Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is still slowly rolling out across devices, with the last report from Google stating that only 1.2 percent of Android devices are running the latest version. But that hasn't stopped Google from rolling out an incremental update, Android 4.1.2, to devices running the vanilla Android from Google, including the Nexus 7 tablet.
Other devices that have received the Android 4.1.2 update are the Samsung Galaxy Nexus S, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and the Motorola XOOM tablet. As you probably guessed, these are all Android devices that have been developed with direct Google involvement.
The update won't blow your mind (if you're one of the few running Jelly Bean), but it does improve the user experience.
Among the new features is the ability to use landscape mode in the home screen. This allows for you to rotate your device sideways and the homepage will reorient itself.
The 'Location Services' page is now the 'Location Access' page, and allows you turn location access off with a simple swipe. This will surely make privacy enthusiasts happy, and allow for those concerned with Big Brother to feel a little more at ease. You can also swipe notifications with one finger instead of two.
There's also the fact that long text messages will no longer be converted to MMS, something the folks over at AndroidPolice noticed. They also mention that the new Android 4.1.2 makes the the touch buttons for 'Back,' 'Home,' and 'Recent' glow more.
Other than that, there's the usual bug fixes and tweaking. The update isn't revolutionary, and we'll have to wait for Android 4.2 (or even Android 5.0) to see a major overhaul, but it's nice to know that Google is constantly at work improving their mobile operating system, even if it takes everyone a while to catch on.
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