The next version of Google’s mobile operating system is already in the wild according to a number of reports around the web. Android 4.3 Jelly Bean hasn’t been officially announced yet but is already being field tested – effectively pushing back the launch date of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie to sometime later this year.
SlashGear recently discovered 17 instances of a device running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean connecting to their servers on May 5. The origin of the hits is unknown but an educated guess would likely point to somewhere around Google’s Mountain View headquarters.
Another source indicates that the Nexus 4 LTE has been seen running the OS and that 4.3 will carry support for new technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and OpenGL ES 3.0. BLE, as the name suggests, reduces power consumption without affecting connectivity range. OpenGL ES 3.0 will improve overall graphics, we’re told.
It’s no surprise that Android version 4.3 is already out there considering most expect to see it unveiled at next week’s I/O conference in San Francisco. Well let me take that back… most expected to see Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie at next week’s event but with these 4.3 sightings, that's not likely to happen.
One way or another, it's very likely Google still has a ton of new features in store for the next Android update but you’ll have to stick around until next week to learn all about them.
