There’s been quite a bit of speculation the past 4-6 months over the next major update to the number one mobile OS in the world, what Google will call it, and what features we can expect to see. Talk of Key Lime Pie, Android 5.0, and everything else in between. Lately however, new reports and details have started to surface leading us to believe we won’t see Key Lime Pie, and instead Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will be the star of Google I/O next month.

Two weeks ago we posted our thoughts and ideas about what we were hoping to see with Key Lime Pie. Then a reader over on Reddit chimed in with his comments and some pretty compelling proof that it won’t be Key Lime Pie. Instead, Google will be releasing an incremental update to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean – and there’s plenty of details to back that up.

To be more specific, all Android build numbers start with the letter of that flavor. Key Lime Pie builds will start with a K, just as JB and Ice Cream Sandwich builds start with J and I, respectively. Lately server logs and reports have surfaced showing Android 4.3 JWR23B and that would be Jelly Bean. Not Key Lime Pie. Then this week the folks from AndroidPolice did what they do best and did some digging, and found even more evidence to confirm Reddit user danrant’s comments.

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Now just like the recent leaked benchmark showing Android 5.0.1 Key Lime Pie, which was fake, server logs can also be faked with ease as well. Artem over at AP did a bit of tracing and those Android 4.3 JWR23B devices appear to be the Nexus 7 and Nexus 4 coming from Google employees. Add in the fact that several bug trackers according to dan show Chrome reports of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, and Jelly Bean MR2. The original Jelly Bean builds were MR1.

In closing, it appears that Google will actually be announcing and releasing Android 4.3 Jelly Bean at Google I/O in the middle of May, and not Key Lime Pie. That doesn’t mean we won’t see significant changes and new features, it just means this won’t be the major update many were expecting. Oh, and this also makes that Nexus 4 LTE 32GB model being announced at I/O sound even more realistic. Instead of a new OS and new smartphone to reveal to the world.

Lastly, we’ve heard rumors that Google will also be releasing a PDK (Platform Development Kit) to help manufacturers update Android versions more quickly. And releasing a completely new KLP next month would only make them even further behind the latest and greatest from Google. These details are just coming in, and we’ll surely update when we know more. Don’t forget we’ll be live at Google I/O for all the details too.

22 COMMENTS

  1. Here I only see evidence that the next version of Android to be released will be version 4.3. I haven’t seen any concrete evidence that 4.3 will be called Jelly Bean or Key Lime Pie. Lets remember that Android has a long history of 0.1 version updates getting a new name. Version 1.5 was Cupcake whereas 1.6 was Donut. Version 2.0 was Eclair, 2.2 Froyo and 2.3 Gingerbread.

    And let’s of course remember that version 4.0 was Ice Cream Sandwich whilst 4.1 was Jelly Bean. 4.3 could be another Jelly Bean, but it could just as well be Key Lime Pie. We shouldn’t assume that Key Lime Pie has to be 5.0, that completely ignores the so far sporadic link between version numbers and update names!

    • “all Android build numbers start with the letter of that flavor. Key Lime Pie builds will start with a K, just as JB and Ice Cream Sandwich builds start with J and I, respectively. Lately server logs and reports have surfaced showing Android 4.3 JWR23B and that would be Jelly Bean.”

    • Mark Lee, what you said doesn’t make sense, Android is the most advanced mobile OS out there, everyone, even Appel acknowledges that, the fact that you want to see something new doesn’t mean that what is currently out there is “dated”, please name a mature, working, community supported current mobile OS that is more advanced that Android.

  4. Hopefully the One will skip 4.2.2 and go straight to 4.3.This would shut the mouths of all thre HATERS who say HTC is not gonna support this Iphone and S4 killer.

  5. I’m fine with it, but, Google, please fix all of the wifi issues. Shouldn’t move on to Key Lime Pie if Jelly Bean isn’t even polished yet.

  6. I always kinda saw ICS as “sandwiching tablet and phone UI’s” and hoped that KLP would be add set top boxes to the mix (google tv) since it is now “a piece for everything”
    Then again, I was hoping for built in themeing with JB using the logic “a color and flavor” for everyone.

    I kinda like the idea of tying an idea in with the dessert name.

  8. I’m not too concerned with the build numbers, but they’ve already had 4.1 jelly bean AND 4.2 jelly bean. To go up again to 4.3 and still call it jelly bean would be weird. They should just go to 4.2.3. I mean gingerbread went all the way up to 2.3.6 before they went to ice cream sandwich so there’s nothing wrong with that.

    But honestly if the reason for not upgrading to key lime pie really is to give manufacturers breathing room, that’s totally lame. Its been a year since jelly bean came out, if they can’t keep up it’s their fault. They’re not even trying. Developers will have multitudes of custom Roms made within a couple months, manufacturers have no excuse. Hopefully they’re just delaying it to fix bugs and polish it off more. I’m fine with that. But they don’t need to go to 4.3 that’s just silly.

    • I agree, I don’t see how jumping from 4.0/4.1 -> 4.3 is any easier than going 4.0/4.1 -> 5.0

      I guess from a marketing perspective Moto or whoever can say “this phone has jelly bean” and appear current gen even though it is 2 JB’s behind the current build, whereas if KLP comes out, the new JB phone would scream that it is dated.

      a) The android community / carriers / Google need to hold oems accountable for not living up to their “18 month upgrade” promise.
      and
      b )Google needs to figure out a way to better handle fragmentation. I know custom skins are one area that kill updates, as our carrier “tests” but something has to be possible.
      Maybe parcel out pieces for quicker upgrades? Such as Keyboard, camera, notifcation bar,launcher, etc, it might help users “feel” that they are not left behind.
      Heck just having it where after 24 months the phones are boot unlockable would be amazing since then the devs can go to town.

      • I heard about some work being done to the sphere camera for nexus 4 users, Aldo some enhancements to Google now. Google now will be heavily inducted into future devices.

  11. Awww, that’s a little disappointing. I was eager for Google I/O simply to find out what new flavor of Android we’d be getting! I want to see what enhancements they bring to my Nexus 10. I’m sure 4.3 will bring some enhancements as well… but probably just as minor as 4.2 was.

    I’m not really interested in any hardware announcements besides the Nexus 5 and the follow up to the Nexus 10… neither of which I think will be announced this early. So I guess all the news I’m looking forward to will be out on the back end of the year.

  13. Key Lime Pie – The Release Date is Approachinghttp://techexif.blogspot.in/2013/05/key-lime-pie-release-date-is-approaching.html

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