Google debuted its brand new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system last week during the annual Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. The latest Android build touts a number of exciting new features but if history has taught us anything, most users won’t be able to begin enjoying those features until some time in late 2013 or early 2014.
Graphic designer Chris Sauve crunched some numbers earlier this year and determined that 2012 is the year of Gingerbread. His analysis ruffled plenty of feathers but there’s no denying the data — the second half of 2012 is now upon us, and Google’s just-updated platform version distribution stats show that Gingerbread is now present on 64% of Android devices. The 18-month-old OS was found on 65% of devices one month ago, so don’t expect its lead to be relinquished any time soon.
Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich penetration surpassed 10% for the first time in July, now accounting for 10.9% of all Android devices. Using adoption rates of past Android versions as a guide, ICS penetration will likely peak in late 2012 or early 2013, six months or more after Jelly Bean launches.
