the help of an eagle eyed reader have now found evidence that the next version of Android will be 4.3, instead of version 5.0, and this version like Android 4.2 and 4.1 before it will bear the codename Android Jelly Bean.
The following image is taken from the Android Police website logs and shows Android 4.3 JWR23B on a Nexus 7 as well as the Nexus 4. The reason why we know that this build will also be Jelly Bean 4.3 instead of Key Lime Pie 4.3 is the first letter of the build, which always matches the first letter of the Android codename. Obviously devices on logs can easily be faked, but after an IP trace was done, the sources were found to have originated from two Google employees and is from the same IP range as previous leaks that were found via server logs. Furthermore several comments posted on their webpage from a Chromium developer also listed JWE23B has the build number. Overall this is some fairly convincing albeit slightly disappointing evidence that the next version will be Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.
With Google I/O less than a month away, the emergence of these builds does coincide with the well with the predicted release date, since Google historically announces new versions of Android during Google I/O. The newest version of Android that is due to be announced should be in its final stages of testing and it is only during this final stage of testing does Google assign a build number. Remember there was also a rumour a couple of days ago that Google had delayed the release of Key Lime Pie, most likely to give developers and OEMs more time to adopt Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean currently stands at around 25% of Android devices, and if Google releases a different version of Android, competitors could yet again target the fragmented nature of Android for marketing purposes. Another benefit of having point (4.1->4.2) updates is easier adaptability for applications since they don’t require major architectural changes and compatibility issues.
It is interesting to note that device shown so far have been the Nexus 4 and 7. The Nexus 7 is predicted to be phased out during this year’s Google I/O, for the next generation Google 7 inch tablet. This means Google will either continue supporting the legacy device or the new tablet will also be called the Nexus 7 or more likely both.
What are your opinions on the next version of Android being 4.3 and retaining the Jelly Bean codename?