New Android 5.0 'Jelly Bean' debuts Q2

Barely have users of devices running Google's Android OS had their fill of "Ice Cream Sandwich" when another flavor of the OS - "Jelly Bean" may be coming soon. Taiwan-based tech site DigiTimes cited supply chain makers as saying Android 5.0, codenamed "Jelly Bean," may launch as early as the second quarter of 2012.

 "Android 5.0 will be further optimized for tablet PCs, while Google will also integrate its Chrome system functions to push dual-operating system designs. Brand vendors can either choose to adopt only Android 5.0 or add Android 5.0 to Windows 8 devices with the ability to switch between the two OSes without the need to shut down the computer," DigiTimes said.

It said the quick switch to Android 5.0 may have been due to slow adoption of Android 4.0, "Ice Cream Sandwich." Besides, it said Microsoft will likely launch Windows 8 in the third quarter of 2012.

 "Google is likely to launch Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) in the second quarter and appeal for adopting Android 5.0 and Windows 8 in the same tablet PC, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers," DigiTimes said.

It also said that with Android 5.0, Google also wishes to earn another chance to enter the notebook and netbook markets. "However, since Android 4.0 did not perform as well as expected, several of Google's downstream partners are turning conservative about Android 5.0," it added. 

A separate article on PC World noted most Android phones do not even have Ice Cream Sandwich yet, and big delays for the upgrade are expected from manufacturers like Motorola.

But PC World also said Android 5.0 may promise some "really intriguing features," including integration with Chrome.

"The recent release of Chrome for Android tells me that Google may finally be ready to take Chrome OS seriously. If Android 5.0 Jelly Bean is really going to make Chrome work as a product, it'll port Chrome OS to mobile devices, sync between desktops, tablets, and smartphones, and take full advantage of the Chrome browser's expanding lineup of games and productivity apps. Maybe Google will even lob off the hydra head of Android fragmentation, kill the Android brand completely, and start using Chrome as its marquee style," it said.