In the Android ecosystem, Google developer devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus are always first in line whenever Google releases new updates or more importantly, new versions of Android. This is because these devices do not have an overlaid custom user interface atop its operating system to complicate and unnecessarily delay the update process.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus for Verizon is on sale now starting at 29.99.
Looking back, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus was released late last year to showcase Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich which back then was the latest iteration of the Google mobile operating system. And when Google followed ICS up with the release of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean a couple of months back, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus was also one of the first devices to get a taste of the Android 4.1 refresh.
With Google releasing Android 4.1.2 last week, it was just a matter of time before the update also made its way to the Google flagship smartphone. We even saw Google making the new 4.1.2 factory images available for download a couple of days later. It is a good thing that users of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus don’t have too much waiting to endure because apparently, the update is now rolling out to the handset.
In fact, reports are coming in that several lucky users of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus have already gotten the notification that Android 4.1.2 is already available to in their devices. But before you get excited though, it looks like the update is only initially available to “yakju” version of the handset which is basically the international version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. As for the “takju” variant, the one being sold via Google Play, there is a big chance that this particular version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will also get its fill of 4.1.2 in the coming days.
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The Android 4.1.2 update is only a minor one compared to the treats and goodies that came with Android 4.1.1. The changelog of the update indicates that it comes with small performance and stability fixes. Sad to say, this update doesn’t enable landscape mode in the launcher of the handset unlike what it did to the Google Nexus 7.
As for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the handset is already nearing its first birthday because it made its debut in the shelves back in November of last year. Despite its aging status, the handset is still a pretty capable device with its operation drawing power from its Texas Instruments OMAP4460 chipset which brings into play a dual-core 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a full gigabyte of RAM. Storage space on the handset is pegged at 32GB while its Contour Display measures 4.65 inches diagonally and is of the SuperAMOLED variety with a 1280 x 720 resolution. One of the most common point of criticism for the handset though is its below-par camera department with only a main 5MP shooter at its back panel coupled with a front-facing 1.3MP snapper.
October 18, 2012 at 12:36 am
I have used a Motorola DROID 4 recently. While the keyboard was superb, the screen quality was terrible and the 8 MP camera was awful. The Galaxy Nexus with jellybean is an amazing device. Connectivity is way better now and the 5 MP camera is leaps and bounds better than the one on the DROID 4. I don’t understand why it gets so much flack. All in all a great phone. The HD screen is crisp and bright. I can’t get over how good this phone is after nearly a year on the market.