Android v4.3 Jelly Bean (information on Google edition HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S IV)

The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update release date, which has been rumored numerous times in recent days, has inched closer to arrival as the update has passed through the Bluetooth SIG on board the HTC One Nexus, also known as the Google Edition. There have been tests on the Samsung Galaxy S IV too. The release dates and the features are yet hidden. For weeks now, Android 4.3 rumors have waged on and all signs point to the software’s release sometime during. the month of July. A specific date hasn’t been nailed down and Google remains mum on the update despite the rumors, leaving Android owners clueless as to the Android 4.3 official release date and features. Unofficial information has been extremely informative however and the Android 4.3 update appears to be on the verge of being released, at least for the HTC One Nexus, also known as the HTC One Google Edition. The HTC One Google Edition recently passed through the Bluetooth SIG, a roadblock to the device’s release with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on board. What this means is that the device with Android 4.3 on board is getting closer to release though the certification unfortunately does not divulge any information about its release specifically. The certification, first noticed by TechTastic, passed on July 5th. Google is expected to release the software for its Nexus stable of devices first, a list that includes the HTC One Nexus, Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, Nexus 7. Those devices have been rumored to be getting the update in July and from the looks of things, that appears to be on track. The software isn’t supposed to be a massive overhaul from Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, Android 4.3 is thought to be a Jelly Bean update, though it should come with some subtle changes that should delight owners. Bluetooth Low Energy is said to be on board as are font tweaks, some changes to the Camera app, and some potential additions to the Notifications that are widely used within Android. The software is thought to potentially be coming with a new Nexus tablet, presumably the Nexus 7 2, though the device, which has leaked out several times, remains firmly in the shadows ahead of Android 4.3′s release. At this point it's no great secret that Android 4.3 is right around the corner, and that among other things it'll bring Bluetooth 4.0 support as a standard OS feature. So it's just as unsurprising to see the the Google Play edition HTC One dropping by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group with support for version 4.0 of the wireless standard.The device detailed in the certification listing is referred to as "PN071xx_Android 4.3_G" — that's the HTC One's model number, and the "G" likely denotes the Google Play edition as opposed to the common-or-garden HTC One running Sense 5. (After all, that device has only just been updated to Android 4.2.) The listing also shows AVRCP 1.3 support, another Bluetooth feature said to be coming in the next version of Android. For more on what's new in Android 4.3, check out our walkthrough of the pre-release build which recently leaked out for the Google Play edition Galaxy S4. When Google’s Hugo Barra announced at the Google I/O 2013 that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be offered directly from the Play Store as a “Google Play Edition” device running stock Android, many people got really excited. Later on, HTC also jumped on the bandwagon with the HTC One, giving you a choice between two excellently spec’d smartphones that offer the Nexus experience. As planned, the devices went on sale on June 26 and almost immediately, an alleged Galaxy S4 I9505G unit was discovered that runs on the yet unannounced Android 4.3 Jelly Bean instead of the official Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Shortly after, a ROM that any regular Galaxy S4 owner with a Snapdragon 600 (yes, including the regular TouchWiz version) can flash popped up. And here we are today, presenting you a Samsung Galaxy S4 (I9505) turned into a Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition (I9505G) running the leaked ROM 4.3. So, how does it feel and what’s new? Right after you power on the stock Android-loving Galaxy S4, you notice the new Android boot animation with the Google logo prominently flashing. Then, you’re greeted with a special-made live wallpaper for the Google Play Edition duo dubbed Sun Beam. It’s essentially the same as the Phase Beam, but is done in fire red. Welcome to stock Android 4.3 territory. Depending on where you come from (TouchWiz 4.2 or vanilla Android 4.2) the user interface can feel either completely different or virtually unchanged. There are five homescreen panes that can’t be deleted nor moved like on the rest of the Nexus family. The notification drawer still has a shortcut for the quick settings and the bottom dock holds four customizable app shortcuts and the app drawer icon. In a word – stock Android user interface. However, there are a few changes here and there. Google Keep for example now comes preloaded, as does Google Hangouts (replacing Google Talk). Google Now is now at version 2.6.7.721924 and as now comes with support for two new types of cards – TV and Offers. The other notable change is the new camera interface, which is much more usable. When you tap on the screen to change the settings, there’s a new arch above your finger that shows the quick settings – HDR, Exposure, Flash and jump to the front-facing camera. There’s a settings button, too, which shows more options in a similarly visual fashion. We’ve made a hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Check it out below. It’s not known at this point if this leaked Android 4.3 that’s running on our Galaxy S4 is even real – it might be an elaborate prank by a skillful developer who fused the leaked camera and gallery apps to the regular 4.2 ROM of the Galaxy S4 Nexus edition and modded the about screen to say 4.3. Or it might be targeted at OEMs to give them time to prepare their custom Android builds with the latest APIs.We’ll know soon enough, as Google and people more familiar with the inner workings of Android speak out. Either way, the ROM is performing nicely, so at the very least it will give you a chance to make turn your regular Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4 into a Google Edition one in a few easy steps.