Android 4.2.2, the update that will fix all the glaring bugs included in Android Jelly Bean, is set to be released any day now. The voracious IBTimes reporter Ian Kar originally broke the story on our beloved website before going into greater detail in a seperate post. According to reports, Android 4.2.2 will resolve most bug fixes and probably won't introduce many new features. The Android 4.2.2 release date is scheduled for mid-February or mid-March.
Android 4.2.2's release date will occur several months before Google is expected to release a brand new version of the Android operating system. The next-generation of Android is rumored to be codenamed "Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie," but little is known beyond that. If history is any indication, Google will save its rebranding of Android to introduce several new features and capabilities to the operating system. But, before we all move on to the next generation of Android, first we'll have a few months with the -- finally! -- perfected version of Android Jelly Bean.
Google is reportedly testing the next iteration of Android right now. Google employees with Nexus devices -- such as the LG Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and perhaps other Nexus devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus -- have been given an opportunity to test Android 4.2.2. Most employees have continued conducting their daily smartphone activities as normal. Google has historically tested previous updates within the company before making a major release elsewhere.
Since the original report, Karr has tested the device to confirm that it is actually Android 4.2.2. He says that the updates are all "minimal changes to security and bugs." That's no surprise to anyone that owns a Nexus 4, Nexus 7 or Nexus 10. The newest Nexus devices, which are the only few that were able to run Android Jelly Bean for a long time, have experienced bugs ever since the release of Android 4.2. Google did its best to clean up the mess it created by releasing Android 4.2.1, but still, many devices have been experiencing problems doing simple tasks such as accessing Facebook and e-mail.
Android Police has reported extensively on the bugs and errors that have plagued Android 4.2.1. Among the biggest defects is the auto-brightness bug. The flaw has affected devices the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 primarily, and it's making those devices behave incorrectly when auto-brightness is used for the screen. "The issue specific to the Nexus 7 causes the screen to noticeably flicker when set to auto-brightness, and has been present on all Android builds, especially at low levels," reports David Ruddock, a well-known Android developer.
In addition to the flawed auto-brightness function, Bluetooth is essentially broken in Android 4.2.1. Any device that is running Android 4.2.1 offers a dismal Bluetooth experience. Somehow, the Nexus 4 was relatively unaffected by this bug, but for other devices such as the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10, audio streams are extremely choppy, full of static and occasionally will not connect at all.
"4.2 made Bluetooth audio from bad to worse! I have thoughts of breaking this POS Nexus 7. I'm tired of dealing with the force closes on Google apps on their own updated OS and having to find workarounds for every freaking thing that goes wrong on Android," wrote one member of an Android open handset alliance project forum.
What's worse than terrible Bluetooth and screen brightness? Random reboots, and it's one of the most egregious errors that was caused by the Android 4.2.1. At iDigital Times, two different reporters were forced to return their Nexus 7 devices because after several random reboots, the device simply stopped working. Most Android developers agree that the random rebooting is a critical instability that must be resolved as soon as possible.
It's safe to say that with so many independent developers working on these problems, in addition to the massive team at Google, all of these system bugs will be resolved when Android 4.2.2 is released. Google doesn't have much time left to sell people on Android Jelly Bean if the rumors about Android Key Lime Pie's release date are true, which means that the company must make a lasting impression with its final fix of all the bugs that surfaced across nearly all Nexus devices.
Android 4.2.2 will not add any new cool features, but it will be a welcome update for anyone that's had a half-working smartphone. Rejoice, Nexus users! Android 4.2.2 will be released in mid-February or mid-March.